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Return of the Dragon

Return of the Dragon

List Price: $14.98
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: kung fu showdown
Review: Bruce Lee takes over writing and directing chores for his third feature film, and despite his best intentions the story suffers just as the first two did. However, looking past the lackluster writing is easy when you have fight scenes like the ones included here, doubtless some of the best ever filmed. Lee himself picked the combatants and choreographed the scenes, which are interspersed throughout. A tale of a family whose restaurant business is threatened by a rival mob boss, Lee also suggested the Italian location; the film's climax comes as Lee faces Chuck Norris-- at the time the Professional World Middleweight Karate Champion-- in a vast Roman coliseum. _Way of the Dragon_ (as it is known outside the U.S.) is the most comedic of Lee's films, and is a more than intriguing opportunity to see Lee's direction and writing on display for the first time; however, it will be most remembered for its martial arts displays. Recommended (along with Lee's other films) to fans of fight flicks; everyone else will have to tolerate some extra cheese on the side if attempting a viewing.

Once again 20th Century Fox disappoints us with a DVD that lacks all manner of extras, not even a trailer, and what is worse retains the poor English dubbing of what was originally a multi-lingual film. Note: the original cut of the film, unavailable on region 1, runs 100 minutes.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "Yeah! Chinese Boxing!!"
Review: The master of Kung-fu and originator of Jeet Kune Do (Way of the Fist) tries his hand at making his own martial arts masterpiece. Bruce Lee wrote and directed this film, as well as stars as Tang Lung, a student of 'Chinese Boxing' in Hong Kong. Tang travels to Rome, Italy to help out a friend's family who has opened a restaurant there. The family has been harassed by the local crime boss and his underlings, who threaten to destroy the restaurant if they don't sell it to the mafia. Tang helps out by training the restaurateur's five sons in the ways of 'Chinese Boxing' to fend off the thugs, and when the crime boss actually shows up, throws himself into the fight. The boss later enlists the aid of a Japanese, a European, and an American karate master to deal with Tang and the boys, which leads to a final showdown between Tang and the American master (played by none other than a young Chuck Norris!).

Needless to say, there's not a lot of plot here. This is mostly a Westernized version of any episode of "Kung-Fu Theater", with some attractive sights of surrounding Rome thrown in. Bruce didn't necessarily do a bad job with this film, but he wasn't exactly a master storyteller, either. The biggest draw for me, personally, was seeing Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris, and was what made me want to buy the DVD. Don't get me wrong; Bruce does kick some major ... in this one, and shows off quite a bit of his legendary martial arts and weapons skills, particularly with the nunchaku. There is a little bit of comedy in this one as well (the dubbing alone was comedy enough for me), and a little plot twist near the end, though that does little more than warrant a few head-scratchings. The final fight between Lee and Norris is...well, decent, taking place in the Roman Colisseum, but it could've been a bit better. Seeing the two warm up before the fight ups the anticipation meter a little and shows off some of Chuck's skill, too. As far as DVD extras, there aren't any, but since this is an older film (and not a well-known one), I'll let that slide.
Yeah, it's no "Crouching Tiger" by any stretch, but as a straight-up,...kung-fu flick, it does the job well enough. Hey, it's Bruce Lee, after all, and fans of his should get their money's worth. Just try not to take it too seriously...

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: way of the dragon (1972)
Review: At present i have only the uncut australian release of 'way of
the dragon' on VHS which runs for 94 mins. What im asking is this
USA version completely uncut with the Norris/Lee duel,the
nunchuku scene are they intact?

david ewen, Adelaide,South Australia

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great fight scenes, terrible movie otherwise.
Review: Like most Bruce Lee movies, RETURN OF THE DRAGON is a laughable one-star flic that in the near future should end up in Mystery Science Theater's Hall of Shame where it will be jeered and sneered at by a human and two robots. Don't get me wrong; the fight scenes in this movie are probably my favorite from any of his flics, especially the last one where Lee takes on Chuck Norris in the Roman Colliseum in one of the best martial arts displays of all time.

But the story and plot and the acting are shamefully hideous! This movie belongs in the genre of "comedy" rather than "martial arts," in fact. You know a movie is pathetic when it is funny where it's not intented to be and vice versa, and this flic fits into that category.

A much better alternative to buying this lame title is purchasing BRUCE LEE FIGHTS which is a compilation of Lee's greatest fight scenes from all his movies, (including nearly all from RETURN OF THE DRAGON) which means it's ALL action and no "cringing" at stupid plots and dumb actors.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great movie, but get the ORIGINAL!!!!
Review: In my opinion this was Bruce's best movie based on his fight with (...)Norris...boy was I glad to see him get his hair pulled out and all...originally this movie is called Way of the Dragon and thats the version I suggest all of you to get instead of the american dub Return...even the sound is better on the HK version because the American release is still mono sound (bleh)...you'd figure that Fox would improve the sound on their dvds but this is not the case with Return...However, the best version of the film to get is the Hong Kong Legends dvd release of Way of the Dragon which requires a region free dvd player with PAL converter...this is a PAL (not NTSC as in US over here) dvd...if you got the equipment, this is the ultimate version to get because the sound and picture are all remastered to the fullest possible extent and you'd be surprised of the clarity of the redone picture and the loudness of the sound...nevertheless, this movie shows bruce at his best and in his top form...this film is the only film that Bruce directed entirely by himself and it broke records at the box office at the time in HK...the fight between bruce and norris alone is reason enough to own this masterpiece...this fight used to be tops for me until i saw Drunken Master 2 and of course Fist of Legend (the best kung fu movie ever by the way)...this is the only film I know of where double nunchakus are used and this scene was just magical...story?...pretty simple, Bruce must go to Rome where a sort of family restaurant business is being harassed by some gangsters that want their territory...his mission is to basically help them out...so if you want to see chucky get his (...) beat, this is the movie to get...wanna see bruce's best movie, here it is, but I cant urge you all enough...GET THE HK OR THE HONG KONG LEGENDS VERSION OF WAY OF THE DRAGON!!!!!While you're at it, get all his other movies too (ENTER, Fist of Fury, Big Boss, Game of Death)...afterall, he's probably the best serious martial artist caught on film.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Where Is Chuck Norris the messenger !
Review: Enter the (CUT) Dragon! I wanted to give this DVD o stars but wouldn't let me. This 25th anniversary DVD is CUT, missing footage, Chuck Norris is missing in action! God knows what else is missing (The Trailer). WB please release the UNCUT version on DVD, overseas has has it! Waste of my money!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: CHUCK NORRIS steels the show !
Review: There are a lot of ignorant reviewers! Norris and Lee actualy had a real sparing match in Hong Kong (70's), a points match with judges and guess who won CHUCK NORRIS!(SUPRISE!).As a martial artist historian for over 23 years, do your own research nonbeleivers.Also Chuck Norris was in Enter the Dragon he plays a messenger in the begining of the film! Bruce looked up to Norris, come on a 6 time World Karate Champion, not including an undefeated Champion in the Air Force for years. Chuck is simply the best! In the movie he lost, why? HOLLYWOOD!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Martial arts master
Review: To date there is no better fight scene than the one between Norris and Lee. Incredible movie that has no equal in style or performance. You will not be disappointed!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Way of the Dragon
Review: This one has the best fighting scenes includin his killer nunchux.It is also humorous but maybe not so for westerners. The best scenes are where Lee fights the last 3 guys.If u want to see his best this is the one baby!There are some people who don't know their movies. Chuck was in Return of the Dragon not Enter. Another response is to the person who said that he doesn't hit close enough is wrong he only does one scene where his kicks lands short. Bruce is not degrading Karate, it is from kung-fu. Karate lacks steps and Bruce would of beaten them in a few secs. in real life.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE COWBOY
Review: ENTER THE DRAGON was Chuck Norris' first movie part, and he did it as a favor for his friend, Bruce Lee. This movie contains the only fight scene to my knowledge in which Lee is decked by an opponent. While the fight scene between Norris and Lee is somewhat stiff on NORRIS' PART(he hadn't yet learned the art of movie fighting), the exchange between the two reflect the two classic styles of solid rock-hard karate versus fluid, graceful kung fu as it was practiced at that time. The plot and acting may have been less than first rate, but the fight scenes are some of the best filmed up to that time and well worth seeing.


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