Sometime in the mid-nineties, during the school summer vacations, I went to a small movie theater with my father to watch Enter the Dragon. I remember my father enjoying it as much as he had done when he first saw the movie more than 20 years ago when it was first released. 

Like many other young people, I was mesmerized by Bruce Lee. The way he moved and sounded- almost feline at times and unleashing a torrent of explosive energy at others- was nothing that I have seen or will see again. Even after watching numerous martial arts movies after that, no screen hero matched the energy and screen presence of Bruce Lee. It was the movie that generated my lifelong interest in martial arts.

So, let’s dive into a classic that’s left a lasting mark on action cinema– “Enter the Dragon.” This 1973 gem not only transformed the martial arts genre but also reshaped how we perceive action films. And apart from establishing the legend of Bruce Lee in the hearts and minds of countless admirers, it’s still influencing countless martial arts movies today.

The plot of the movie remains simple and revolves around Bruce Lee. He is a Shaolin master who is recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate a martial arts tournament on a sinister private island owned by Han (Shih Kien), the film’s enigmatic villain. The mission: expose Han’s criminal empire and seek vengeance for his sister’s death. While it’s nothing extraordinary, it’s a gripping storyline that’s the perfect backdrop for the action sequences.

Alright, let’s talk about the action. “Enter the Dragon” set a whole new standard for martial arts choreography which was done by Bruce Lee himself. Bruce Lee’s martial arts skills were on full display, showcasing his lightning-fast kicks, punches, and those unforgettable nunchaku moves- an almost unknown weapon that he made world famous.

Undoubtedly, a lot of thought went into the details of the choreography. The scenes aren’t just choreographed; they’re masterpieces, combining martial arts prowess with stunning cinematography.

Martial arts action choreography has touched new heights and combined different genres in the past years. Even so, the fight choreography in Enter the Dragon remains stellar. This is a movie that never gets old, and the credit for that goes to Lee. Apart from the various other aspects of Enter the Dragon that inspired action cinema, the closing sequence in a chamber of mirrors alone has been reused in multiple action movies.

Enter The Dragon received a BBFC ‘18’ age rating for its violence and it was not just about the fights. Interestingly, even though it is packed with violence, Enter the Dragon is mostly bloodless. Except for the iconic scratches on Lee’s body, the film is mostly a bone cruncher. Moreover, not a single gun is fired in the movie. 

Before Walter White started melting bodies by using hydrofluoric acid (HF), Enter the Dragon demonstrated the use of acid pits (it looks like water but as per the film’s co-producer Paul Heller, it is an acid pit) to get rid of the dead.

Robert Wall, the 9th-degree black belt who worked with Lee in Enter the Dragon, and also in Way of the Dragon, mentioned in an interview that Brue Lee was ahead of his times. He added that Bruce was not just a genius but was deeply knowledgeable about the various other aspects of movie-making. That is the reason that Enter the Dragon stands out even after 50 years of its release.

But “Enter the Dragon” isn’t all about punches and kicks. It’s got heart and philosophy too. Throughout the film, Bruce Lee’s character drops nuggets of wisdom that’ll leave you pondering. “Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory” – one of the film’s most famous lines – speaks volumes about the importance of staying present.

There was one iconic scene among the many in the movie that impressed me the most. Trapped in a chamber from which he is unable to escape, Lee nonchalantly hangs the nunchucks around his neck and sits on the floor in a meditative posture. That scene demonstrates the ability of a martial artist to embrace stillness when action becomes irrelevant. It’s all about adaptability, being flexible, and flowing smoothly through life’s challenges- themes that Bruce Lee mentioned in interviews while outlining his martial arts philosophy.

Then again, the original soundtrack of Enter the Dragon by Lalo Schifrin is another classic that remains etched in my mind. Soundtracks have never been a strength of martial arts cinema and Enter the Dragon remains another exception from that angle. Even when things settle down after the fierce conclusion, the focus shifts back to Han’s prosthetic hand and the soundtrack keeps the vibe of the movie alive in the minds of the viewers.

The filming of Enter the Dragon crossed its initially estimated budget and the final cost of the movie was around $850,000. However, it earned more than US$350 million worldwide (which would be more than $1 billion today after the inflation adjustment) making it one of the most profitable martial arts movies ever made.

With the untimely death of Bruce Lee, the success of the film also led to a chain of movies named the “Bruceploitation” subgenre. Lookalikes of Lee or “Lee-alikes” used to star in martial arts movies to exploit the genre’s rising popularity.

Not to forget, Enter the Dragon was also a movie that focuses on the concept of cultural crossover in Hollywood. Bruce Lee’s success in “Enter the Dragon” paved the way for greater representation of Asian actors and martial artists in Hollywood, breaking stereotypes and diversifying the industry.

So, there you have it – “Enter the Dragon,” a film that’s not just a classic but a cultural phenomenon. While not without a few flaws, it’s THE martial arts movie that defined the boyhood of people from previous generations and continues to inspire generations. Bruce Lee’s philosophy, his extraordinary martial arts skills, and the movie’s enduring legacy ensure that “Enter the Dragon” will remain a classic for years to come. 

By Suvajit Banerjee

©2023 teleratz.com