Le Dernier Dragon

Needless to say, this movie is incredibly cheesy. But it's also deceptively clever at times, and if you just go with it, it's a lot of fun.

Leads Taimak and Vanity (yes, they each have only one name) are surrounded by a talented and colorful supporting cast, allowing them to do what they do best; look good (and in the case of Taimak) kick a lot of butt.

It's sort of a mash-up of two of the most prominent b-movie genres of the 70s; Blaxploitation and Kung-Fu. But it's the 80s, so there's pop music and it has a happy ending.

Probably THE most '80s thing I've seen in a long time by way of a Motown/Bruce Lee mashup. Honestly, it's like Miami Vice, The Running Man and Big Trouble in Little China all went into a blender and this is what poured out. Hey, I'm not complaining, that's right up my alley.

Although not the smoothest thing in the world; its draggy in spots and the gangster scenes are unnecessary baggage. But Taimak and Vanity both have youthful charm to spare and the fight scenes are rad. There's a little bit of a dark tonal shift during the final fight, but it yields satisfying results.

And then there's Julius Carry with his million dollar glare, outsizing an already outlandish movie. I got a real kick out of this every time Sho'Nuff made an appearance.

This love letter to Bruce Lee and martial arts classic movies is not so well made; however, it is delightful to watch. The characters are over the top. The cinematography, set design, and costumes are dripping with the 80's. The story is a fun, light story of a martial arts student in Harlem, NY forced to find a balance between his desire to avoid violence with his need to use his unique skills for good. The music is good, being a Berry Gordy production. Vanity is beautiful and good. Tiamat has become a legend from this one film, and he is perfect for this role. Julius Carey's Shogun of Harlem is one of my favorite characters. The film is infused with its adoration of Enter the Dragon and Bruce Lee and does not take itself too seriously, so why should we. Check out the various small performances from actors that became much bigger, like William H. Macy. The fight choreography is fun- not great but fun.

Leroy Green (Taimak) is an avid martial arts enthusiast who has recently completed his master's (Thomas Ikeda) training. Still not having attained "the Glow" a martial arts master is supposed exhibit when attaining the final level, the master tells Leroy the name of a master named "Sum Dum Goy" who is in New York but the master doesn't know where. Leroy's reputation attracts the attention of gang leader Sho'nuff (Julius Carry), the self-proclaimed Shogun of Harlem, who seeks to provoke a fight with Leroy to prove his superiority which Leroy refuses at every turn. Meanwhile video DJ Laura Charles (Vanity) hosts the hottest music video showcase show on TV and attracts the attention of sleazy producer Eddie Arkadian (Christopher Mrney) who responds to Laura's refusal to showcase his prospects by having thugs attempt to intimidate here. A chance encounter with Leroy results in Laura getting saved from the thugs and Laura develops feelings for Leroy.

The Last Dragon was the final film production of Mowtown Productions, the film and TV production arm of Mowtown Records. Following the critical and commercial failure of The Wiz, The Last Dragon was a seemingly risking endeavor for the company as the movie is an homage to blaxploitation and kung-fu films which had fallen out of popularity in the 1980s with paradigm shifts moving away from the films that had once played in the grindhouses of 42nd Street and the availability of home video lead to many films once staples of such grindhouses being released on the home video market. A decent sized success upon release making three times its $10 million budget despite mixed reviews. In the year's since the film's release The Last Dragon has attained a cult following, and deservedly so because it's the best martial-arts, Blaxploitation, romance, musical, parody, homage you could hope to see.

The movie is a strange journey that should be seen to be believed. If you were to mix elements of Bruce Lee movies, Xanadu, some Phantom of the Paradise, and Black Belt Jones, you'd only begin to approach the experience that comes from watching this movie. With its tongue firmly in cheek but not going into full on parody still taking its martial arts plot fairly seriously (to a point) with most of the plot points seen in Bruce Lee's films or the various Shaw Brothers productions proudly on display with a mash-up of 70s attitudes and sounds along with contemporary music of the 80s with a mixture of 70s sounding funk and 80s New Wave making the film a rollercoaster ride through music and martial arts.

Now with that said there's plenty about the film that doesn't work or isn't up to the level of the rest of the film. Taimak was a 19 year old martial artist with no prior acting experience and it shows. Taimak beat out Wesley Snipes, Mario Van Peebles, Laurence Fishburne and even Denzel Washington for the lead role and the fact that Taimak's career never really took off is proof of his lack of stage presence. Now with its mashup tone and homage to 70s martial arts flicks the movie uses Taimak's stilted acting to its advantage by making it fit within its strange world. The movie also has one too many comic relief characters with Leroy's brother Richie played by Leo O'Brien a rather grating presence in the film that could've easily been merged with the other better comic relief character Johnny Yu with little effort. The movie also feels like it's about 15 minutes too long and would've benefitted greatly from a leaner 90 minute runtime.

The Last Dragon is an enjoyable bit of mashup nonsense that pays homage to the bygone days of Blaxploitation and Martial Arts films that had largely died off with the advent of the 1980s. The film is filled with all manner of visual and auditory marvels be it its eclectic soundtrack, it's engaging fight scenes, and fun comedy. The Last Dragon is a movie that needs to seen as words can't really do justice to the playfully silly world it creates. The movie does overdo some comic relief characters and the film could've benefited from a leaner runtime, but as a movie The Last Dragon leaves its mark in a way you won't soon forget.

It's so easy to dismiss a movie from another time-line as pure trash. Why, if I just pick up any car-chase movie from the 70's, or some old spy movie from the 60's WITHOUT considering the era & what was in it, I'd be lost.

The 80's introduced a pop culture focused in music, thanks to MTV. Break-dancing was the norm. Synthesized keyboards backing up great, and some not so great singers were all over. Also, movies in the 80's carried over what Bruce Lee & others had brought from the 70's: martial arts. Lots of movies with the word 'ninja' in it, and of course 'Karate Kid' made a big impact in 1984.

If you were already into the hip-hop scene, & you liked the American dance pop music that was playing all over New York, then going to see 'The Last Dragon' would have been a natural extension for your weekend experience at the movies.

The story is simple- Young kung-fu master Leroy Green (Taimak) must seek his inner-self by obtaining what is called 'the glow', and is faced with wrath of a great, cheesy bad guy called Sho'nuff, along with his gang. Along the way he will learn about his family, himself, and even find love. There's plenty of side stories that include our hero, who, by the ways, eats popcorn with chopsticks. He's a modest, gentle young man who is faced with other challenges you wouldn't expect, like, for example, how to be 'black', and the fact that he's a virgin.

There is some hilarious lines, and I remember the entire theater in a riot with some of these:

Sho'nuff: Now, when I say, "Who's da mastah?" you say, "Sho'nuff!" Who's the Master?"

Gang: "Sho'nuff!"

Leroy Green: "The truth will be revealed only to eyes unclouded by desire."

Sho'nuff: "It's mumbo jumbo like that & skinny little lizards like you thinking' they the Last Dragon that gives kung-fu a bad name."

Those who really watch Kung Fu films are in for a treat, as this one really lays on the Bruce Lee references. The villain, Sho'nuff, is a just oozing with the typical kung-fu bad guy look & sound. There are some good fighting scenes, as Taimak is really an expert in martial arts (there were some karate how to videos he did), but there is one little kid in this movie who really kicks butt. You have to see him in action to believe it.

Nope. There are no Oscar winners in here. You won't see an outstanding story line. No expensive SFX. Just a moderately low budget, flashy movie filled with that decade's influence- like bright colored clothes, neon lights, & music. It's the right blend of kung-fu, fantasy, romance and comedy together with 80's clicks and buzzes that really make this movie. If you like kung-fu, forget the nay-sayers and watch this, you won't regret.

9 out of 10