Film: Enter The Dragon
Director: Robert Clouse / Bruce Lee
Country: USA / Hong Kong
Released: August 1973
Runtime: 102 minutes
Genre: Martial Arts Movie
Studio: Golden Harvest / Warner Bros
Influenced: John Woo, John G Avildsen, Tarantino, Ang Lee, The Wachowskis, Brett Ratner
Not to be found anywhere near a list of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, let alone 1973, Enter The Dragon – Bruce Lee's finest cinematic achievement – knocks most arthouse films into next week. There was simply no film for me that matched the excitement of watching this as a teenage boy, and its quality still holds up on repeated viewings. Enter the Dragon was a pioneering effort to merge American and Hong Kong cinema, serving as a significant crossover point in the history of martial arts on screen. To help finance and produce the film, Golden Harvest – a renowned Hong Kong-based studio – teamed up with Warner Bros, marking one of the first Hollywood-China collaborations.
The idea of Enter the Dragon originated with Bruce Lee and his desire to make a film that would present martial arts in a respectful and realistic light. Lee, along with producers Fred Weintraub and Paul Heller, decided to create a martial arts film with high production values that could succeed in both Eastern and Western markets. This cooperation reflected a globalisation of filmmaking and would set a precedent for many future cinematic collaborations. Lee starred as the protagonist, a highly skilled Shaolin martial artist named Lee, who is recruited by the British Intelligence agency to infiltrate an island owned by a mysterious and villainous character, Han (the influence of the James Bond franchise is clear to see). Han, a former Shaolin student turned rogue, hosts a martial arts tournament every three years on his private island, and there are suspicions of criminal activities happening in the background.
Two other characters also travel to the island for the tournament, providing parallel narratives: Roper (John Saxon), a debt-ridden playboy, and Williams (Jim Kelly), an African-American civil rights activist who is on the run from the law. The latter plot line was inspired by the Blaxploitation genre that emerged in the early 70s. All three characters find themselves fighting not just in the tournament but also against the criminal machinations of Han. One of the film's key moments is the iconic hall of mirrors climax, where Lee faces off with Han. The scene, with its innovative use of mirrors and lighting, is so cutting-edge impressive in terms of its choreography. Another pivotal scene is when Lee discovers the underground lair where Han keeps prisoners and runs a drug operation.
Enter the Dragon brought a number of significant innovations to the film industry. For starters, it showcased martial arts in a way never seen before in Hollywood. This was largely due to Lee's authentic presentation of martial arts styles, particularly his own Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do, along with other styles like Tai Chi, Taekwondo and Hapkido. This paved the way for many more martial arts films in Hollywood, igniting a global fascination with the genre. The film is also notable for its representation of diverse cultures, including Asian, African-American and Western characters, each with their unique backgrounds. Additionally, the use of exotic locations, the novel idea of a martial arts tournament at the heart of the film and the creative cinematography all left a profound legacy on the genre.
Enter the Dragon brought a number of significant innovations to the film industry. For starters, it showcased martial arts in a way never seen before in Hollywood. This was largely due to Lee's authentic presentation of martial arts styles, particularly his own Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do, along with other styles like Tai Chi, Taekwondo and Hapkido. This paved the way for many more martial arts films in Hollywood, igniting a global fascination with the genre. The film is also notable for its representation of diverse cultures, including Asian, African-American and Western characters, each with their unique backgrounds. Additionally, the use of exotic locations, the novel idea of a martial arts tournament at the heart of the film and the creative cinematography all left a profound legacy on the genre.
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