After Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Clint Eastwood, the fourth and final spot on the Mount Rushmore of Man Movie Men belongs inarguably to Bruce Lee. The martial arts master and pristine physical specimen would make just five films in his brief career, and the last, “Enter the Dragon” in 1973, would ultimately be his most renowned. Released to theatres just six days after Lee’s death, “Enter the Dragon” (which Lee would also serve as co-writer, co-director, and co-producer) has since gone down as one of the greatest action and Kung-Fu flicks in the history of cinema.
“Enter the Dragon” is a straight up man movie. There are no bells or whistles involved in the plot. The ending isn’t one that will leave you deep in thought. The characters are laid out at the onset – good and bad – and are then pitted against each other with rooting interests not possible for anyone other than Bruce Lee (who plays a character simply called ‘Lee’).
Any depth is done just for show, and to strengthen the already cemented roles of good or evil. You know what’s going to happen. You have a good sense for how its going to be done. And the lines spoken by the all powerful Lee are out of this world. Stealing from the root of typical over-the-top wise and adroit martial artist masters, he delivers them with such fervor they’ll make you laugh and bow your head at the same time. You couldn’t make these lines up if you tried.
There is no opponent because the word “I” does not exist…
The script for “Enter the Dragon” was Lee’s personal creation, and reads out like the instruction manual for any number of combat karate style video games I played as a kid. Lee is an all knowing and masterful fighter. The villain is a mysterious man named Han – a renegade monk who has been ostracized from Lee’s Shaolin temple. Han resides in a fortress on an island he owns in the middle of the ocean. The good guys suspect Han is involved in narcotics and sex-slave trafficking. “We know everything, we can prove nothing.” Mr. Braithwaite the Intelligence Agent explains to Lee.
What is the highest technique you hope to achieve? To have no technique…
Han holds a martial arts tournament on his remote island every three years. The tournament is simply a front for Han to recruit new henchmen to his evil schemes. As Han himself explains, he is investing in the business of corruption. Entry in the tournament is Lee’s way onto the island. More importantly, its a good excuse to showcase some great fights.
A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously…
Like any good combat video game, Han is surrounded by a gaggle of sinister henchmen, all of course being skilled fighters themselves. The characters include the unforgettable and purely sinister muscleman Bolo and Han’s personal bodyguard O’Hara – who of course was involved in the death of Lee’s sister some years ago.
Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come…
During the initial meeting at the beginning, Lee himself poses the question everyone watching would no doubt be asking. “Why doesn’t someone pull a ’45 and bang! Settle it.” The reason is quickly explained and all forms of guns and weapons are hereafter dismissed. “Any bloody fool can pull a trigger.” Mr. Braithwaite says as he tasks Lee with the mission of going up against Han.
When there is an opportunity I do not hit. It hits all by itself…
A motley assortment of fighters make their way to the tournament for a myriad of reasons. Roper is a gambler who owes large debts to the mob. Williams is a civil rights activist with a point to prove. Parsons is just a jerk who likes to fight, and is given no other back story.
Its like a finger pointing at the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of the heavenly glory…
“Enter the Dragon” features a cast of martial artists who are secondary actors. The fights are well choreographed and full of violence and blood. Corny sound effects and noises were dubbed post production, giving the movie an almost parody-like feel. The story is a perfect match to a video game. Even the character names Roper and Williams were later used in the arcade hit Double Dragon.
Unlike the other faces of the Mount Rushmore of Man Movie Men, there are no photos of Lee as an aging Hollywood statesman. Bruce Lee would die at the age of 32 and there is something of a mythical lore about seeing him on screen and knowing he would be gone so quickly thereafter.
I had my doubts, but “Enter the Dragon” proved me wrong. It withstands the test of time as a movie that’s some 40+ years old and still going strong. Its a fun movie with modest humor and an abundance of action with its simplicity being what makes it great.
by – Matt Christopher
