Enter the Dragon (5 Stars)

Dancer's Top Films #71

This is doubtlessly the best film made by Bruce Lee in his short acting career. It's also the last film he made before he died at the age of 32. Like many others, I used to be of the opinion that "Way of the Dragon" was his last film, because its release in Britain was delayed by two years. No idea why. I just know that I saw both films in the cinema, but in the wrong order.

This is a film that I greatly respect. It's an all-time classic martial arts film. There had been many martial arts films before it, but "Enter the Dragon" is a film about fighting, and the plot is secondary. I'm not saying that the plot isn't important, but it's less important than the many fight scenes scattered throughout the film.

Bruce Lee plays Lee, a man who's been educated at a Shaolin temple. In the opening scenes his spiritual nature is emphasised, but after that we only see him as a fighter and a spy. The spy aspect is important. He infiltrates the island of Han, a drug lord and human trafficker, by taking part in a martial arts tournament hosted by Han. When night falls he explores the island, seeking evidence of Han's illegal activities. The incidental music sounds very much like a James Bond film.

Han appears with the exaggerated pomp and elegance of a Bond villain.

As if that weren't enough, he even walks around carrying a Blofeld-ish white cat.

All Bond villains have a strong henchman, and in this case it's the muscular Bolo.

Bolo was played by Yang Sze, an actor who's still active today at the age of 74. Interestingly, he became so well known for his role in "Enter the Dragon" that he changed his name to Bolo Yeung. Have there ever been any other actors who've named themselves after a role they've played? Tom Hanks doesn't call himself Forrest Gump.

For years I was annoyed that the film contains so many fights with John Saxon. I just wanted to see Bruce Lee fighting. Now that I'm older I can see that this was the right choice. Having other competent martial artists in the film makes it more balanced. Apart from which, it emphasises that Bruce Lee was still the best fighter.

This is an excellent film. It was made specifically to attract western audiences, people who don't usually watch martial arts films. If you only ever watch one kung fu film in your life, this should be it.

Jackie Chan also appears in the film, but if you blink you'll miss him.

Success Rate:  + 103.9

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