The Last Dragon
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Movie Reviews of The Last Dragon
Movie Review: SHO'NUFF THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE! Pick this up today!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing Berry Gordy's the Last Dragon in 1987 when I was 13 years old going on 14 on Channel 11. (I missed the original theatrical release in the summer of 1985 when I was 11 going on 12 but you couldn't go anywhere in New York without hearing that awesome Debarge soundtrack) It was a light fun movie then and it still is over twenty years later. Age has made this movie better with every viewing. For a Sho'nuff good time pick up a copy of the Last Dragon.
The Last Dragon is a romance, a comedy and a martial arts movie with the high energy and fast pace of a comic book. Leroy Green is a soft-spoken quiet martial arts student who has learned all he can learn at his Dojo. His sensei sends him on a quest for the master Sum Dum Goy (great joke) so he can achieve"the glow" a level of martial arts mastery. On his journey He encounters Sho'nuff the shogun of Harlem, a bad dude who's out to put a whuppin on him and make him kiss his converse. But Leroy won't have any of it even though he does his best to goad him into it. Eddie Arcadian is an evil music promoter wants to see his Cyndi Lauper knockoff girlfriend be a big star on the Video show 7th Heaven hosted by the super hot Laura Charles. Arkadian wants Laura to play his videos on her show but Laura refuses. To force her put the video on, He tries to kidnap her. I say try because Leroy steps in. Leroy falls for Laura much to the chagrin of his younger brother who has a crush on the video host.
Laura hires Leroy as a bodyguard because she needs someone to well, "guard her body". While Sho'nuff does everything to provoke Leroy to fighting him, even vandalizing his parent's pizza place, but Leroy won't fight. Arkadian determination to get his act on the air turns into obsession. He decides to make a deal with Sho'Nuff to kill Leroy and kidnap Laura and Leroy's brother. While watching a great Bruce Lee homage, Sho'Nuff and Arkadian strike. In a final battle with Sho'nuff Leroy becomes the true master, achieves the "glow" and defeats his archenemy then takes care of Arkadian. The movie ends with a happy ending as Leroy dances with Laura on 7th Heaven.
Taimak shines on the screen and gives a great performance as Leroy. Vanity is simply amazing to watch onscreen, exuding sex appeal and class as Laura Charles. He and Vanity have great chemistry together and you feel that these two like each other. Julius Carry III is simply in top form as Sho'nuff. He steals every scene he's in. I love the fact that everyone plays their roles straight. Leo O'Brien is great as Leroy's younger Bro. I liked Faith Prince is fun to watch as a Cyndi Lauper type singer. Christopher Murray is evil as the twisted Eddie Arkadian. Look closely for a pre Cosby Keisha Knight Pulliam and William H. Macy in a bit part.
A few reviewers have written wondering why this movie and most 80's movies feel so different. The magic ingredient to most 80's movies is HEART plain and simple. Everyone involved in this movie believes in the script and cares about the story with every fiber of their being. They put their best efforts towards making the project the best it can be. Actors, directors, writers all step up when they love and care about what they do. The positive energy from their hearts brings a production to life and energizes the action onscreen with a soul. Heart can't be bought, it can't be computerized into a special effect. It's an intangible that has more value than a dozen Oscars. Until Hollywood realizes that passion doesn't have a price tag they'll never make movies of this high quality ever again.
The Last Dragon has some great production values for its low budget. Director Michael Schulz uses creativity and imagination to make the most of his limited resources. His pictures tell a tight fast paced story in a straightforward manner. I've grown to appreciate the beautiful on-location cinematography; it captures pre gentrified grim gritty Harlem in pictures. (New York was a rough place back in the 80's The clothes and big hair are pure authentic 80's. The karate fight scenes choreographed by Ernie Reyes Sr. are some of the best I've seen. The campy script is tight and clear, getting right to the point. What I love about 80's movies are their straightforward approach. They focus mostly on entertaining the audience and telling a story within a 90-120 minutes. The goal is to have the audience smiling. I had a big grin on my face throughout this movie.
A Shawn James five star Essential DVD Sho'nuff this one is worth more than the low purchase price.
Movie Review: A vintage 1980s kung fu/comedy classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always loved this movie. Sure, it's a little bit kooky, but Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon just about has it all: plenty of kung fu action, comedy, romance, great vintage mid-80s music, a little bit of funk styling, and plenty of tributes to the great Bruce Lee; it is also the only film I know of whose two main characters are known by only one name in real life. I actually saw this film twice in the theatre back in 1985, and I can say that of only a few movies. Taimak plays Leroy Green, better known around the New York streets as Bruce Leroy for his impressive kung fu skills. His pursuit of the martial arts is a search for truth and mastery of self, and he is only one step away from acquiring "the glow," a state of being wherein mind and body are one. His pursuit of a new and final "master" keeps getting sidetracked, however. Sho'nuff (Julius Carry III), a particularly nasty dude who proclaims himself to be the Shogun of Harlem, is constantly provoking him and baiting him to fight. Then he finds himself the fated protector of star video jockey Laura Charles (Vanity), who is constantly being kidnapped and pressured into showing a certain video on her show. Eddie Arkadian (Christopher Murney) is determined to make a star of his untalented, Cindy Lauperized squeeze Angela (Faith Prince), and he will stop at nothing to get her video on the air. All of Leroy's enemies, naturally enough, come together for a slam-bam martial arts extravaganza finish.Laura Charles naturally quickly develops some affection for her knight in flowing Asian robes, and a pretty darn innocent Leroy struggles to overcome his shyness in the ways of love. It makes for a rather sweet as well as comical budding relationship. There is ethnic humor scattered throughout the film, all of which I found funny and in no way offensive - by way of example, there is the somewhat Asian fellow trying to act like Bruce Lee because he thinks that alone will scare away any opponents. The music is great; Debarge's video for his hit song Rhythm of the Night gets prominent placement in the film, as does a rather illuminating performance by Vanity which seems a lot sillier now than it did 18 years ago. Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson contribute to the soundtrack, and Willie Hutch provides a couple of great tracks.
The best thing about The Last Dragon, though, has to be the martial arts. I know this was a somewhat cheesy martial arts film, but I still enjoyed all of the action. This is due in no small part to the fact that clips of Bruce Lee movies are shown at several points in the film, and a scene reminiscent of the huge melee that took place late in Lee's Enter the Dragon is a really nice touch. The whole thing with "the glow" was cartoonish in conception and execution, yet it too was pretty cool. I think The Last Dragon is just a great, entertaining film, but it is probably not for everyone. If you have no interest in martial arts, the romance and sometimes goofball comedy of the film may not be enough to satisfy you, but anyone who enjoys seeing everyone kung fu fighting should have a heck of a fun ride over the course of this somewhat underrated movie. It always leaves me feeling pretty juiced up and positive about life, which is a pretty nice feeling to take away from any movie.
Movie Review: BRUCE LEEROY!!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are BAD CHEESY and GOOD CHEESY films. This is good cheesy. You love it's cheesiness but it's funny as hell. Classic & unforgettable 80's witty kung foo movie. I use to watch this flick when I was a kid and me and my brother use to crack up when we'd watch it 80 million times. I am 23 now, and I own it. It still makes me laugh. The 80's movies had something you dont see anymore in films. I dont know what it is, but they dont make movies like this anymore. One thing that is quite obvious, is the the fact is, NOW the world is so much more shallow and narrow minded when it coes to BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. Now, you see big boobs and blonde haired models like pamela lee. Never ridding the stereotype of a hot woman. Laura Charles was constantly referred to as a goddess, and a babe, but this was in the early 80's. When the world was not as shallow. First of all, not that it matters but she is brunette, and does not have much of a chest, but she is still beautiful. Anyways, my point is I wish it was more like the old days when women of all types are noticed for their beauty because no one is perfect.
I had such a HUGE crush on Leroy when I was a kid. I'd watch this movie over and over and I thought he was so hot. I still think so too, even though I dont know what he looks like in present day. He was just so fit, and polite, and always speaking properly, and his shyness and romantic inexperience is such a turn on. Not to mention he is a very talented kung foo master. He did most of his own stunts, so this wasnt a fake kung foo movie. It is the real deal. And I love the tribute to Bruce Lee. They referred to legendary Bruce Lee alot which made the movie even better. Like showing clips from his movies and fists of fury etc. Richie, who constantly makes you laugh, had a very important role too which contributed to most of the film's humor. The mouth on that kid, and him being only what 13? The fact that he was giving his older brother sex advice, was one of the funniest scenes in the movie. Witty, entertaining, action-packed, and the one and only "last dragon" is one of my all time favorite 80's movies, and I reccommend it to anyone who hasnt seen it. I suppose it's hard for people to suddenly see it for the first time and appreciate it in such ignorant times, especially if you never saw it in the 80's. But plain and simple, the 80's was about fun, freedom, experiementing, and the movies are simple. 80's humor will always be in 80's films, and the comedies of today wont ever come close to what movies were back then.
Movie Review: The Last Dragon
Summary: 5 Stars
THE LAST DRAGON was one of my favorite new age martial arts flicks. It was funny, there was a lot of great martial arts action and it was in general a good movie. It's about "Bruce" Leroy Green, a top notch martial arts expert in Harlem. While training for the final level (the master level), he gets stops a kidnapping and now finds himself in trouble with an underground crime syndicate run by Eddie Arcadian, the Arcade King. While botching Arcadian's plans, he also runs into another problem, Sho-Nuff the Shogun of Harlem and he's not playing around. He wants to prove that he's the greatest and not Leroy. It's up to Leroy to protect the girl (Vanity), stop Eddie Arcadian and his gang and defeat Sho-Nuff, while trying to reach the Final Level in his training.
I have to say, out of all of the other cult classic films this is one of my favorites (right behind ROCKY HORROR of course). The action in this movie is phenomenal and the choreography is very good as well. The fight scene between Leroy and Arcadian's gang is awesome! And how could you forget the final fight scene between Leroy and Sho-Nuff.
I had one problem with this movie, the soundtrack. Parts of the soundtrack were good and a lot of it was bad (ex: "Sukiyaki Hot" and "The Glow"). I give it up that this movie was made in the 80's but this movie was the brainchild of Motown Records mogul Barry Gordy. So why is it that the soundtrack ate in some parts? In any case, the action in this movie made up big time for the bad soundtrack. And of course how do you go wrong with a little comedy? There's no real big laughs, but there are some laughs nonetheless.
Check out THE LAST DRAGON. If you've never seen it, you might be surprised. This was straight up the cult classic martial arts movie in the 80's. Perfect example of that was Busta Rhymes' video for "Dangerous". After 10+ years of the release of the movie, it's still around and people still talk about it.
Movie Review: The funniest martial arts movie ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, credit needs to be given to Julius J. Carry III. Carry plays Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, the meanest, prettiest, baddest mo'fo in all of Harlem! He continually steals scenes, takes over the movie, and pretty much makes you wonder why he didn't get a movie deal out of "The Last Dragon".
With lines like, "Kiss my Converse" (when he forces Bruce LeRoy to kiss his feet) and the always hilarious, "Nigga please!", he delivers the unintentional comedy that makes the movie epic.
Aside from Sho'nuf, who, to be quite honest, still hasn't received enough praise from me, the fact that there is a character named Bruce Leroy is enough to make anyone laugh. It's a black guy who thinks he's Asian, is studying martial arts, is looking for the master, and trying to reach the final level (aka "The Glow"). Oh, get this, a woman (a very hot woman) actually falls for this guy. Wait for his rap scene; the comedy is neverending.
I quote this movie every day. It's hilarious. It's cheezy. It has some of the most memorable lines you have ever heard. And what's great...it's a very good martial arts movie. There is good action, nice choreography, a few semi-cool villians, and some special effects that are good enough to not be dated for the time.
Bruce Leroy versus Sho'nuf: Who will win? It's a battle of good vs. evil, mixed with some good 80s music, a hot chick, some corniness, some comedy, and most importantly - some unintentional comedy. If you can't appreciate this movie, you might want to stop watching movies.
With lines like these, you can't go wrong.
-Now, when I say, "Who's da mastah?" you say, "Sho'nuff!"
-Move-a your feets-a to Daddy Green's Pizza!
-I will gladly designate his ass... for dismemberment!
-Get up, Leroy. I got somethin' real fo' yo' ass in these hands.