Ignore, if you can, the silly comedy which was aimed at an Asian audience and doesn't travel well. And worry not too much about the lightweight plot, which isn't exactly Oscar winning stuff (and spends rather too much of its time dissing the Japanese and their 'inferior' martial arts). Instead, just sit back and revel in the athletic prowess of the god that is Bruce Lee, who delivers scene after scene of iconic fight action, culminating in his legendary showdown in the Colosseum against hirsute Karate champ Chuck Norris.
Lee stars as Tang Lung, a kung fu expert sent to Rome to help defend his relatives against gangsters who aim to get their hands on the family's restaurant. When Lung sends the bully boys packing, effeminate thug Ho (Ping-Ao Wei) enlists the help of several martial artists, including formidable US fighter Colt (Norris), to help even the score.
Watch the uncut version of the film and be amazed as Bruce uses two sets of nunchakus to decimate his foes, delivers punches and kicks so fast that to blink is to miss them, and unleashes his fury against Chuck in a fight to the death that, to this day, remains one of kung fu cinema's most impressive battles. In addition to all of this skull-cracking and bone breaking, Bruce gets accosted by a busty brunette (but runs a mile when she gets her kit off), teaches his style of fighting to the restaurant's staff (who had been learning useless Karate up until then), and gets acquainted with oriental cutie Chen (the rather gorgeous Nora Miao).
A classic of the genre that no self-respecting fan of fight films should miss, Way of the Dragon once again proves that Bruce Lee, above all others, is, and probably always will be, THE coolest martial arts star of all time.
8.5 out of 10, rounded up to 9 for IMDb.
Lee stars as Tang Lung, a kung fu expert sent to Rome to help defend his relatives against gangsters who aim to get their hands on the family's restaurant. When Lung sends the bully boys packing, effeminate thug Ho (Ping-Ao Wei) enlists the help of several martial artists, including formidable US fighter Colt (Norris), to help even the score.
Watch the uncut version of the film and be amazed as Bruce uses two sets of nunchakus to decimate his foes, delivers punches and kicks so fast that to blink is to miss them, and unleashes his fury against Chuck in a fight to the death that, to this day, remains one of kung fu cinema's most impressive battles. In addition to all of this skull-cracking and bone breaking, Bruce gets accosted by a busty brunette (but runs a mile when she gets her kit off), teaches his style of fighting to the restaurant's staff (who had been learning useless Karate up until then), and gets acquainted with oriental cutie Chen (the rather gorgeous Nora Miao).
A classic of the genre that no self-respecting fan of fight films should miss, Way of the Dragon once again proves that Bruce Lee, above all others, is, and probably always will be, THE coolest martial arts star of all time.
8.5 out of 10, rounded up to 9 for IMDb.