When I saw that talyseon was holding an Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting! Write Off, I new I had to submit an entry. After all, I have been watching martial arts movies for most of my life. The problem for me was which movie to choose. After some long and careful thought, I decided to begin with the movie that started it all for many of us in the western world. I speak of course, of the blockbuster, kung-fu classic, Enter the Dragon.

Enter the Dragon is undoubtedly the best known kung-fu movie of its generation, but it's probably not the best kung-fu movie ever, nor is it arguably my favorite (although it is certainly a contender). However, it virtually defined the martial-arts-contest sub-genre, and it opened the door for the host of tributes and rip-offs that followed. It is also the last major movie made by Bruce Lee, since it was released in 1973 just 3 weeks after his tragic early death. When he first saw the final pre-release copy, I wonder if he had any inkling of what a legend he was to become, and how rich and famous this move could have made him. Alas, that was not to be, but I digress.

The central plot of Enter the Dragon focuses on three entrants -- Lee (Bruce Lee), Roper (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly) -- into a martial arts competition taking place on Han Island, a mysterious island off the coast of Hong Kong. The competition has been organized by renegade Shaolin Monk Han (Kien Shih), who is using both the island and the competition as a front for his drug running operation.

Roper and Williams are old Vietnam War buddies, and just entering for fun. Lee, however, has been asked to investigate by the Hong Kong police. Not that he needs any encouragement, since Han's thugs were responsible for the assault and murder of his baby sister, which has left him just a trifle miffed. The plot that follows is thin and somewhat predictable, but it serves as an adequate reason for all the fight scenes that follow.

And what fight scenes there are. This movie has a tremendous number of extremely high-quality fights. Saxon, Kelly and Shih all put in stellar fight sequences, and Bruce Lee was never better. His intensity, speed and accuracy make up for any triteness or holes in the plotting. When you think of kung-fu, this is what it's all about.

There is no lack of good fighters in the supporting cast either, which includes Sammo Hung, Bolo Yeung (as Yang Sze), Bob Wall, Yuen Biao and a very young Jackie Chan. Add in the big budget sets, the hordes of extras, the excellent score, and you have the first true martial arts epic. You may see a better final fight sequence, but I doubt you will ever see a bigger one.

While the acting is decent enough to carry the plot, and the plot is sufficient to carry the action, it is the action that makes the movie. If you don't like martial arts choreography, there is absolutely no reason to watch this movie, but if you do then Enter the Dragon is pure joy. True martial arts fans will not be content with merely watching this movie; they will have to have their own copy. 5 Stars and highly recommended.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD