SusannahWay of the Dragon
September 3rd 2006 08:21
Way of the Dragon on DVD (Meng Long Guojiang)
Director: Bruce Lee
Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris.
I was browsing in the DVD rental store, when I remembered that there was a Bruce Lee film that I had not yet seen. Realising that I could no longer allow such a travesty to continue, I hired the all new re-mastered platinum disc edition of Way of the Dragon.
Released in 1972, this was the only one of Bruce Lee’s feature films that he wrote and directed. Lee plays Tang Lung, a man who leaves Hong Kong for Italy in order to help defend his relatives against some gangsters who are trying to force them to sell their restaurant.
In his own film, Lee allows himself to show a more comic side than the more serious fighting personas of his other movies. Especially at the start of the film there is much play on Lee repeatedly asking for the location of the “shitter” as the subtitles translate it, and on emphasising his cultural difference, being an Asian man in Italy. One strange thing is that although Lee is in Italy, everyone seems to emphasise how he does not speak English, and every non-Asian character seems to communicate in English as well, rather than Italian.
The fight scenes, as choreographed by Lee, are generally great. The only drawback being that too much of the fighting is done by the waiters who work in the restaurant, and not enough by Lee himself. The standouts of Lee’s fight moments are the double-nunchaku fight scene where Lee wields double weapons and, of course, the showdown between Lee and Chuck Norris in the Coliseum. This is a very exciting fight between two champions. Lee displays his trademark footwork accompanied by animal noises, as well as some kick arse fight moves. There is also a Chuck Norris point of view shot where Lee attacks the camera, so you get the feeling of what it would be like to be on the receiving end of his kung fu. The fight is also intercut with some shots of a kitten in the Coliseum, presumably to contrast the delicacy of the animal with the violence of the fight; or maybe just to see who has more body hair, the kitten, or Chuck Norris.
This was the second to last film Bruce Lee made before he died. I got the impression that he planned to write more films following the same character, as at the end Tang Lung leaves to go to the assistance of others who need his kung fu help, leaving the way open for a sequel.
This DVD edition comes with a whole disc of special features, and the film itself is introduced by Bruce Lee’s brother. The title menu is also very elaborate, running through some of the best fight bits in the film. The film can be watched in either dubbed English or dubbed Cantonese with subtitles.
Director: Bruce Lee
Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris.
I was browsing in the DVD rental store, when I remembered that there was a Bruce Lee film that I had not yet seen. Realising that I could no longer allow such a travesty to continue, I hired the all new re-mastered platinum disc edition of Way of the Dragon.
Released in 1972, this was the only one of Bruce Lee’s feature films that he wrote and directed. Lee plays Tang Lung, a man who leaves Hong Kong for Italy in order to help defend his relatives against some gangsters who are trying to force them to sell their restaurant.
In his own film, Lee allows himself to show a more comic side than the more serious fighting personas of his other movies. Especially at the start of the film there is much play on Lee repeatedly asking for the location of the “shitter” as the subtitles translate it, and on emphasising his cultural difference, being an Asian man in Italy. One strange thing is that although Lee is in Italy, everyone seems to emphasise how he does not speak English, and every non-Asian character seems to communicate in English as well, rather than Italian.
The fight scenes, as choreographed by Lee, are generally great. The only drawback being that too much of the fighting is done by the waiters who work in the restaurant, and not enough by Lee himself. The standouts of Lee’s fight moments are the double-nunchaku fight scene where Lee wields double weapons and, of course, the showdown between Lee and Chuck Norris in the Coliseum. This is a very exciting fight between two champions. Lee displays his trademark footwork accompanied by animal noises, as well as some kick arse fight moves. There is also a Chuck Norris point of view shot where Lee attacks the camera, so you get the feeling of what it would be like to be on the receiving end of his kung fu. The fight is also intercut with some shots of a kitten in the Coliseum, presumably to contrast the delicacy of the animal with the violence of the fight; or maybe just to see who has more body hair, the kitten, or Chuck Norris.
This was the second to last film Bruce Lee made before he died. I got the impression that he planned to write more films following the same character, as at the end Tang Lung leaves to go to the assistance of others who need his kung fu help, leaving the way open for a sequel.
This DVD edition comes with a whole disc of special features, and the film itself is introduced by Bruce Lee’s brother. The title menu is also very elaborate, running through some of the best fight bits in the film. The film can be watched in either dubbed English or dubbed Cantonese with subtitles.
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Amazing transfer and a truly epic action film, the fight choreography is some of the best ever captured on film. Worthy just to see Walker Texas ranger gets his chest waxed Bruce Lee style.