Review of The Last Dragon (1985) by George N — 17 May 2010

Ugh! Bad 80s music and fashions mixed into Motown's homage to Bruce Lee. Indeed, Bruce himself shows up in film clips throughout the movie.

This film is the only one I can think of with two lead actors who only have one name - Taimak and Vanity. Both have a natural screen presence. Taimak, an actual martial artist, had no acting experience, but comes off just as the writers imagined him - naive and earnest, yet a skilled martial artist.

Vanity, too, was luminous. Oddly, it was when this singer (a protege of Prince) started singing that I had to tune out. It was awful.

At least a couple big-name actors here, including Danny Aiello as a clowning tough-guy second banana to the lead villain. William H Macy had a bit part as Vanity's manager.

Especially hilarious was Sho-Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem. Well, I don't know whether to laugh or be horrified at the degradation of both Asian and black culture that occured in just one character.

I don't totally trash this because I think it was done out of love for martial arts, and that the few setpieces are pretty good.

Also because the guy stomped the boom box playing disco at the movie theater, matching Bruce's moves on screen.