PRODUCED
BY PAUL HELLER,BRUCE LEE & FRED WEINTRAUB
DIRECTED
BY ROBERT CLOUSE
GENRE:MARTIAL
ARTS/ACTION
RATED:AUSTRALIA:MA/UK:18/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:98 MIN
Not
being able to land a leading role in a western film for years -in
the process becoming a huge star in China- actor and martial artist
extraordinaire Bruce Lee finally got his break with Enter the Dragon.
Lee stars as (funnily enough) Lee, a martial artist from the Shaolin
Temple who agrees to help British Intelligence by entering a martial
artist tournament hosted by former Shaolin monk Han (Shi Kein) who
the British believe is dealing with Opium. The only problem is they
have no evidence to back their claims, so it is up to Lee to gather
information while also bringing back respect to his temple and (in
a ridiculous sub-plot) avenge the death of his sister who took her
own life when faced with the prospect of being violated by
Hans men.
A film that greatly influenced the martial arts genre with the use
of flash backs and themes of honour and revenge that are common place
since this film was released (while the whole martial tournament angle
has been used in everything from Blood Sport to Mortal
Kombat), Enter the Dragon never the less suffers from
the traits found in most martial arts films of the 1970's. The acting
is wooden and the sound effects are even worse (especially in terms
of voice dubbing). But the fight scenes are excellent especially in
reference to Bruce Lee, who although may not be the greatest actor
his presence and athletic ability sure as hell make him one of the
greatest stars as he dazzles with his Jeet Kun Do.
In fact when the camera is not on him the film falters tremendously
as neither John Saxon nor Jim Kelly have the charisma nor acting chops
to hold centre stage. This is Bruce Lee's film, the one that finally
broke him to a larger western audience and I am certain had he not
passed away there would have been many more good films to come.
