Enter The Dragon (Special Edition) > Reviews > Bruce Lee infiltrates Han's opium smuggling ring.

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Satisfactory
Characters / Performances	Satisfactory
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Superb fight sequences, Bruce Lee at his best .  .  .  .
Disadvantages:	No oscar winning performances here .  Just pure action .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This film was released in 1973, the same year Bruce Lee died. This film was originally going to be called 'Blood and Steel', but Bruce demanded the new name. He finally got what he wanted.

Bruce plays Mr. Lee, the top student at a Shaolin temple who is asked to perform a task for a Government Agency. Mr Braithwaite (Geoffrey Weeks) asks Lee to take part in a martial arts tournament to be held on a sinister private island in international waters off the coast of Hong Kong. Lee's mission is to expose Han's opium smuggling and prostitution racket, and to find evidence so that the authorities can take action. Han is also a former Shaolin student, and now runs a martial arts school on his island as a cover for his criminal activities.

Also entering the tournament are Roper, Williams and Parsons. Roper is played by John Saxon, and is entering the tournament in the hope of winning prize money to pay off his gambling debts owed to the mob. Williams (Jim Kelly) is on the run after beating the hell out of two racist cops who have been harassing him. And Parsons (Peter Archer) is an arrogant redneck bully who soon learns not to underestimate small Chinese men. (Lee soon teaches him the error of his ways).

Upon arrival at Han's island, we meet more of the main cast. Tania (Ahna Capri) is Han's mistress, and Roper falls in love at first sight. There is also Han's huge bodyguard Bolo (Yeung Sze). Later on, we also meet one of Braithwaite's female operatives, Mei Ling (Betty Chung).

The film continues to show impressive scenes of martial arts, most of which Bruce Lee choreographed himself. Lee does eventually discover Han's underground network, (though it does take two attempts). Han, impressed with Roper, also reveals his operation to him, and asks him to join Han in his activities.

The finale is a mass battle between Han's men versus Roper and Lee. Providing aid, Mei Ling releases prisoners kept in the underground network. While the prisoners keep Han's men busy, Lee chases Han to his museum. Entering a 'maze of mirrors', this is where Han and Lee fight to the death.

The acting in this film would never win an Oscar, and the dialogue is a little cheesy at times. Lee also seems to struggle with his English at times. However, the action sequences are expertly choreographed by Bruce Lee, and you will be hard pushed to find a film which exceeds the quality of martial arts skill. With plenty of fighting and a tense atmosphere, this legendary martial arts fest certainly packs a punch.

This is the Special Edition version of the DVD, and is available uncut for the first time in Britain. It shows the previously 'lost' Bruce Lee monk scene, and also the uncut nunchaku fight sequence in Han's underground network.

This is a 2 Disc DVD, and the special features offered on each disc are as follows:

DISC 1

> Audio commentary from Paul Heller & Michael Allin.
> 'Blood And Steel': an all-new 'Making Of' documentary (30 mins); 'Bruce Lee: In His Own Words' documentary (19 mins).
> Linda Lee Caldwell interview gallery.
> Original 1973 featurette.
> 'Backyard Workout With Bruce' featurette.

DISC 2

> Curse Of The Dragon' documentary: an examination of the Bruce Lee legacy (83 mins).
> 'A Warrior's Journey': a feature-length biography from John Little featuring a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of 'Game Of Death' (100 mins)
> Trailers.
> TV Spots.

The feature film duration is 1 hour and 38 minutes approx.

Enter The Dragon is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, and audio is available in English - Dolby Digital (5.1).

Amazon.co.uk is currently selling this DVD for £7.97, though they do charge £1.45 for P&P. (as of 10/8/05)