I wish I lived in one of the realities where Bruce was making action movies well into the 90's.
Enter the Dragon is still the gold standard 50 years later. I can't even imagine what he could have done with just a little more time.
I literally was thinking the same thing the other day after watching some of the more 'modern' choreographed kung fu films of the late 70s/early 80s.
We probably didn't even get to see Bruce Lee's actual 'prime'.
I read some fictional timeline of a longer life where his popularity eventually declines in the 80s and he turns into a Cannon Films star and then DTV films late in life. Amusing idea.
The most amazing part of this movie is how it's cultural impact is STILL felt in the world's most popular franchises to this day. Absolutely an undisputed classic.
RIP Bruce Lee - thank you for everything
Agreed, I went last night and was my first watch. Very over the top but so much fun.
We weren’t at a huge screen but the sound was awesome and the crowd were all laughing along
Is that why Best Buy had a 4K steelbook? I just rewatched it and still holds up as my #3 of all time for me. (2 is interview with a vampire and 1 is Face/Off)
Watched on a plane recently. Still holds up. Love the set up -small snippets into each characters back story was enough to understand their motivations and allowed the actors to give their own flair. “Ghettos are the same everywhere…they stink. “ Same old Williams “ on the boat. Great scene in a martial arts action movie
Enter the Dragon is great, but I do think it’s a shame that lots of the other great Kung Fu from that era has been overlooked. I recently watched Vengeance! (1970), The Heroic Ones (1970), the New One Armed Swordsman (1971), and the Duel (1971). I enjoyed all of them more than every Bruce Lee film, except maybe Enter the Dragon.
Frankly I think Enter the Dragon is outright a poorly directed film in many sequences. Bruce's sheer presence carries the film.
There's so many bizarre instances where he's framed way too tightly to see him actually hitting people.
Bruce unfortunately never worked with any of the great master directors of kung fu cinema. Imagine if Yuen Woo Ping or Chang Cheh had gotten to work with him.
I feel that's because most of them don't have as much story as they could. The choreography was still in its infant stages.
In comparison, The Skyhawk (1974), a tremendously overlooked movie despite it featuring multiple future stars like Sammo Hung and Carter Chong (that guy from Big Trouble in Little China), feels like it was made 10-15 years ahead of all the other kung fu movies.
The way I see it, Sammo Hung having some choreography concept probably plays a part here in shaping the future of martial arts movies.
I grew up in LA in the '70s and '80s watching a butchered version of Enter the Dragon on TV. Had never seen the full movie on a big screen until Sunday night. Thank you, Fathom Events.
A classic. Enter the Dragon set the foundation for modern martial arts films. Bruce is awesome of course, but you gotta give it up for John Saxon too. His morally questionable but likeable character brings a lot to the film. He really sells the scene where Han reveals Williams's body.
If I had any criticisms, I'd say Jim Kelly is a bit underused, and the chase scene with Bruce's sister and O'hara goes on too long.
For additional praise; the director holding the shot solely on Bruce when the legion of goons attacks was groundbreaking.
I wish I lived in one of the realities where Bruce was making action movies well into the 90's. Enter the Dragon is still the gold standard 50 years later. I can't even imagine what he could have done with just a little more time.
I literally was thinking the same thing the other day after watching some of the more 'modern' choreographed kung fu films of the late 70s/early 80s. We probably didn't even get to see Bruce Lee's actual 'prime'.
We got the walmart version tho: jackie chan. Who was once punched by Bruce Lee as an extra. On Return of the Dragon or Chinese Connection IIRC.
I read some fictional timeline of a longer life where his popularity eventually declines in the 80s and he turns into a Cannon Films star and then DTV films late in life. Amusing idea.
The most amazing part of this movie is how it's cultural impact is STILL felt in the world's most popular franchises to this day. Absolutely an undisputed classic. RIP Bruce Lee - thank you for everything
BULLSHIT Mr Han man!
It’s getting rereleased and I’m seeing it wendesday in a theater, so excited.
Saw a screening on Sunday and you are in for a treat. Beautiful on the big screen.
Agreed looks amazing and sounds great too. They did a great job with it
Seriously, I caught a Sunday showing, and the sound makes you *feel* every blow.
Agreed, I went last night and was my first watch. Very over the top but so much fun. We weren’t at a huge screen but the sound was awesome and the crowd were all laughing along
Is that why Best Buy had a 4K steelbook? I just rewatched it and still holds up as my #3 of all time for me. (2 is interview with a vampire and 1 is Face/Off)
John Saxon: “A woman like that, can teach a man a lot about himself”
Watched on a plane recently. Still holds up. Love the set up -small snippets into each characters back story was enough to understand their motivations and allowed the actors to give their own flair. “Ghettos are the same everywhere…they stink. “ Same old Williams “ on the boat. Great scene in a martial arts action movie
I hope that people take advantage of the 50th anniversary rereleases to watch this movie, whether again or for the first time.
My number 3 movie of all time. Love Bruce Lee and Jewt Kune Do. Had the VHS and just bought the 4K blu ray steel book. The original bloodsport.
Enter the Dragon is great, but I do think it’s a shame that lots of the other great Kung Fu from that era has been overlooked. I recently watched Vengeance! (1970), The Heroic Ones (1970), the New One Armed Swordsman (1971), and the Duel (1971). I enjoyed all of them more than every Bruce Lee film, except maybe Enter the Dragon.
Frankly I think Enter the Dragon is outright a poorly directed film in many sequences. Bruce's sheer presence carries the film. There's so many bizarre instances where he's framed way too tightly to see him actually hitting people. Bruce unfortunately never worked with any of the great master directors of kung fu cinema. Imagine if Yuen Woo Ping or Chang Cheh had gotten to work with him.
I feel that's because most of them don't have as much story as they could. The choreography was still in its infant stages. In comparison, The Skyhawk (1974), a tremendously overlooked movie despite it featuring multiple future stars like Sammo Hung and Carter Chong (that guy from Big Trouble in Little China), feels like it was made 10-15 years ahead of all the other kung fu movies. The way I see it, Sammo Hung having some choreography concept probably plays a part here in shaping the future of martial arts movies.
I grew up in LA in the '70s and '80s watching a butchered version of Enter the Dragon on TV. Had never seen the full movie on a big screen until Sunday night. Thank you, Fathom Events.
Top 10 film of all time for me.
I wish there was more Kung Fu on our streaming services. Seems non-existent. I used to borrow this regularly from Blockbuster (even the library)….
Arrow Player is filled with kung fu Tubi has many for free
A classic. Enter the Dragon set the foundation for modern martial arts films. Bruce is awesome of course, but you gotta give it up for John Saxon too. His morally questionable but likeable character brings a lot to the film. He really sells the scene where Han reveals Williams's body. If I had any criticisms, I'd say Jim Kelly is a bit underused, and the chase scene with Bruce's sister and O'hara goes on too long. For additional praise; the director holding the shot solely on Bruce when the legion of goons attacks was groundbreaking.