Review of Enter the Dragon (1973) by Steven G — 27 Mar 2011

After continuous viewings every few years or so, I've developed something akin to admiration for Enter the Dragon. More than just a launching pad for the Hong Kong exploitation craze in America and the career of the all to soon 'late' Bruce Lee, as 70s exploitation cinema goes it's rather well made.

The script plays something along the lines of a 007 picture with it's spy-like secret mission to take out an opium overlord, although more characters are given weight and purpose. Also excluded in Lee's hero is the male misogynism often attributed to Fleming's character.

As for the action, while the camera shoots too close more often than it should, often enough it's quite exhilarating, especially when Lee's on screen. The set pieces are especially exceptional, most notably the hall of mirrors sequence which revels in it's filmmaking craft.