Tuesday, August 31, 2010

See The Hit Movie The Last Dragon

By Dwayne Todd

The Last Dragon was actually a film produced by Motown Records back in the eighties. It seems that one of the primary concerns of the film might actually have been to promote new talent, particularly that one song, "Oh Sheila", you know, "Let me love you til the morning comes". But that doesn't change the fact that it's really a fun, exciting Kung Fu movie, and one of the must download movies of the eighties.

The movie follows a young martial artist nicknamed Bruce Leroy as he teaches the kids at the local dojo and works at his father's pizza parlor, delivering pies on foot throughout Harlem. He also tries to maintain his composure while dealing with hsi rival, Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem... Yep. Sho'Nuff... He's the Shogun of Harlem, you see.

He really is a great character. Maybe one of the all time classic comedy movie villains. He's colorful, ridiculous, short tempered and always funny. He wears visor sunglasses (You know, the ones that look like horizontal blinds), as well as shoulder pads, hakama (the baggy pants you always see in samurai films), and a top knot/Rick James kind of hair style. It's just plain hilarious watching him come on screen. He always starts with his big introductory piece, demanding that his lackeys affirm his meanness, badness and prettiness before engaging in any business.

There's a subplot that you probably... Won't take too much interest in. See, Leroy is after the heart of this girl who produces a local music show, and there's this sleazy promoter who's trying to get his girlfriend's new single played on her show. When you see the video, you'll grimace and shudder in embarrassment just for watching it, so... It's funny, but you find yourself wishing they'd just get back to the kung fu already!

And of course, it does pay off in the end when the manager hires all the baddest dudes in the city to have it out with Bruce Leroy and his students. These "bad dudes" include a big fat old white guy with a Mister T Mohawk and an all gold one piece suit... Yep, real bad dudes, these guys.

There are a ton of fun, corny eighties movie moments along the way, with Bruce Leroy seeking out an old Confucian master of wisdom; the guy who writes fortune cookies. When he discovers that the fortune cookie writer is actually a computer, he has a moment of zen like clarity.

Could the movie have been better without the weird subplot about the record promoter? Sure, but even so, it's one of the all time classic eighties flicks, and one of the best attempts at spoofing the Kung Fu genre while at the same time honoring it. It's also just plain a whole lot of fun.

Next time you want a goofy, fun eighties flick, and you want to see a little kung fu while you're at it, go ahead and give The Last Dragon a download. - 40729

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