Jan 20 2009
“Enter The Dragon” (1973) ****
Preview
Starring: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Shih Kien, Robert Wall, Betty Chung, Geoffrey Weeks, Jim Kelly, and Bolo Yeung.
Directed by: Robert Clouse.
The Catch:
A Shaolin martial artist in Hong Kong is assigned to spy on a reclusive drug lord on his private island, using his invitation to a martial arts tournament there as a cover.
Stats:
*Bruce Lee’s final film before his death which was six days before its release.
*The film was deemed “culturally significant” and selected for preservation i the National Film Registry in 2004.
*The first Kung Fu film produced by a major Hollywood studio.
*Budget: $850,000.
*Domestic Gross: $25,000,000.
*Worldwide Gross: $90,000,000.
Characters:
Lee (Bruce Lee): A Shaolin Martial Artist with great philosophical insight and physical prowess. He also likes to make cat/animal-like noises when he fights his opponents.
Braithwaite (Geoffrey Weeks): A behind the scenes guy working for international intelligence. He assigns Lee the mission to infiltrate Han’s island.
Han (Shih Kien): A former Shaolin Student turned Crime King, Prostitution Ring Leader, and Drug Lord. He has many unique weapons to attach to where his left hand is no more and gets very angry when his questions receive no answer.
Mei Ling (Betty Chung): Former female operative for Braithwaite, she was assigned to infiltrate the island several months earlier but died while doing so.
Oharra (Robert Wall): Han’s loyal bodyguard who looks like Yogi Bear.
Roper (John Saxon): The white American guy who loves women and has trouble with the mob.
Williams (Jim Kelly): The black American guy with a huge ego and is a certified fugitive.
Bolo (Bolo Yeung): Han’s head bodyguard.
Story:
In Hong King, a Shaolin Martial Artist (Lee) earns himself an invitation to a martial arts tournament organized by Han, a former Shaolin student who abandoned their moral code and abused his skills to gain wealth and power. While Lee does not wish to attend, he is visited by a Braithwaite, a representative from an international intelligence organization that is conducting a criminal investigation of Han’s island which points toward drugs and prostitution. The problem is they have no proof of any of this, that’s where Lee comes in.
Lee attends the tournament where no fire arms are allowed and Han lives like a grand palace king and makes his own rules. Joining Han in this tournament are two other skilled fighters - A white American playboy in debt with the mob (Roper) and a black American activist in trouble with the law (Williams).
Review:
This is Bruce Lee’s final masterpiece and the plot is very straight forward and simple. Kudos to the writers for not only making this action orientated but throwing in an emotional subplot as well - Lee is also attending the tournament to avenge his sister’s death (she was raped and killed by Han some time ago).
“Enter The Dragon” also introduces us to a cast of stars whose careers went the extra mile - Those of John Saxon (”A Nightmare On Elm Street”) and Bolo Yeung (”Bloodsport”) for instance. The plot also feels a lot like a James Bond flick, in fact, the villain (Han) is a lot like a comic book James Bond villain (the character Mr. Williams even comments “Man, you come right out of a comic book” after Han sends his men to attack him). Han’s underground cavern on the island somewhat resembles Blofeld’s volcano-hidden silo in “You Only Live Twice”. This is not to say that Han doesn’t make for a very entertaining villain though.
Running at a mere 98 minutes, “Enter The Dragon” is somewhat short and leaves you wanting more by the time it’s over with. The film could do with more martial arts and more time spent on the island itself, maybe even a longer ending. Nevertheless, Bruce Lee’s final film still stands today as a martial arts classic.
Rating: ****
