Review of Enter the Dragon (1973) by Daniel A — 27 Feb 2011

Often cited as the ultimate movie for martial arts fans, Enter The Dragon is the film that made Bruce Lee a household name amongst Western audiences, and also serves as his final cinematic outing before his unfortunate death at just 32.

Enter The Dragon is a historically interesting film as it marks the first time a martial arts film was produced by an American studio. Warner Brothers clearly saw the money making potential of a kung fu adventure made in the English language, and drafted China's hottest star to front the movie. Alongside Lee, John Saxon and African-American Jim Kelly were brought in to form a multi-racial 'Deadly Three'.

The film feels almost like a Chinese James Bond movie. Lee plays a respected martial artist when a member of the British Intelligence Agency requests that he spy on a villainous drug trafficker under the guise of entering a martial arts competition being held on his private island. Once there he fights his way through the rounds, while uncovering as much dirt as he can on his unethical host. Meanwhile beautiful women and pumped up henchmen come and go, just as in any self-respecting 007 movie. It's a decent plot, that held my attention throughout and provides endless opportunities for Lee to wow the audience with his martial arts skills.

What sets Enter The Dragon apart is Lee's incredible talent as an action hero. The fight sequences on show range from nail biting one-on-one duels, to enormous battles featuring more than fifty men. Most famous is the hall of mirrors finale which provides the perfect ending to the film, and shows just what an athlete Lee really is. He reportedly choreographed every sequence and insisted on using as much real combat as possible in order to make the film completely authentic. Famously his trademark running thrust kick broke co-star Robert Wall's sternum as well as the arms of two extras in the crowd who tried to catch him!

Technically the film is fine. Director Robert Clouse keeps the story moving at a good pace and handles the colourful characters adequately. The predictably 'Oriental' score is what it is, and at least serves its purpose in elevating the already exhilarating action. However the most problematic area is the sound editing. Kicks sound more like whip cracks and punches like gunshots, but I guess it all adds to the experience, and alongside Lee's infamous shrieks and wails, it really goes toward making the film what it is.

Overall Enter The Dragon is a vastly entertaining film that's really all about the now legendary Bruce Lee; he's the star of the movie in every sense of the word. This is a must for any fan of the martial arts of action genre.