THE LAST DRAGON

MAJID'S REVIEW

It all started with Bruce Lee, which initiated the mass popularity of martial art cinema in the US. That soon followed the Hong Kong imports i.e.: Shaw Brothers and Jackie Chan to name a few. Soon after Hollywood decided to try and emulate this genre with few results. With the likes of Chuck Norris, and the Cannon Group ninja movies, there hasn't been a clear cut film at that time
that signified brilliance in Hong Kong Cinema.

This film was a result of just that....the writer Louis Venosta inspired by Bruce Lee and the style of kung fu films started the seed to which many know as the last dragon...or most known as "Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon”. Motown mogul Berry Gordy decided to take this on as a marketing tool to promote his new musical acts at the time and to make co-stars Vanity, and Taimak a stars.

The story in all its glory is most easy and simple to follow....a young shy, unassuming man in his early 20s Leroy Green or more known as Bruce Leroy because of his devotion to Bruce Lee and the martial arts has reached the final level in the martial arts.

We learn that in order to reach the final level one must obtain the glow.....since Leroy isn't ready he asks for someone to guide him. His master sends him on a quest to find the master who will guide him to the final level.

Simple, right?

Wrong...of course he has many obstacles along the way in his quest. Leroy somehow gets involved with a local VJ Laura Charles (Vanity) who's being harassed by sleazy producer
Eddie Arkadian (Christopher Murney). Apparently Arkadian wants to use Laura to showcase his music through her show as an opportunity to sell records.

The main villain in this film goes by the name, ”Sho'nuff the Shogun of Harlem”.

He's the bad ass of Harlem and to complete and honor his ego he sees Leroy as a threat to his domain and must defeat him. Leroy refuses to fight but we know because of the story structure their paths will meet again.

Leroy is so focused on the martial arts that he is so closed in to everything else in his life. He dresses like a Chinese disciple, doesn't have many friends and is clueless in interacting with the ladies. The humor sets in when his young brother Richie (Leo O'Brien) is more adept at talking
to the ladies than Leroy. In a funny scene Richie goes on to teach Leroy the art of making moves to a lady. He's not looking to fall into the arms of Laura and her problem. He did what he thought was right in defending her, and at the same time begins to fall in love with her. What to do? Fighting Sho'nuff is not in his ethics and dishonors the martial code.

Is this oscar worthy? No In its simplicity the last dragon shows us that with love, family, and inner strength can overcome your inner demons thus becoming the master. It's a basic tale that reaches to young people and it has remained a staple of my life. That's the quirkiness of it all this film just has heart! It reaches to young people and they gravitate to it. The fighting even for it's time is not bad, but what makes it shine is the cast ie: Taimak who plays the character with such heart that most young audiences feel they can identify with....a character who's simple, shy, has the goods just needs to confidence, and through your inner quest we all can overcome the Sho'nuff's of our life!

The direction by Michael Schultz is on point...nice concept of making it like a live cartoon...if you let your guard down and accept the world it's in you can enjoy the Last Dragon....

MAJID's RATING: 5 FISTS

Clarke's Review

Berry Gordy's Last Dragon is a kung fu movie that accomplishes something that few Kung Fu movies have done over the years. It creates a unique emotional experience with the viewer. Ultimately, that is the goal of cinema, regardless of the genre, but it rarely happens in the world of kung fu.

Kung fu movies have a tradition of predictability and bad writing, which have actually become a malapropos staple of kung fu movie culture.

The movie's writer, Louis Venosta did an excellent job of looking beyond the traditional paradigm of kung fu films by incorporating adventure, romance and a moral, which makes the movie applicable to anyone's walk in life.

The movie is about a young kung fu expert named Leroy Green (Taimak Guarriello). Leroy is on a quest to find a great master who will guide him to the highest point of being in kung fu, known as "The Glow".

During this journey, Leroy fortuitously becomes involved with a music celebrity known as Laura Charles (Denise Richards). Charles is pursued, for financial reasons, by a rutheless media mogul named Eddie Arcadian (Christopher Murney). As if this wasn't enough, Leroy is pursued by an evil kung fu master named Sho'nuff who seeks to usurp Bruce Leroy, and solidify his position as New York's kung true master.

The overall fight choreography is mediocre, but the directing, soundtrack and story, compensate for that loss.

I'm placing the Last Dragon near the top of my kung fu movie list.

Clarke's Rating: 5 Fists