Reviews (24)

Gymkata- 80's Cult Classic
GYMKATA starring gymnast Kurt is not the best action-adventure film, and Kurt Thomas isn't the greatest actor in the world, but the last half hour of the film is worth its weight in gold. A small third world nation, Parmistan, teetering on the edge of going towards communism, stages an athletic contest to see which country would best represent their presence there. Kurt Thomas as Jonathan Cabot is chosen to represent the U.S. in the contest. It is a deadly obstacle course in which in which the natural elements as well as human intervention are the obstacles. Kurt Thomas' athletic gymnastic abilities are the highpoint of the film in which gymnastics and martial arts are fused together as a form of self defense ...hence the name "gymkata". The style is reminiscent of comic book super hero fighting and Kurt Thomas pulls it off convincingly. The film is a little slow in te beginning trying to establish the characters, the situation in Parmistan, as well as a tiny romance between the Jonathan Cabot (Thomas) and Princess Rubali (Tetchie Agbayani). However, the meat of the film is when the deadly contest/obstacle course starts. The climax and best part of the film is at the end of the obstacle course athletes must go through a strange village filled with violent, psychopathic peasants bent on killing any stranger who comes through the village. They swarm towards their prey like zombies with pitchforks, hatchets, and other farm handtools. This is when Kurt Thomas turns on his gymkata fighting skills and it is a very tense and exciting piece of film making. Overall, an entertaining film made at the time when martial arts films were at a decline.

Classic Crud
When I was growing up, it seemed like every other movie on cable television was either called Iron Eagle or Gymkata. I had no use for Iron Eagle. Sorry. Gymkata, however, was a altogether different story. I must have seen this movie a few hundred times between grades 10-12--generally at three in the morning, stumbling in, stumbling out--less of a choice, more of a compromise. As if the pay channels didn't milk the Gymkata cash cow dry, local stations decided to make it their duty to keep it in heavy rotation on a weekly basis. The only movie that came close in its domination of b-string broadcasting was the 1972 classic, Gargoyles. But I digress. Gymkata is about a martial artist (Kurt Thomas) who loses his military papa (Eric Lawson). He goes to a small fictional nation that encompasses every cliché relating to villains from the 1980's. There's intrigue, a great feast, and more intrigue. There's an exotic princess who, to this day, still looks pretty good. The best part of the movie is the game of death--mostly because there isn't a great deal of dialog. As other reviews have mentioned, the asylum/village has some classic moments (the cackling woman comes to mind). Long story short, an olympic wannabe offers up a textbook example of why his acting career went nowhere. Of course, who am I to judge? I have yet to make a single movie about ninjas or good cops gone bad.

One last question: Why isn't this movie on DVD?

Unintentionally hysterical
Kurt Thomas as a gymnast turned lethal martial artist? Only in Hollywood! The idea only works if every time Thomas gets into a fight there just happens to be a piece of gymnastic equipment nearby (parallel bars, pommel horse, etc.) and of course the bad guys attack one at a time, but I guess that's just a martial arts movie tradition. The acting is brutal, the plot could've been thought up by a ten year-old, and there's a village of insane killers. Put it all together and it all adds up to a hilarious movie.

Lousy But Fun
As a serious film, this one is a real dud. However, as a piece of hilariously inept production, it's a real winner. The plot is ludicrous, and the acting is equally poor. Still, some of the scenes are rather good, particularly the bizarre sequence which takes place in the village of the lunatics. Of course, the greatest lunatics are the people who produced this silly little film. No stars for quality, but 2 stars for pure comedy value.

Gymkata is a low-rate film second to none
What can one say about Gymkata?

If you want to see the worst action film ever committed to vinyl, you couldn't go wrong here. The plot is a laugher, the acting is worst, and everything else in the film falls somewhere between the two.

However, this film is so bad it will probably become a cult favorite in the years to come. It makes Ed Wood Jr look like Steven Spielberg. Simply put, Gymkata has no equals when it comes to low-rate films. That's why it should be ported to DVD and every person who likes films SHOULD have a copy of this movie. But I feel the distributor should PAY the viewer to take a tape or disc of this film off their hands, instead of the other way around.

Gymkata will make you laugh more than most comedies. The action scenes are predictable, unrealistic, etc...And look for some good flubs, too. Although the characters are supposed to be native to some remote areas of Asia/Europe, the blond antagonist often reveals a strong New York City accent. Hysterical! And watch closely how nervous that same guy looks riding a horse - obviously a first timer. You will laugh so hard you'll cry.

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Description

A kung-fu expert battles the Mafia to save his karate studio from mob redevelopment in Watts area of L.A. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Man, I'm from New Orleans,Don't ... Me!
Let me add me 2 cents. BB Jones was one of the best blaxploitation flicks ever made.Ted Landge "JR" from {That's My Momma}and(Love Boat}has a cameo appearance.Scatman Crothers played his part well & so did Gloria Hendry. Pinky added some comedy to the flick and so did Big Tuna...especialy at the end when Kelly removed the toupe from his head.I saw a couple of bad reveiws here, just keep in mind that this movie was made in the 70's.All this technical stuff of today's films has a lot of people spoiled. take a look back when times were better and easier. I highly recommend.Also,Check out "Black Samurai" & "Tattoo Connection"...Both by Jim Kelly.

Jim Kelly Sets the Stage for His Masterpiece "Hot Potato"
If you don't believe that Jim Kelly is a master actor, you will after seeing "Black Belt Jones". He manages to pull off the cheesiest movie ever made in two different genres: kung-fu and blaxploitation. This film is truly an artifact of the '70s (check out that theme music!) and is much more deserving of being revived in the '90s than disco. A real gem--where else can you see a respected government agent who is also a master of karate fight drug dealers and the Mafia--wearing a leisure suit? My favourite part was when the evil gang leader and drug dealer (aren't all villians in early-'70s action movies evil drug lords or gang leaders?) is crushed in a garbage compressor--but still manages to scream his defiance AFTER the fact. A masterpiece.

Supreme!!!
Hands down, the greatest American martial arts film of all-time. It is a film that has fun with itself. It's not serious at all. I loved this flick growing up and I still love it today. I can't wait for this one to find it's way onto DVD. And when it does, 'I'm goin' to McDonald's to celebrate'.

Wesley! I'm gonna smack the black off you!
BBJ is the best. Hands down. You can not be a martial arts fan and not LOVE this movie. Not only does it have Mr. Jim Kelly doing his work "every three seconds," but he's gonna "kick" some "g@#d@#n a$$" Poppa Byrd is "just lonely," because "what hoes you see me chasin, woman?" Just make sure you don't ask Sydney to clean any dishes because, "They're done." Charlene and Mary make phenomenal performances, only to be overshadowed by Pickles. I just wish I could "conclude a business meetin'" like Poppa Byrd does. When you watch this movie, make sure you're eatin your Granny Goose Potato Chips. When Toppy lets "the dogs loose," you'd better stand back... "Choose money or my honey?" Enough Said. Buy this movie. NOW. You need it. Jim Kelly for life!

Where is the DVD?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
This is an outrage that the superb blacksploitation classic is not out on DVD yet. This movie is amazing. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

GREAT MOVIE!!
They seriously need to put this on DVD!
The Ultimate Warrior is a blast! YUL ROCKS!

Yul Brynner as a super-samurai post-apocalpytic hero
"The Ultimate Warrior" is a post-Holocaust action film that came out in 1975 after "The Omega Man," but just before the genre became popular with "Mad Max" and "Escape From New York." The film is set in 2012 in a New York City that was decimated by a biological plague a couple of decades earlier that has created a world in which nothing grows. Now in the decaying city Baron (Max Von Sydow), leads a group that has barricaded a street against a rival gang of thugs, run by Carrot (William Smith). Wanting his pregnant daughter, Melinda (Joanna Miles), to have a better future, Baron hires Carson (Yul Brynner), a super-Samurai, who has been standing outside the public library waiting for somebody to make an offer for his services. Baron has heard of a mythical island off of the coast of North Carolina and wants to relocate his band there. Of course, this means fighting their way out of what is left of the Big Apple. Melinda's husband, Cal (Richard Kelton) is a scientist who knows the secret of growing plants from seeds, so humanity might have a chance after all.

Director/writer Robert Clouse is therefore offering up the first combination Science Fiction/Kung Fu film, which is not surprising since he directed Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon." From that perspective the film offers up the tradition two warring sides with champions that face off to settle the issue. The script is actually halfway decent, although surprisingly the action sequences are the weakest part of the film until the climatic battle between Carson and Carrot. However, the opening scene does a nice job of establishing the world in which this film takes place. The film hinges on Brynner's performance, which is actually fairly complex because we are not completely sure that Carson is a cynical anti-hero; in fact, we suspect he might be the only truly human character in the film. "The Ultimate Warrior" is no where near being the ultimate example of the post-apocalyptic action film, but it is a solid, unpretentious little B-movie. Plus, it has Yul Brynner.

Baldly the Last of it's Kind......
The Ultimate Warrior baldly set precident for other films of similar genres. I had read about this film a while back and had been waiting for a chance to view it. The Ultimate Warrior is far from perfect but brings forth a lot fun that todays watered down made for video flops can't seem to do. This movie seems like a combo of Logans Run, Man Max, and Kung Fu. Wow, where to begin? I personally like Yul Brynner's character, it makes me remember when movies with masculine heros existed. Bynner doesn't play a pretty boy, he is a bald tough guy who has a job to do. I like the independance of the hero character, he doesn't rely on a affirmitive action based sidekick or allow himself to be overtaken by feelings towards [beautiful] woman.... A thinking man of the sorts who smokes cigars and does what is right even if it means chopping his own hand off. I'm not going to ruin the plot of this gem for you, just add it to your collection and pray they don't try making a remake of this post appocalptic rarety.

Brynner is good but no at his best.
To appreciate this film I believe you have to consider the time it was released. During the mid 1970's the cold war was looming over the U.S. and somehow a film like this seemed almost possible. Viewing it now in the year 2000 viewers will realize they are living in what this film indicates will be a post nuclear war environment. Obviously the events in this movie never materialized, thank heavens. Cadillac's are still being produced. Although unlike the mid 70' when people purchased then they are now leased.

This film is good because for those of us who lived with the fear of nuclear war it reminds of us of how we as a nation worried about some things other than how long this bull run in the stock market will last.

Yul Brynner was a little old to be running around with his shirt off. This film was made about 20 years after THE TEN COMMANDMENTS but for some reason the producers must still think Brynner's body will get the women viewers attention. Not so.

Post-apocalyptic movie isn¿t bad.
It's been quite a while since I've seen this film, but surprisingly I remember it pretty well. I'm a fan of this genre, so this film, along Costner's work and one of Gibson's "Mad Max" stories, I do enjoy (at certain times). Even Patrick Swayze's "Steel Dawn" has many things that I liked.

While none of these films are 5-star material, they do well to fill in the blank/bland spots in ones' day or evening. Surprisingly, "The Ultimate Warrior" ended up being pretty darn good (related to others of the genre).

If you're hunting and pecking to find a film that you haven't seen (and like this genre), try it out. I certainly won't guarantee that you'll like it, but heck, two bucks for a rental won't kill ya. Between 1 and 10, I give "The Ultimate Warrior" a solid 6 (a rating within the genre--I'd be hard pressed giving anything more than a marginal 5 otherwise). ... Read more

Description

Recruited by an intelligence agency, outstanding martial arts student Bruce Lee participates in a brutal karate tournament hosted by the evil Han.Along with champions Roper and Williams, he uncovers Han's white slavery and drug trafficking ring located on a secret island fortress.In the exciting climax, hundreds of freed prisoners fight in an epic battle with Lee and Han locked in a deadly duel. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Bruce's Best
It's almost pointless writing a review about a movie that almost everyone has seen, but in the event you haven't, this is the kung fu grand-daddy of them all. Sure, there were plently of martial arts films from Hong Kong prior to ETD, but none like this, and ETD was the springboard for just about all of the martial arts films and stars that followed. With John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Bolo Yeung, and Bruce Lee himself, this is the foundation of all modern martial arts films. The fight between Lee and Bob Wahl is by itself, reason to watch this film. Watching Lee in any of his scenes really makes one appreciate his dedication to his arts. Just a last note, Lau Kar-Leung, whom Jackie Chan fought underneath the train in Druken Master II, said of Bruce Lee words to the effect that Bruce Lee's on screen martial arts is the only real martial arts that have ever been put on film (see Cinema of Vengance). Lau's own Kung Fu lineage comes directly from the real life Wong Fei-Hung, so presumably, the man knows what he's talking about. If you like martial arts or kung fu movies, you can't miss this one if you havent already seen it.

The best martial arts movie ever
Bruce Lee shines in this action-packed, story-thin adventure! As with most martial arts movies, the fight scenes are the best parts, but in this film the supporting cast are exceptional. John Saxon and Jim Kelly provide light relief from the intense atmosphere, and Shih Kien sizzles as the menacing Han. Samo Hung makes an early appearance, getting fully beaten down by Bruce, and watch out for Jackie Chan getting his neck snapped by Lee near the end!

This is a quality production by Warner Brothers, and has aged well. Unfortunately English copies of the film are without the amazing nunchaku scene, and this greatly detracts from the movie. Apart from this, all is good, especially Bruce's anihilation of O'Hara and the brilliantly choreographed final fight in the "Hall of Mirrors". A MUST SEE.

the best old school kung fu movie ever!
bruce lee is quite possibly the greatest fighter from moses to royce gracie.un-freakin-stoppable!the story is about bruce going to a island to enter into a martial arts tournament.children will probably not be able to handle the violence.twelve and up should be ok.it is low budget and all crappy looking.any martial arts fan there is will like this one and probably already does.the action is incredible .i dont know what people were saying about this one back in 1973 but the real deal it is the best old school martial arts film .it would definately rate really high on a all time list too.it is bruce lees best also,alrhough in return of the drsagon he fights chuck norris.this is a close second.

Great Fight Scenes
Bruce Lee was great. The story is a little corny (It is no Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) but it is action packed. Jim Kelly was also good and John Saxon shows some passable martial arts skills. The final fight sequence in the maze of mirrors shows some spectacular directing and camera work. It is a shame that Lee died so soon after just beginning to hone his acting skills.

Long Live Bruce Lee!
This is definately Bruce Lee's finest hour! The fight in the underground is great, while the fight between 100+ fighters is spectacular! The best, though, have to be the fights in the hall of mirors and the Lee vs. Wahl battle. Truly a spectacular movie! Why haven't you bought this? ... Read more

Description

Resort islanders are terrorized by a bloodthirsty pack of abandoned dogs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I'd like to say this movie is a dog, but...
I managed to catch it on cable a year or so back, and thought it was pretty decent as far as cheesy-70's "nature attacks" movies go. Even with the bloodthirsty poodles. I remember a setpiece involving a rabid dog chasing the characters through a cabin that I found surprisingly hair-raising and theres a sublimely absurd scene where the dogs chase a vehicle onto a dock, and come to a screeching halt when the vehicle starts to back up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death, Enter the Dragon was his entrée into Hollywood. The American-Hong Kong coproduction, shot in Asia by American director Robert Clouse, stars Lee as a British agent sent to infiltrate the criminal empire of bloodthirsty Asian crime lord Han (Shih Kien) through his annual international martial arts tournament. Lee spends his days taking on tournament combatants and nights breaking into the heavily guarded underground fortress, kicking the living tar out of anyone who stands in his way. The mix of kung fu fighting (choreographed by Lee himself) and James Bond intrigue (the plot has more than a passing resemblance to Dr. No) is pulpy by any standard, but the generous budget and talented cast of world-class martial artists puts this film in a category well above Lee's primitive Hong Kong productions. Unfortunately he's off the screen for large chunks of time as American maverick competitors (and champion martial artists) John Saxon and Jim Kelly take center stage, but once the fighting starts Lee takes over. The tournament setting provides an ample display of martial arts mastery of many styles and climaxes with a huge free-for-all, but the highlight is Lee's brutal one-on-one with the claw-fisted Han in the dynamic hall-of-mirrors battle. Lee narrows his eyes and tenses into a wiry force of sinew, speed, and ruthless determination. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Bruce Lee at His Incomparable Best
Considered by some critics to be the definitive martial-arts film, Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" (1973) is comic-book escapism on a grand scale. Robert Clouse received credit as director, but there's no doubt that Lee handled the terrific action sequences. The fights are almost nonstop as Lee performs impossible feats with lightning-fast, effortless precision. Though unoriginal in terms of scripting, "Enter the Dragon" represents Lee's finest 90 minutes on screen while featuring some of the best martial-arts choreography captured on film. It remains a spectacular swan song to his brief career. (For the Warner Home Video "special edition," two scenes were restored that provide insight into Lee's character and his motivation for tracking down the villainous Han. Despite good intentions, the additional scenes are ruined by horrendous dubbing. Hopefully, Warner will reissue "Enter the Dragon" in its original version.)

Enter The Dragon All Time Classic!
Enter the Dragon (ETD) was the last completed film of legendary martial arts expert Bruce Lee. It was Lee's dream to achieve international success and it is of extreme irony that he did not live to see all his dreams fulfilled. At least he left behind his legacy which includes ETD. Lee (character has the same name) is sent on a mission by a British organization of "information gathers" to infiltrate Han's (Shih Kien)island at an international tournament that is held every three years. Lee shares screen time with Williams (Jim Kelly middleweight karate champion) and Roper (John Saxon). The film was the first U.S.-Hong Kong co-production and was intended to introduce Lee to an international market.

While the film borrows heavily from Dr. No of the James Bond series it is Lee that separates this film from the mundane. Lee's screen presence is undeniable only surpassed by his phenomenal ability as a martial artist. His battle with the guards in the under ground dungeon is "extraordinary" as Han so aptly observes. Lee's mega watt glare is also a site to behold particularly when he stares down an unsuspecting henchman who dare's to question why Lee is not in the provided uniform. ETD is directed by Bob Clouse who actually does a good job freeing up the surroundings so that Lee has plenty of room to strut his stuff. All of the fight sequences were staged and expertly executed under the direction of Lee. A testament to this is that 30 years after it's initial release ETD can still hold it's own next to the more special effects driven features like "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or "Kiss of the Dragon."

In the climatic scene of ETD Lee exacts revenge on Han in spectacular fashion. I recommend this DVD without reservation it is simply a true classic in every sense of the word!

ULTIMATE KUNG FU CLASSIC
ENTER THE DRAGON Two-Disc Special Edition (Warner) is not only the best Bruce Lee movie but the best Kung Fu film (sorry, Quentin). It's been 30 years since Lee's untimely death andfor me, he's still the ultimate martial arts action guy in the movies.

This double disc has several compelling documentaries that examine Lee's life and skills. A special treat is previously unseen footage of Lee in action.

Disc Two includes John Little's feature length biography Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey with a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of The Game of Death.

The Best of Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, as any fan will tell you, is the definitive Bruce Lee film. It rightly deserves 5 stars both on its own merits and its influence on subsequent films. The audio and video quality have never been better. This deluxe 2-DVD set serves not just as a tribute to the film, but also to Bruce Lee's entire career. It includes documentaries on his life, as well as a reconstruction of several key scenes in Game of Death - the intended follow-up to Enter the Dragon. This is the DVD that Bruce Lee fans deserve, and newer fans will have no idea how spoiled they will be by the wealth of goodies Warners included in this set.

Exit the Dragon
So here it is... more than 30 years since the original theatrical release of Enter the Dragon, Warner Brothers releases the definitive 2 DVD Special Edition. It's a fine offering, long overdue, and considering the reasonable price, really offers a lot of nice extras, though most of them have been available elsewhere and have therefore been seen before (at least by rabid fans like me).

To start with, there is of course the movie Enter the Dragon (ETD) - Bruce Lee's magnum opus that was not released until after his unfortunate death in 1973, but sealed his immortality. The plot is simple enough - Bruce is a modern day Shaolin monk who is somehow enlisted by the British/Hong Kong government to infiltrate the island of Dr. Han (Shieh Kien), a crusty old renegade Shaolin gone bad who holds a yearly martial arts tournament to recruit talent for an international opium and prostitution racket. Roper (John Saxon), or "Loper" as Bruce says his name, is the established Hollywood caucasian star brought in because of reservations about Bruce's ability to carry the film, while Williams (Jim Kelly) is the token blaxploitation character who, this being the 70's, is kind of a Shaft/Superfly ass-kicker and, in the spirit of horror movies, is the first to die at the hand of Han - actually, at his artificial, interchangeable, iron, and oftentimes bladed hand. Even Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, as young Hong Kong stuntment before they became stars in their own right, make infamous appearances as guys on the receiving end of Bruce's wrath. But the real point, or value, of this movie is that Bruce Lee shines throughout with his incredible fight sequences - he once again casts Bob Wall as whipping boy, hitting him with lightning fast punches, an insane skip side kick, and a great groin shot that still makes me wince despite hundreds of viewings; he has some fantastic weapons sequences with staff, double escrima sticks, and nunchaku; and he more than lives up to his reputation as the "man with three legs" as he demolishes armies of scrawny Asian guys whose gung fu is pitiful in comparison (check out the guy laughing in the background as Bruce connects three successive roundhouse kicks to one sap's head in the final mob fight). This was totally innovative and amazing in 1973 as the first ever martial arts movie made in Hollywood and despite all the subsequent copycats and modern day wire-fu flicks, no one has ever matched Bruce's intensity, charisma, and moves. There are some classic dramatic sequences as well with Bruce speaking English in his own voice (unlike all of his Hong Kong movies whose English versions are horribly dubbed), such as Bruce teaching a student and rapping him on the head as he expounds some homespun Zen philosophy or Bruce poignantly asking "why doesn't someone just pull a .45 and settle it?" Incidentally, this is the uncut version of the movie with some extra scenes not included in the theatrical release - basically Bruce talking quasi-philosophy (well, actually, it's someone else dubbing in Bruce's voice) with his Shaolin elder that he later recalls in the final fight sequence.

Of course, few people who buy this DVD don't know all this already, so what's new? Well, there is a commentary track by producers Paul Heller and Fred Weintraub - there's some interesting tidbits, but overall it's disappointingly uninspired. Then there's "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon" - a newly produced documentary short that includes some rare and new footage - a clip from Bruce's Hong Kong TV appearance in which he breaks 4 dangling boards; an interview with John Saxon, Lalo Schifrin, and the kid who gets smacked on the head by Bruce in the movie (now apparently a well-known Hong Kong director); and several minutes of on-location footage shot with Ahna Capri's handheld Super 8 camera that has never been seen before (it's short of amazing, but it's new and therefore gold to diehard fans). On disc 1 there's also a soporific Linda Lee (Cadwell) interview, another "making of" featurette with on-location footage shot by the AD, John Little's short "In His Own Words" featuring most of the Pierre Burton interview, and some old black and white movies (with sound) of Bruce kicking his buddies and hitting his heavy bag in his Los Angeles backyard - though these have all been previously available in one place or another (including the 25th Anniversary ETD DVD).

Disc 2 includes all of the TV and theatrical trailers for the movie (somewhat repetitive) and two previously released Warner Brothers documentaries - Warrior's Journey, which captures and knits together the lost Game of Death footage (GOD) in its available entirety, and Curse of the Dragon, a George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) narrated documentary released around the time of Brandon Lee's death. These are both decent films, with Warrior's Journey a real gem with the GOD footage - the definitive way to watch Bruce in widescreen duel nunchakus with Dan Inosanto and try to deconstruct Kareem Abdul Jabbar's fighting style while sporting the iconic yellow and black tracksuit revived by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol 1. Curse of the Dragon is interview heavy (Kareem, Taky Kimura, Paul Heller, James Coburn, etc.) but also includes clips from Bruce's childhood movies, his Green Hornet screen test, his appearance at Ed Parker's Long Beach Karate touurnament, and some backyard work-out footage with Coburn. But once again, these films have already been released before on their own, so while decent, they're less than revelatory.

And so, what we have here is by far the best available version of ETD that now exists and probably ever will, complete with a lot of nice extras, most of which have been available elsewhere. It's nice to have it all in one package (there's no apparent need to sell Warrior's Journey as a standalone product anymore) at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Lee worshippers will no doubt wish that there was more - why not include the complete Green Hornet screen test, or a Jim Kelly or Jackie Chan interview or commentary track, the complete James Coburn training session footage, all of the Ahna Capri film, more ETD outtakes, or maybe even "Kentucky Fried Movie," a parody of ETD released many years ago... but what can you do - Bruce died 31 years ago and this is the legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Watch it as a comedy
As long as you go into this movie knowing that it's terrible: bad acting, bad "effects," bad story, bad... everything, then you'll love it. This is one of my favorite "goof on" movies; watch it as a comedy and have a dozen good laughs!

Welcome to female butt kicking.
With Cynthia Rothrock taking on the american film industry, starring as China O'Brien, a karate teacher, whom resign s her badge/gun after a alley-way shooting, returns home to her "sheriff" father. After witnessing her father been killed, she decides to campaign for her fathers position as sheriff, vowing to clean the town of all its corruption, she enlists the help of her young sweetheart, played by fellow blackbelt Richard Norton (whom she stars in numerous films after) helps clean the town, with their extreme talent of martial arts, only seen in most hong kong movies, (minus the dubbed dialogue, of course). This is a must for all martial arts like me.

My, oh my...
My wife rented this recently just so that she could see Keith Cooke, a martial artist whose work she admires. (He's of mixed Japanese and American descent, but he plays a Native American martial artist here.) Do not see this for the plot, the acting, the setting, or if you like movies with characters you actually care about. Do see it if you want to watch a female martial artist beat the snot out of a bunch of rednecks. There is no other point to this movie.

This movie was the reason I started Tae-Kwon-Do!!
Cynthia Rothrock was one of the reasons I started doing Tae-Kwon-do.I got to red belt and won a few sparring tournaments,though the storyline is campy,the martial arts performance is excellent!I also recommend all of Bruce Lee's movies and Best of the Best 1 for martial arts fans who like old school fighting!!

Fun, early Norton and Rothrock adventure
"China O'Brien" demonstrates the chemistry between martial artists Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock in an early co-starring effort that would ultimately make them a team in demand
for fight movie fans. This agreeable adventure casts Rothrock
in the lead, as she campaigns for town sheriff, with Norton as
her most loyal ally. It's a winning movie that laid the founda-
tion for later films for the pair such as "Rage and Honor" and
"Lady Dragon." It's a pleasure to return to a movie that, among
others, helped to promote the careers of two terrific stars! ... Read more

Reviews (67)

It hurts to say it, but . . .
. . . this is Bruce Lee's best film. Look, I hear the groans already, but consider the competition. Having watched all his films in order just recently, I was reminded how clunky and slow "Enter the Dragon" was. Apparently, there came a point in Bruce's approach to fight scenes where he would barely receive a punch, and instead just utterly dominate the opponent, no ebb and flow -- like his ultra brisk, almost anti-climactic demolition of Bob Wall in ETD.

Now, we all know "Game of Death" simply exists to use The Footage. And the 20-ish minutes of The Footage does appear at the end, and it's a very stylish, having-fun Bruce Lee -- not the sullen, monotone Bruce of ETD. The makers of the film went with a "Bruce double" for the rest of the film, often in shadow, wearing HUGE sunglasses, keeping his face turned away, etc. Every now and again, a snippet of actual Bruce gets edited in from an earlier movie, say, upon his walking into a room, or for a reaction shot. And some of these cut-away bits are pretty awkward -- few of them flow smoothly.

But having said all that, this film -- as a kung-fu film about a star named Billy Lo trying to break away from the syndicate -- is way, way above the average for this genre. For the trio of syndicate heavies, we get Mel Novak, Hugh O'Brian and Dean Jagger -- and these guys are FAR more compelling actors than you usually get for this type of flick. Some of the exchanges, with Dean Jagger especially, are deliciously sinister. The guy (actually, there may be two of them) playing the "Bruce double," while not looking a whole lot like Bruce (hence the sunglasses) and not exactly a riveting screen presence, has the fluidity of Bruce's kicks down pat -- which is no doubt why they hired him. Moreover, some of the fight scenes end with him getting beaten down and out, an effective dramatic element which the real Bruce had seemingly discarded. The real Bruce was doing movies which were becoming more and more of an "I-am-indestructible" exercise, only offering his steady obliteration of everyone else, even against noteworthy foes. But because we're dealing with a stand-in of sorts, HE can be beat down to a pulp. This at least lends a bit of dramatic flux.

And, of course, this film has The Footage, arguably Bruce's best work, and edited together pretty well from whatever they had on hand. BUT -- before we get to The Footage, the "Bruce double" has an absolutely fantastic fight with Bob Wall -- after Bob Wall has just gotten done having a very cool fight scene with Sammo Hung for "The Martial Arts Championship of the World," complete with a stadium of screaming fans! How much campy-goodness is THAT?! People who are simply bothered by the way the studio glommed onto The Footage in order to make a profitable flick are totally overlooking the much-better-than-average elements going on. The soundtrack is beyond classic -- the triumphant yet haunting horns announcing the titles somehow mesh so strongly with the realization of Bruce's untimely death -- it becomes the perfect music for his passing, as well as for the movie itself. And lest I forget, this DVD transfer is really crystal clear -- even some of the jarring "real Bruce" cutaways are made to almost work by the fact that the DVD looks so good.

Yeah, this film really needs to be cut some slack. If people are going to call the 70's-clunky "Enter the Dragon" a timeless classic, then this one deserves much more recognition. Robert Clouse directed this one (1978) between "Enter the Dragon" (1973) and "The Big Brawl" (1980) -- so the timeline pedigree is solid as well.

A CLASSIC MOVIE THAT OFFERS A FINAL GLIMPSE OF A TRUE MASTER
IN THE LAST MOVIE OF BRUCE LEE'S LIFE, A RISING MARTIAL ARTS STAR NAMED BILLY LO GETS HARASSED BY THE MAFIA. BUT, WHEN THEY VICIOUSLY SHOOT HIM, HE FAKES HIS DEATH AND GOES ON A MISSION FOR REVENGE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE REAL BRUCE LEE DIED HALFWAY THROUGH THE MAKING OF THIS FILM. BUT SIX YEARS LATER, ROBERT CLOUSE GATHERED UP ALL THE SURVIVING CAST MEMBERS AND WITH THE USE OF DOUBLES FILLING IN FOR LEE, THIS MOVIE WAS COMPLETED. A VERY GOOD MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE WITH SOME LEGENDARY FIGHTS. THE FIGHT BETWEEN BRUCE LEE AND KAREEM ABDUL JABAR IS A MUST SEE. FOOTAGE FROM BRUCE LEE'S ACTUAL FUNERAL WAS USED FOR ONE SCENE IN THIS MOVIE. NONETHLESS, BRUCE LEE FANS SHOULD ENJOY THIS FINAL LOOK AT A TRUE MASTER OF THE MARTIAL ARTS.

DO NOT BUY THIS FILM (READ THIS)
This film is an insult to everything Bruce Lee was. And they didn't even use all of the available fight footage. Instead, pick up "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey". It contains all of the original fight footage Bruce shot, along with a VERY in depth documentary covering his whole life. If you are a Bruce Lee or kung fu fan, that dvd is a must-have. Not this one.

"Game Of Death" Review
While billed as the "final film of Bruce Lee", it is important to note that this movie just splices footage from other Lee films in with both shots of a Lee double and the only actual material that Bruce recorded for the film, which clocks in at just over 20 minutes. The way that the filmmakers try to pass off a poor double as the real Bruce reminds one of the infamous Bela Lugosi "Plan 9 From Outer Space" curtain call. While the first hour or so of the movie is laughably bad, one of the big anti-climatic fights involving Bruce and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is worth every dime you put in. The jaw-dropping battle uses well-placed fight choreography as opposed to today's fancy camera tricks to make for one of the best martial arts fight routines captured on film. For those who want to know, the plot of the film surrounds a martial arts film star who fakes his death and returns to seek revenge on the mob. In a twisted sense of irony, Bruce's character is shot on a movie set with a gun that is filled with real bullets instead of blanks, the very same accident that would claim his son, Brandon, on the set of "The Crow", nearly twenty years later.

Game of Excellence
Oh, this is a great one. This is the one in which Bruce Lee fights Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oh man, that part is great. The whole movie is good, I think. And so is the music they play during the fighting.

There's this one cool part where Lee fights a motorcycle gang in a warehouse, and he hits a guy in the face with his bike! The end is excellent. Lee goes to this place and fights five martial arts masters in a row.

Also, in this movie, Lee uses nun chucks for at least ten minutes. It's so great. Lee died while shooting this movie, and most of it is a body double, but it's still very entertaining. His noises are great and so is his technique. No martial artist today can compare to Lee.

Watch out, though. After seeing this movie, I had a strong urge to fight people, and I did not control it. I went out and gave my neighbors a beating. They were doing some lawn work, so I hit one with a rake and used him to impale his son. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Big Brawl or Battle Creek Brawl
I have seen this film twice, once state side (I think it was 1979), and once while I was in the Philipines (in 1981). I don't remeber which name I view where, but it was the same great flick, and nether one had subtitles.

Being a fan of "Choppie Sockie" flicks, I knew Jackie Chan as one of the many Bruce Lee imitators that poped-up after Burce died, but this flick showed some talents I had not yet witnessed. Jackie's natural athletic abilities and willingness to try something different made this film vary enjoyable! In those Kung Fu Crazed days, this film was a plesent change from the revenge story lines that were the norm.

I highly recomend this movie! Unfortunately I'm still looking for a copy in english.

Near the top for its genre
I have seen quite a few martial arts films, and this ranks way up near the top. Jackie Chan is graceful and witty, and the choreography is extremely creative and well executed. Those looking for realism should avoid this movie, but I strongly recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor who enjoys high-quality kung fu.

The movie was filmed in and around San Antonio, Texas
I have seen this movie many times. I am also in this movie.
(I am the redheaded judge at the rollerstakeing scene)
It is not one of Mr. Chan's best movies, but its still worth
renting/buying. Mr. Chan did a great job in spite of the language barrier and not having any control over the action scenes. Silly, Camp and predicable.
If you are a fan of Jackie Chan movies its a must have. If you just want a good laugh its a great comedy.

Top Karate Comedy
You'll love Jackie Chan in one of his first (possibly his first) english speaking movies. A young man forced to fight in a large no holds bared street fight to gain the release of his brothers fiancee`, who was kidnapped by gangsters. The movie is full of action and comedy. A MUST SEE!!!!!!

Battle Creek Brawl (1980)
Jackie plays an immegrent who goes to the U.S.A. to help protect his grandfather's restaurant. When the local gangsters kidnap Jackie's sister-in-law Jackie's forced to enter a fighting tournament to win her back. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Bruce Lee at His Incomparable Best
Considered by some critics to be the definitive martial-arts film, Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" (1973) is comic-book escapism on a grand scale. Robert Clouse received credit as director, but there's no doubt that Lee handled the terrific action sequences. The fights are almost nonstop as Lee performs impossible feats with lightning-fast, effortless precision. Though unoriginal in terms of scripting, "Enter the Dragon" represents Lee's finest 90 minutes on screen while featuring some of the best martial-arts choreography captured on film. It remains a spectacular swan song to his brief career. (For the Warner Home Video "special edition," two scenes were restored that provide insight into Lee's character and his motivation for tracking down the villainous Han. Despite good intentions, the additional scenes are ruined by horrendous dubbing. Hopefully, Warner will reissue "Enter the Dragon" in its original version.)

Enter The Dragon All Time Classic!
Enter the Dragon (ETD) was the last completed film of legendary martial arts expert Bruce Lee. It was Lee's dream to achieve international success and it is of extreme irony that he did not live to see all his dreams fulfilled. At least he left behind his legacy which includes ETD. Lee (character has the same name) is sent on a mission by a British organization of "information gathers" to infiltrate Han's (Shih Kien)island at an international tournament that is held every three years. Lee shares screen time with Williams (Jim Kelly middleweight karate champion) and Roper (John Saxon). The film was the first U.S.-Hong Kong co-production and was intended to introduce Lee to an international market.

While the film borrows heavily from Dr. No of the James Bond series it is Lee that separates this film from the mundane. Lee's screen presence is undeniable only surpassed by his phenomenal ability as a martial artist. His battle with the guards in the under ground dungeon is "extraordinary" as Han so aptly observes. Lee's mega watt glare is also a site to behold particularly when he stares down an unsuspecting henchman who dare's to question why Lee is not in the provided uniform. ETD is directed by Bob Clouse who actually does a good job freeing up the surroundings so that Lee has plenty of room to strut his stuff. All of the fight sequences were staged and expertly executed under the direction of Lee. A testament to this is that 30 years after it's initial release ETD can still hold it's own next to the more special effects driven features like "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or "Kiss of the Dragon."

In the climatic scene of ETD Lee exacts revenge on Han in spectacular fashion. I recommend this DVD without reservation it is simply a true classic in every sense of the word!

ULTIMATE KUNG FU CLASSIC
ENTER THE DRAGON Two-Disc Special Edition (Warner) is not only the best Bruce Lee movie but the best Kung Fu film (sorry, Quentin). It's been 30 years since Lee's untimely death andfor me, he's still the ultimate martial arts action guy in the movies.

This double disc has several compelling documentaries that examine Lee's life and skills. A special treat is previously unseen footage of Lee in action.

Disc Two includes John Little's feature length biography Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey with a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of The Game of Death.

The Best of Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, as any fan will tell you, is the definitive Bruce Lee film. It rightly deserves 5 stars both on its own merits and its influence on subsequent films. The audio and video quality have never been better. This deluxe 2-DVD set serves not just as a tribute to the film, but also to Bruce Lee's entire career. It includes documentaries on his life, as well as a reconstruction of several key scenes in Game of Death - the intended follow-up to Enter the Dragon. This is the DVD that Bruce Lee fans deserve, and newer fans will have no idea how spoiled they will be by the wealth of goodies Warners included in this set.

Exit the Dragon
So here it is... more than 30 years since the original theatrical release of Enter the Dragon, Warner Brothers releases the definitive 2 DVD Special Edition. It's a fine offering, long overdue, and considering the reasonable price, really offers a lot of nice extras, though most of them have been available elsewhere and have therefore been seen before (at least by rabid fans like me).

To start with, there is of course the movie Enter the Dragon (ETD) - Bruce Lee's magnum opus that was not released until after his unfortunate death in 1973, but sealed his immortality. The plot is simple enough - Bruce is a modern day Shaolin monk who is somehow enlisted by the British/Hong Kong government to infiltrate the island of Dr. Han (Shieh Kien), a crusty old renegade Shaolin gone bad who holds a yearly martial arts tournament to recruit talent for an international opium and prostitution racket. Roper (John Saxon), or "Loper" as Bruce says his name, is the established Hollywood caucasian star brought in because of reservations about Bruce's ability to carry the film, while Williams (Jim Kelly) is the token blaxploitation character who, this being the 70's, is kind of a Shaft/Superfly ass-kicker and, in the spirit of horror movies, is the first to die at the hand of Han - actually, at his artificial, interchangeable, iron, and oftentimes bladed hand. Even Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, as young Hong Kong stuntment before they became stars in their own right, make infamous appearances as guys on the receiving end of Bruce's wrath. But the real point, or value, of this movie is that Bruce Lee shines throughout with his incredible fight sequences - he once again casts Bob Wall as whipping boy, hitting him with lightning fast punches, an insane skip side kick, and a great groin shot that still makes me wince despite hundreds of viewings; he has some fantastic weapons sequences with staff, double escrima sticks, and nunchaku; and he more than lives up to his reputation as the "man with three legs" as he demolishes armies of scrawny Asian guys whose gung fu is pitiful in comparison (check out the guy laughing in the background as Bruce connects three successive roundhouse kicks to one sap's head in the final mob fight). This was totally innovative and amazing in 1973 as the first ever martial arts movie made in Hollywood and despite all the subsequent copycats and modern day wire-fu flicks, no one has ever matched Bruce's intensity, charisma, and moves. There are some classic dramatic sequences as well with Bruce speaking English in his own voice (unlike all of his Hong Kong movies whose English versions are horribly dubbed), such as Bruce teaching a student and rapping him on the head as he expounds some homespun Zen philosophy or Bruce poignantly asking "why doesn't someone just pull a .45 and settle it?" Incidentally, this is the uncut version of the movie with some extra scenes not included in the theatrical release - basically Bruce talking quasi-philosophy (well, actually, it's someone else dubbing in Bruce's voice) with his Shaolin elder that he later recalls in the final fight sequence.

Of course, few people who buy this DVD don't know all this already, so what's new? Well, there is a commentary track by producers Paul Heller and Fred Weintraub - there's some interesting tidbits, but overall it's disappointingly uninspired. Then there's "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon" - a newly produced documentary short that includes some rare and new footage - a clip from Bruce's Hong Kong TV appearance in which he breaks 4 dangling boards; an interview with John Saxon, Lalo Schifrin, and the kid who gets smacked on the head by Bruce in the movie (now apparently a well-known Hong Kong director); and several minutes of on-location footage shot with Ahna Capri's handheld Super 8 camera that has never been seen before (it's short of amazing, but it's new and therefore gold to diehard fans). On disc 1 there's also a soporific Linda Lee (Cadwell) interview, another "making of" featurette with on-location footage shot by the AD, John Little's short "In His Own Words" featuring most of the Pierre Burton interview, and some old black and white movies (with sound) of Bruce kicking his buddies and hitting his heavy bag in his Los Angeles backyard - though these have all been previously available in one place or another (including the 25th Anniversary ETD DVD).

Disc 2 includes all of the TV and theatrical trailers for the movie (somewhat repetitive) and two previously released Warner Brothers documentaries - Warrior's Journey, which captures and knits together the lost Game of Death footage (GOD) in its available entirety, and Curse of the Dragon, a George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) narrated documentary released around the time of Brandon Lee's death. These are both decent films, with Warrior's Journey a real gem with the GOD footage - the definitive way to watch Bruce in widescreen duel nunchakus with Dan Inosanto and try to deconstruct Kareem Abdul Jabbar's fighting style while sporting the iconic yellow and black tracksuit revived by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol 1. Curse of the Dragon is interview heavy (Kareem, Taky Kimura, Paul Heller, James Coburn, etc.) but also includes clips from Bruce's childhood movies, his Green Hornet screen test, his appearance at Ed Parker's Long Beach Karate touurnament, and some backyard work-out footage with Coburn. But once again, these films have already been released before on their own, so while decent, they're less than revelatory.

And so, what we have here is by far the best available version of ETD that now exists and probably ever will, complete with a lot of nice extras, most of which have been available elsewhere. It's nice to have it all in one package (there's no apparent need to sell Warrior's Journey as a standalone product anymore) at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Lee worshippers will no doubt wish that there was more - why not include the complete Green Hornet screen test, or a Jim Kelly or Jackie Chan interview or commentary track, the complete James Coburn training session footage, all of the Ahna Capri film, more ETD outtakes, or maybe even "Kentucky Fried Movie," a parody of ETD released many years ago... but what can you do - Bruce died 31 years ago and this is the legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Based on the series "The Master"
This was just a couple of the last episodes of the series. It was a very good series but it never lasted long on Television. However, if you really like Martial Arts action then this is one of those series you don't want to miss, if you can still find it on VHS.

An interesting video
I bought this video because I love the movie star Demi Moore and was very interested see the young Demi working in this vídeo. I like it very much.

Story Of a Master Ninja Looking for his daughter.
This movie is about a white older guy that has been trained in the secret arts of the ninja. He came to america after thirty years in Japan to find the daughter he never knew he had. He teams up with a young boy who tries to do right and always ends up in trouble everywhere he travels. This story is about the young boy meeting up with Demi Moore in a town where the sheriff is bad and is trying to make Demi and her father sell their land so the sheriff and some other rich guys can build a shopping mall. Well the boy and his friend the "master ninja" end up getting envolved and all kinds of caos happens including the master using his ninja skills to stop the criminals from hurting the young Demi Moore. This is a very exciting movie!! Lots of fun and has some comedy in it with the ninja techniques. I rented it to see Sho Kosugi, but he is only in it as a bad guy who is stalking the master ninja and trying to kill him for leaving Japan. If your watching this to see Sho Kosugi the ninja he is not in it very much at all. But if you like ninja movie check it out it is really good, and the master takes on a new student the trouble maker boy!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Based on the series "The Master"
This was just a couple of the last episodes of the series. It was a very good series but it never lasted long on Television. However, if you really like Martial Arts action then this is one of those series you don't want to miss, if you can still find it on VHS.

An interesting video
I bought this video because I love the movie star Demi Moore and was very interested see the young Demi working in this vídeo. I like it very much.

Story Of a Master Ninja Looking for his daughter.
This movie is about a white older guy that has been trained in the secret arts of the ninja. He came to america after thirty years in Japan to find the daughter he never knew he had. He teams up with a young boy who tries to do right and always ends up in trouble everywhere he travels. This story is about the young boy meeting up with Demi Moore in a town where the sheriff is bad and is trying to make Demi and her father sell their land so the sheriff and some other rich guys can build a shopping mall. Well the boy and his friend the "master ninja" end up getting envolved and all kinds of caos happens including the master using his ninja skills to stop the criminals from hurting the young Demi Moore. This is a very exciting movie!! Lots of fun and has some comedy in it with the ninja techniques. I rented it to see Sho Kosugi, but he is only in it as a bad guy who is stalking the master ninja and trying to kill him for leaving Japan. If your watching this to see Sho Kosugi the ninja he is not in it very much at all. But if you like ninja movie check it out it is really good, and the master takes on a new student the trouble maker boy!!! ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Bruce Lee at His Incomparable Best
Considered by some critics to be the definitive martial-arts film, Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" (1973) is comic-book escapism on a grand scale. Robert Clouse received credit as director, but there's no doubt that Lee handled the terrific action sequences. The fights are almost nonstop as Lee performs impossible feats with lightning-fast, effortless precision. Though unoriginal in terms of scripting, "Enter the Dragon" represents Lee's finest 90 minutes on screen while featuring some of the best martial-arts choreography captured on film. It remains a spectacular swan song to his brief career. (For the Warner Home Video "special edition," two scenes were restored that provide insight into Lee's character and his motivation for tracking down the villainous Han. Despite good intentions, the additional scenes are ruined by horrendous dubbing. Hopefully, Warner will reissue "Enter the Dragon" in its original version.)

Enter The Dragon All Time Classic!
Enter the Dragon (ETD) was the last completed film of legendary martial arts expert Bruce Lee. It was Lee's dream to achieve international success and it is of extreme irony that he did not live to see all his dreams fulfilled. At least he left behind his legacy which includes ETD. Lee (character has the same name) is sent on a mission by a British organization of "information gathers" to infiltrate Han's (Shih Kien)island at an international tournament that is held every three years. Lee shares screen time with Williams (Jim Kelly middleweight karate champion) and Roper (John Saxon). The film was the first U.S.-Hong Kong co-production and was intended to introduce Lee to an international market.

While the film borrows heavily from Dr. No of the James Bond series it is Lee that separates this film from the mundane. Lee's screen presence is undeniable only surpassed by his phenomenal ability as a martial artist. His battle with the guards in the under ground dungeon is "extraordinary" as Han so aptly observes. Lee's mega watt glare is also a site to behold particularly when he stares down an unsuspecting henchman who dare's to question why Lee is not in the provided uniform. ETD is directed by Bob Clouse who actually does a good job freeing up the surroundings so that Lee has plenty of room to strut his stuff. All of the fight sequences were staged and expertly executed under the direction of Lee. A testament to this is that 30 years after it's initial release ETD can still hold it's own next to the more special effects driven features like "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or "Kiss of the Dragon."

In the climatic scene of ETD Lee exacts revenge on Han in spectacular fashion. I recommend this DVD without reservation it is simply a true classic in every sense of the word!

ULTIMATE KUNG FU CLASSIC
ENTER THE DRAGON Two-Disc Special Edition (Warner) is not only the best Bruce Lee movie but the best Kung Fu film (sorry, Quentin). It's been 30 years since Lee's untimely death andfor me, he's still the ultimate martial arts action guy in the movies.

This double disc has several compelling documentaries that examine Lee's life and skills. A special treat is previously unseen footage of Lee in action.

Disc Two includes John Little's feature length biography Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey with a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of The Game of Death.

The Best of Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, as any fan will tell you, is the definitive Bruce Lee film. It rightly deserves 5 stars both on its own merits and its influence on subsequent films. The audio and video quality have never been better. This deluxe 2-DVD set serves not just as a tribute to the film, but also to Bruce Lee's entire career. It includes documentaries on his life, as well as a reconstruction of several key scenes in Game of Death - the intended follow-up to Enter the Dragon. This is the DVD that Bruce Lee fans deserve, and newer fans will have no idea how spoiled they will be by the wealth of goodies Warners included in this set.

Exit the Dragon
So here it is... more than 30 years since the original theatrical release of Enter the Dragon, Warner Brothers releases the definitive 2 DVD Special Edition. It's a fine offering, long overdue, and considering the reasonable price, really offers a lot of nice extras, though most of them have been available elsewhere and have therefore been seen before (at least by rabid fans like me).

To start with, there is of course the movie Enter the Dragon (ETD) - Bruce Lee's magnum opus that was not released until after his unfortunate death in 1973, but sealed his immortality. The plot is simple enough - Bruce is a modern day Shaolin monk who is somehow enlisted by the British/Hong Kong government to infiltrate the island of Dr. Han (Shieh Kien), a crusty old renegade Shaolin gone bad who holds a yearly martial arts tournament to recruit talent for an international opium and prostitution racket. Roper (John Saxon), or "Loper" as Bruce says his name, is the established Hollywood caucasian star brought in because of reservations about Bruce's ability to carry the film, while Williams (Jim Kelly) is the token blaxploitation character who, this being the 70's, is kind of a Shaft/Superfly ass-kicker and, in the spirit of horror movies, is the first to die at the hand of Han - actually, at his artificial, interchangeable, iron, and oftentimes bladed hand. Even Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, as young Hong Kong stuntment before they became stars in their own right, make infamous appearances as guys on the receiving end of Bruce's wrath. But the real point, or value, of this movie is that Bruce Lee shines throughout with his incredible fight sequences - he once again casts Bob Wall as whipping boy, hitting him with lightning fast punches, an insane skip side kick, and a great groin shot that still makes me wince despite hundreds of viewings; he has some fantastic weapons sequences with staff, double escrima sticks, and nunchaku; and he more than lives up to his reputation as the "man with three legs" as he demolishes armies of scrawny Asian guys whose gung fu is pitiful in comparison (check out the guy laughing in the background as Bruce connects three successive roundhouse kicks to one sap's head in the final mob fight). This was totally innovative and amazing in 1973 as the first ever martial arts movie made in Hollywood and despite all the subsequent copycats and modern day wire-fu flicks, no one has ever matched Bruce's intensity, charisma, and moves. There are some classic dramatic sequences as well with Bruce speaking English in his own voice (unlike all of his Hong Kong movies whose English versions are horribly dubbed), such as Bruce teaching a student and rapping him on the head as he expounds some homespun Zen philosophy or Bruce poignantly asking "why doesn't someone just pull a .45 and settle it?" Incidentally, this is the uncut version of the movie with some extra scenes not included in the theatrical release - basically Bruce talking quasi-philosophy (well, actually, it's someone else dubbing in Bruce's voice) with his Shaolin elder that he later recalls in the final fight sequence.

Of course, few people who buy this DVD don't know all this already, so what's new? Well, there is a commentary track by producers Paul Heller and Fred Weintraub - there's some interesting tidbits, but overall it's disappointingly uninspired. Then there's "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon" - a newly produced documentary short that includes some rare and new footage - a clip from Bruce's Hong Kong TV appearance in which he breaks 4 dangling boards; an interview with John Saxon, Lalo Schifrin, and the kid who gets smacked on the head by Bruce in the movie (now apparently a well-known Hong Kong director); and several minutes of on-location footage shot with Ahna Capri's handheld Super 8 camera that has never been seen before (it's short of amazing, but it's new and therefore gold to diehard fans). On disc 1 there's also a soporific Linda Lee (Cadwell) interview, another "making of" featurette with on-location footage shot by the AD, John Little's short "In His Own Words" featuring most of the Pierre Burton interview, and some old black and white movies (with sound) of Bruce kicking his buddies and hitting his heavy bag in his Los Angeles backyard - though these have all been previously available in one place or another (including the 25th Anniversary ETD DVD).

Disc 2 includes all of the TV and theatrical trailers for the movie (somewhat repetitive) and two previously released Warner Brothers documentaries - Warrior's Journey, which captures and knits together the lost Game of Death footage (GOD) in its available entirety, and Curse of the Dragon, a George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) narrated documentary released around the time of Brandon Lee's death. These are both decent films, with Warrior's Journey a real gem with the GOD footage - the definitive way to watch Bruce in widescreen duel nunchakus with Dan Inosanto and try to deconstruct Kareem Abdul Jabbar's fighting style while sporting the iconic yellow and black tracksuit revived by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol 1. Curse of the Dragon is interview heavy (Kareem, Taky Kimura, Paul Heller, James Coburn, etc.) but also includes clips from Bruce's childhood movies, his Green Hornet screen test, his appearance at Ed Parker's Long Beach Karate touurnament, and some backyard work-out footage with Coburn. But once again, these films have already been released before on their own, so while decent, they're less than revelatory.

And so, what we have here is by far the best available version of ETD that now exists and probably ever will, complete with a lot of nice extras, most of which have been available elsewhere. It's nice to have it all in one package (there's no apparent need to sell Warrior's Journey as a standalone product anymore) at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Lee worshippers will no doubt wish that there was more - why not include the complete Green Hornet screen test, or a Jim Kelly or Jackie Chan interview or commentary track, the complete James Coburn training session footage, all of the Ahna Capri film, more ETD outtakes, or maybe even "Kentucky Fried Movie," a parody of ETD released many years ago... but what can you do - Bruce died 31 years ago and this is the legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

It hurts to say it, but . . .
. . . this is Bruce Lee's best film. Look, I hear the groans already, but consider the competition. Having watched all his films in order just recently, I was reminded how clunky and slow "Enter the Dragon" was. Apparently, there came a point in Bruce's approach to fight scenes where he would barely receive a punch, and instead just utterly dominate the opponent, no ebb and flow -- like his ultra brisk, almost anti-climactic demolition of Bob Wall in ETD.

Now, we all know "Game of Death" simply exists to use The Footage. And the 20-ish minutes of The Footage does appear at the end, and it's a very stylish, having-fun Bruce Lee -- not the sullen, monotone Bruce of ETD. The makers of the film went with a "Bruce double" for the rest of the film, often in shadow, wearing HUGE sunglasses, keeping his face turned away, etc. Every now and again, a snippet of actual Bruce gets edited in from an earlier movie, say, upon his walking into a room, or for a reaction shot. And some of these cut-away bits are pretty awkward -- few of them flow smoothly.

But having said all that, this film -- as a kung-fu film about a star named Billy Lo trying to break away from the syndicate -- is way, way above the average for this genre. For the trio of syndicate heavies, we get Mel Novak, Hugh O'Brian and Dean Jagger -- and these guys are FAR more compelling actors than you usually get for this type of flick. Some of the exchanges, with Dean Jagger especially, are deliciously sinister. The guy (actually, there may be two of them) playing the "Bruce double," while not looking a whole lot like Bruce (hence the sunglasses) and not exactly a riveting screen presence, has the fluidity of Bruce's kicks down pat -- which is no doubt why they hired him. Moreover, some of the fight scenes end with him getting beaten down and out, an effective dramatic element which the real Bruce had seemingly discarded. The real Bruce was doing movies which were becoming more and more of an "I-am-indestructible" exercise, only offering his steady obliteration of everyone else, even against noteworthy foes. But because we're dealing with a stand-in of sorts, HE can be beat down to a pulp. This at least lends a bit of dramatic flux.

And, of course, this film has The Footage, arguably Bruce's best work, and edited together pretty well from whatever they had on hand. BUT -- before we get to The Footage, the "Bruce double" has an absolutely fantastic fight with Bob Wall -- after Bob Wall has just gotten done having a very cool fight scene with Sammo Hung for "The Martial Arts Championship of the World," complete with a stadium of screaming fans! How much campy-goodness is THAT?! People who are simply bothered by the way the studio glommed onto The Footage in order to make a profitable flick are totally overlooking the much-better-than-average elements going on. The soundtrack is beyond classic -- the triumphant yet haunting horns announcing the titles somehow mesh so strongly with the realization of Bruce's untimely death -- it becomes the perfect music for his passing, as well as for the movie itself. And lest I forget, this DVD transfer is really crystal clear -- even some of the jarring "real Bruce" cutaways are made to almost work by the fact that the DVD looks so good.

Yeah, this film really needs to be cut some slack. If people are going to call the 70's-clunky "Enter the Dragon" a timeless classic, then this one deserves much more recognition. Robert Clouse directed this one (1978) between "Enter the Dragon" (1973) and "The Big Brawl" (1980) -- so the timeline pedigree is solid as well.

A CLASSIC MOVIE THAT OFFERS A FINAL GLIMPSE OF A TRUE MASTER
IN THE LAST MOVIE OF BRUCE LEE'S LIFE, A RISING MARTIAL ARTS STAR NAMED BILLY LO GETS HARASSED BY THE MAFIA. BUT, WHEN THEY VICIOUSLY SHOOT HIM, HE FAKES HIS DEATH AND GOES ON A MISSION FOR REVENGE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE REAL BRUCE LEE DIED HALFWAY THROUGH THE MAKING OF THIS FILM. BUT SIX YEARS LATER, ROBERT CLOUSE GATHERED UP ALL THE SURVIVING CAST MEMBERS AND WITH THE USE OF DOUBLES FILLING IN FOR LEE, THIS MOVIE WAS COMPLETED. A VERY GOOD MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE WITH SOME LEGENDARY FIGHTS. THE FIGHT BETWEEN BRUCE LEE AND KAREEM ABDUL JABAR IS A MUST SEE. FOOTAGE FROM BRUCE LEE'S ACTUAL FUNERAL WAS USED FOR ONE SCENE IN THIS MOVIE. NONETHLESS, BRUCE LEE FANS SHOULD ENJOY THIS FINAL LOOK AT A TRUE MASTER OF THE MARTIAL ARTS.

DO NOT BUY THIS FILM (READ THIS)
This film is an insult to everything Bruce Lee was. And they didn't even use all of the available fight footage. Instead, pick up "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey". It contains all of the original fight footage Bruce shot, along with a VERY in depth documentary covering his whole life. If you are a Bruce Lee or kung fu fan, that dvd is a must-have. Not this one.

"Game Of Death" Review
While billed as the "final film of Bruce Lee", it is important to note that this movie just splices footage from other Lee films in with both shots of a Lee double and the only actual material that Bruce recorded for the film, which clocks in at just over 20 minutes. The way that the filmmakers try to pass off a poor double as the real Br