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Reviews
Meng long guo jiang (1972)
Entertaining, if not brilliant
This film is basically your standard kung fu movie, with the obvious exception of being directed by Bruce Lee. Lee, who also stars in the film, is a suprisingly good filmaker; he keeps the feel of the film light enough to avoid being laughable. This is the same simple formula that later made Jackie Chan a kung fu superstar: don't take the film to seriously, or it may come off as laughable. The fight with Chuck Norris is worth the price of this one, but it isn't the only great scene. All in all, I'd say that "Way of the Dragon/Return of the Dragon" is tied with "Fist of Fury/Chinese Connection" as Lee's second best film (after "Enter the Dragon").
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Who cares?
This movie tells a tightly knit and believable story that is also very engrossing. The actors are excellent and the direction is top-notch. However, I must ask- who cares? This is a martial arts movie, people want to see martial arts, not a bunch of idiots flying around on wires! Why do you think "Iron Monkey" and "Romeo Must Die" were flops? At least "The One" and "The Matrix" had truly interesting plots and, more importently, real martial arts to back up the computer-generated effects. If you want to see real modern martial arts movies, check out "The Legend of Drunken Master" or "Fist of Legend", or check out classics like "36 Crazy Fists" or any of Bruce Lee's movies ("Fists of Fury", "The Chinese Connection", "Return of the Dragon", or "Enter the Dragon". Avoid, however, "Game of Death").
Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980)
Why make this film?
POSSIBLE SPOILERS I desperately want to believe that this film was made tongue-in-cheek, but I'm afraid it wasn't. What I can't understand is why this film was even made. It is such a mockery of a great man. I supposed that this film can be enjoyed for its (unitintianal) humor, such as: -Adolf Ceasar's obviously fake interview with Bruce Lee - Aaron Banks' obviously fake conversation with Bruce ("Wow, that's quite a manuever!") -Bill Louie ripping out a man's eyeballs -Bill Louie as Kato -Fred Williamson being confused with Henry Belefante -Scenes from an old Chinese soap opera being dubbed into "the Bruce Lee story" -Scenes from an old samurai movie being dubbed into the story of Bruce Lee's grandfather -so much more!
I wanted to give this movie at least a two (for the unitentional humor), but it is such an insult to Bruce Lee, his family, his fans, and everyone watching this movie that I'll just give it a one. Watch "Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth" instead. 1 out of 10.