Few martial arts movies have been as iconic as Bruce Lee's extraordinary swan track Enter the dragona kung fu basic that can go away many viewers wanting extra of the identical. Stuffed with extremely choreographed combat sequences, infused with parts of the espionage and exploration style, and mixing Japanese and Western sensibilities in a approach that appealed to a world viewers, this launch was important in securing Lee's legacy as maybe cinema's greatest star. of martial arts that you've got ever skilled.
Enter the dragon has earned its place among the many finest kung fu movies of the Seventies, though there may be lots extra to select from when audiences are searching for one thing related. Whether or not it's extra movies starring Lee, of which there are tragically few contemplating his premature dying at simply 32, or extra fashionable movies that pay homage to his legacy, Enter the dragon had an simple affect on martial arts cinema. Though greater than 50 years have handed for the reason that launch of Enter the dragoncuriosity on this basic movie has not waned one bit.
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Heroes of the East (1978)
Directed by Lau Kar Leung
With out Enter the dragonthere wouldn't be Heroes of the Easta Shaw Brothers manufacturing that took heavy inspiration from the story and motion parts of that basic kung fu movie. Heroes of the East begins with Ho Tao (Gordon Liu) arriving in Japan for an organized marriage that he prefers to not undergo and changing into concerned in a misunderstanding that leads him to take part in a martial arts competitors to combat one of the best fighters within the nation. With martial arts shenanigans aplenty, it's arduous to not discover that a lot of it Ho Tao's story recollects one of the best elements of Enter the dragon.
A particular facet Heroes of the East it was how the narrative of the event allowed for a lot of several types of preventing kinds and methods to be showcased. As in Enter the dragonHo Tao faces off in opposition to a litany of fighters, and as soon as Bruce Lee has emerged victorious, this kung fu grasp eliminates his competitors in a collection of terribly choreographed combat sequences. As among the finest kung fu movies of the Seventies, Heroes of the East would make a wonderful double characteristic alongside Enter the dragon.
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Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior (2003)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
Bruce Lee helped revolutionize martial arts cinema and launched kung fu movies to Western audiences who in any other case wouldn't have seen them. Whereas the crossover's first success got here primarily from Hong Kong, the twenty first century has seen martial arts lovers uncover the wealthy cinematic historical past of combat movies throughout cultures. This was actually the case Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warriormaybe the best martial arts movie launched in Thailand.
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior starred kung fu star Tony Jaa, channeling Lee's celebrity enchantment on this iconic movie. Just like the story of a younger warrior who tries to recuperate the stolen head of a sacred statue taken from his village, Ong-Bak was Jaa's extraordinary efficiency which led to a number of sequels and different acclaimed Thai martial arts movies similar to The Protector. Just like the emergence of a brand new martial arts icon, Ong Bak was as important to Thai martial arts movies as Enter the dragon it was for the style as a complete.
8
Sport of Demise (1978)
Directed by Bruce Lee
One of many heartbreaking issues about Bruce Lee's tragically younger dying at simply 32 was that he solely starred in 4 totally accomplished movies. This meant that work in progress similar to Sport of Demisewhich was written, directed and produced by Lee himself, was by no means totally accomplished. Nevertheless, martial arts followers who can't get sufficient of the fashion and really feel Enter the dragon You may return and watch the launched model.
Sport of Demise was launched in a number of variationstogether with the primary version launched in 1978, the anniversary version Sport of Demise Redux from 2019, and The top sport of dying in 2023, which additionally included a documentary about its manufacturing. Because the story of a martial arts star faking his personal dying to take down a felony syndicate exploiting him and different celebrities for cash, whereas the haphazard approach the movie was put collectively could not have been Lee's authentic imaginative and prescient, it was nonetheless a insightful imaginative and prescient of what his subsequent movie could be.
7
The thirty sixth Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Directed by Lau Kar-leung
Those that don't get drained Enter the dragon ought to take the time to take a look at different iconic kung fu releases from the Seventies, like The thirty sixth Chamber of Shaolin. As one of the best movie of all time about Shaolin monks, The thirty sixth Chamber of Shaolin acted as the place to begin for an unimaginable trilogy led by Gordon Liu. This movie turned Liu into an enormous star and one of many few martial legends whose legacy may stand as much as that of Bruce Lee.
Telling the story of a legendary Shaolin monk named San Te, who skilled to combat in opposition to the oppressive Manchu authorities throughout the early 18th century, The thirty sixth Chamber of Shaolin was adopted by two sequels, Return to the thirty sixth Chamber and Disciples of the thirty sixth Chamber. Like the opposite film subsequent door Enter the dragon which impressed the debut of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, Enter Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)any self-respecting kung fu fan wants to look at this movie.
6
Kill Invoice (2003/2004)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Though movies like Enter the dragon helped deliver martial arts cinema to Western viewers, there have been nonetheless many viewers members who had by no means really encountered a kung fu movie till they noticed Quentin Tarantino's love letter to the style, Kill Invoice. This two-part revenge story featured many references to basic kung fu cinema and the legacy of Bruce Lee was a significant affect on Tarantino's stylistic presentation of the movie.
Starring Uma Thurman because the Bride, a lady who vows revenge on a gaggle of assassins and their chief, Invoice, who tried to kill her and her daughter, Kill Invoice would by no means have existed if it weren't for kung fu classics from the Seventies like Enter the dragon. With appearances from icons like Gordon Liu, we are able to solely think about that if Lee had lived within the twenty first century, he would have been on the high of Tarantino's name record to be on this movie.
5
5 Lethal Poisons (1978)
Directed by Chang Cheh
5 lethal poisons was a cult kung fu basic that represented one in all Shaw Brothers Studio's finest movies throughout the Seventies. With a strong mixture of martial arts and thriller, the central idea of 5 lethal poisons is said to a scholar who fulfills his dying grasp's want and eliminates his 5 earlier college students who have been taken over by evil. As this noble scholar encounters the insurgent fighters, who have been primarily based on the 5 Toxic Creatures from Chinese language folklore, many intense combat sequences ensue.
With spectacular stylistic expertise and attention-grabbing characters linked to Chinese language mythology, 5 lethal poisonsas Enter the dragon earlier than that, it was one of the well-liked kung fu movies of its time. 5 lethal poisons additionally had a notable affect on director Quentin Tarantinowhich included allusions to the movie by means of the Lethal Viper Assassination Squad in Kill Invoice.
4
The Ip Man (2008)
Directed by Wilson Yip
Those that are fascinated by Bruce Lee and Enter the dragon might be properly conscious of Ip Man's legacy, the Wing Chun grasp with whom Lee skilled. Though the story of the good grasp advised in Ip Man didn't but characteristic Lee, a fictionalized portrayal of his character seems in subsequent entries on this martial arts franchise, similar to Ip Man 3 and Ip Man 4: The Finish. As an intense and well-choreographed biopic that explored Ip's troubles within the metropolis of Foshan throughout the Sino-Japanese Warfare, Ip Man gave nice perception into the person who taught Lee.
With Donnie Yen within the title function Ip Man was really one of many best martial arts movies of the twenty first century, whose historic connection to Lee's legacy made it a must-see. Whereas Ip Man blurring the strains between reality and fiction, the core message of perseverance and dedication to the martial arts remained true to the true man.
3
The Huge Boss (1971)
Directed by Lo Wei and Wu Chia-hsiang
Whereas Enter the dragon will at all times be Bruce Lee's defining movie, it's necessary to recollect his previous releases and respect the facility of every movie he starred in. The Huge Boss It was Lee's first main main function and represented his rise from Hong Kong martial artist to one of the necessary kung fu artists who ever lived. The Huge Boss was initially a field workplace success in Asia earlier than Lee's success unfold all through the world.
In The Huge BossLee starred as Cheng Chao-an, a martial artist who lives along with his cousins in Thailand and works at an ice manufacturing unit and shortly finds his promise to his mom to not combat examined when he encounters an area gang. Predictably, Cheng Chao-an broke his oathand kung fu viewers have been launched to Lee's intense martial arts ability for the primary time. Whereas The Huge Boss could not have been as compelling as Lee's later releases, it laid the groundwork for him to turn into among the finest kung fu stars to ever exist.
2
Fist of Fury (1972)
Directed by Lo Wei
Bruce Lee shortly adopted up his nice success in The Huge Boss with one other all-time basic in Fist of Fury. As a movie constructed round themes of Chinese language nationalismLee performed Chen Zhen, a scholar of Huo Yuanjia, who defends the distinction of the Chinese language within the face of aggressive forces. With factions at odds, Chen's motivations turn into even stronger after his grasp is murdered, and he vows revenge for Huo's dying.
Very related Enter the dragon, Fist of Fury is a necessary facet of Lee's legacy and has even had a number of sequels and remakes. Though subsequent movies similar to The brand new fist of fury with Jackie Chan or the Donnie Yen tv collection have been lots of enjoyable, none of them examine to the unique. As an action-packed revenge story the place the coed defends the distinction of his late grasp, Fist of Fury It could not have had essentially the most authentic premise, however it was one of the memorable of the martial arts movie style.
1
The Manner of the Dragon (1972)
Directed by Bruce Lee
Manner of the Dragon is a 1972 martial arts movie starring Bruce Lee, who additionally directed and wrote the screenplay. The story revolves round Tang Lung (Lee), who travels to Rome to assist mates threatened by against the law syndicate. That includes notable combat scenes, together with a climactic battle with Chuck Norris, it showcases Lee's martial arts prowess and distinctive method to motion cinema.
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August 14, 1972
Being the primary movie directed by Bruce Lee himself, The Manner of the Dragon offered this kung fu star not simply as a gifted fighter, however as a artistic powerhouse able to doing all of it. A movie written, directed, produced and starring Lee, this kung fu basic tells the story of Tang Lung, a person who travels to Rome to assist his relations take care of a vicious gang. With a mixture of motion and humor, The Manner of the Dragon genres combined in a approach that appealed to each jap and western movie lovers.
As an exhilarating showcase of martial arts prowess from begin to end, The Manner of the Dragon culminated in an epic showdown between Lee and a karate skilled named Colt, performed by Chuck Norris. Whereas Enter the dragon could have been Lee's most profitable movie, The Manner of the Dragon is a real contender for his magnum opus. This was the movie the place every thing utterly fell into place for Lee as he started to take full management of his personal movies, a proven fact that made his premature dying the next yr all of the extra tragic.