Enter The Dragon

Bruce Lee, God rest his soul, was one of the most popular and influential martial artists back in his day, and remains arguably the most iconic of all ass-kicking movie stars.  He was tough, fast, and had skills and abilities that, even after several decades, still have not been equalled. He was the quintessential quick-fisted movie hero, and today, he is going to receive the acknowledgement he deserves. I am going to review a Bruce Lee film that celebrates its 40th birthday this year. It's the one and only marital arts action epic Enter The Dragon

Directed by Robert Clouse (The Pack, The Ultimate Warrior) Enter The Dragon stars Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly, Shih Kien, and Robert Wall. The plot centres around a martial arts tournament taking place on an island at the behest of a mysterious individual with unknown intentions. Regarded by many as the greatest Kung Fu film of all time, it's time to celebrate this little marvel and give it the credit it so richly deserves. Let's dive right in.

Lee (his actual name in the film) is a Shaolin martial artist with, you guessed it, unrivalled skills in hand-to-hand combat. He is contacted by a British Intelligence Agent named Braithwaite, who is attempting to expose the clandestine activities of a former Shaolin monk named Han (Shih Kien). Han is hosting a martial arts tournament on his private island, ostensibly to recruit the world's best fighters, and arrangements are made for Lee to compete.

Once on the island he runs into 2 other competitors: Roper (Saxon) a gambler on the run from the mob, and Williams (Kelly), an African-American activist, and old friend of Roper.

Lee makes contact with a woman named Mei Ling, an informant placed on the island by Braithwaite. From her, Lee discovers that many of Han's women often disappear and are never heard from again, generally turning up dead from Heroin overdoses. Lee begins to sneak out of his room at night, an action strictly forbidden within the compound, and tries his best to investigate Han's shady organisation.

                                    Jackie Chan getting beaten up by Lee in his first film role.

It's a pretty basic set up. the plot and characters are nothing special. Naturally, what makes this movie are the fight scenes. If you asked me to named the greatest movie fight scene, it would almost certainly be one from this film. Most notably the scene where he fights Han's guards using his fists, feet, and whatever weapons he liberates from his opponents.

But one of the things about it that makes it so great is that, unlike many other martial arts movies, it isn't simply mindless fighting, it actually also has some emotional backing. Lee's first fight one the island is against one of Han's bodyguards, who was responsible for his sisters death many years ago. And after the final battle, Roper discovers the body of a woman that he shared a bond with while on the island.

In it's day, the film was a phenomenon. Today, it's regarded as a masterpiece, and one of the most sought-after martial arts films, and the defining moments of the 'Golden Age of Kung Fu Cinema'. It's slick, it's well acted, it's engaging, has an easy-to-follow storyline, legitimate emotion, and some of histories greatest fight scenes. It could only have come from 1 man, often imitated, never bettered. Bruce Lee, you are sorely missed.