Enter the Dragon (1973)

 

Could this very well be the definitive martial arts-film? 

Quite possibly: yes. It really is just that damn good. Heck, even people that don't usually go in for this kind of flick will find plenty to enjoy and you know why? Because the makers not only knew that they needed a halfway decent story, but also the starpower and dedication to make it all work.

And oh, how gloriously does it all work.

And coincidentally? This one influenced literally every fighting videogame ever. FYI.

Bruce Lee is a Shaolin fighter who is - of course - by far the best at what he does. He is approached by a government official called Braithwaite to infiltrate a fighting tournament on an island where only the best of the best are invited. This tournament is hosted by a fellow named Han, a disgraced Shaolin monk. The plot thickens when Lee learns that Han's bodyguard O'Hara was also partly responsible for the death of Lee's sister. 

So now a colourful band of fighters is introduced and heads to the island. The main ones are Roper (Saxon), a con man with his heart in the right place and Williams, probably the best fighter next to Lee and a man possessing the most beautiful afro you have ever seen. 

Once on the island, our fighters are given the full VIP treatment: excellent food and even ladies to keep them warm and busy during the night. But things are a bit iffy, as Roper soon discovers that Han also uses the island as his base of operations for his opium and heroin trade, something that Lee also quickly discovers. Williams even gets wrongly accused and eventually killed. 

But mainly this all sets the stage for some gorgeous action and fighting sequences, most (if not all) staged by Bruce Lee and expertly showcasing the talents of all involved, even if Lee himself is clearly the most fluid of fighters. 

Oh, and for a bonus you get a very young Bolo Yeung, who already looked impressive as hell here. And if you don't know Bolo Yeung, you need to brush up on some classic Jean-Claude Van Damme films as well.

Sometimes films like these get a bad rap because they only are about the fights and the story is rather flimsy. Here, you get equal parts spy adventure, martial arts kickassery, some melodrama and even decent character building for each and every one of our main players. Not to mention a ridiculously funky soundtrack by the incomparable Lalo Schifrin. Spared no expense.

I could go on and on why this is rightly hailed as a classic and one of the best martial arts-films out there, but it is all true. This, in no minor shape, way or form, is an absolute classic and needs to be watched by pretty much everyone who likes films anyway. It is truly and utterly a shame that this was Bruce Lee's final endeavour, as his charisma and presence are abundantly clear. What wonderful things he could have still brought us had he not died so untimely...