Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

generationofswine Can we give a shout out to 1985? Every so often there is a single year that has so many great movies it defines your watching habits. 1985 was one of them...and there were a couple more in the '90s...but 1985 wins it for having the most beloved childhood movies released.Ooooohhhhh, he had us all when he caught the arrow, didn't he? It is still awesome, that opening and...who cares about how dated it all is or how stupid Sho 'nuff looks with weird red get-up, this movie was too cool when you were a little boy.Leroy Green...he was totally Bruce Lee, or at least he was for a group of kids that were too young to know who Bruce Lee was...but not so young we didn't let this movie make us obsessed with Vanity.And...as an adult...I am still not sure how Vanity became famous. We may have all been in love with here when we were little but...yeah, total confusion about the big deal was and some odd association with The Artist formerly known as that we weren't old enough to understand.But....it was our introduction to women like Vanity...to Kung-Fu...to Blacksploitation films, to everything as absolutely movie centered horrible that we could handle and as a little kid....we loved it.And as an adult, I can ignore the camp and the stupid parts enough to still love it. So much fun.

willhaskew It's a fairly simple story with a single premise, a heroic martial artist searching for the ultimate technique and or enlightenment. In this case, it's Harlem Goju Ryu practitioner "Bruce" Leroy Green, Jr. Leroy is a Bruce Lee fanatic who loves Enter the Dragon and Fists of Fury, hence the nickname given to him at the beginning of the movie. When he's informed by his sensei that he's learned all that there is to be taught, he asks he's not surrounded by the sublime glow of the "final level." His sensei sends him on a journey to find a wise reclusive master named Sumdumgoy. While seeking the final level, he runs afoul of Sho'nuff, the self-proclaimed Shogun of Harlem and avowed kung fu master, and Eddie Arcadian, a showbiz wannabe and wealthy owner of a successful chain of video game arcades who wants to break into pop music by turning his Cyndi Lauper-lookalike girlfriend Angela Viracco into a pop star. Arcadian hopes to achieve his dream by having Angela's video for her single played on 7th Heaven, a video countdown hosted by beautiful female veejay Laura Charles. Leroy foils Arcadian's initial attempts to kidnap Laura, igniting a strong attraction between the two. It also sets up a final confrontation with Sho'nuff and Arcadian, when the latter enlists the Shogun of Harlem's help to gain revenge on Leroy.This was executive produced by Motown founder Berry Gordy, directed by Krush Groove director Michael Schultz and the soundtrack itself is a lot of fun. It features "The Glow" by Motown artist/producer Willie Hutch of the 5th Dimension and "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge along with appearances by Smoky Robinson and Stevie Wonder. Taimak does a decent job here considering he had virtually no acting experience before this movie, he seems just a little innocent and altruistic enough to play the role of a humble martial artist. Vanity plays...well herself, enough said. She's okay. Prolific character actor Julis J. Carry's performance as Sho'nuff truly makes this film memorable. He's a larger than life, martial artist-wannabe and bully who also happens to steal every scene he's in. It's something that should be considered essential hip-hop cinema, with even rapper Busta Rhymes dressing like Sho'nuff and quoting the film for his "Dangerous" music video.

clarke-21 Like many of you, the original film, which was made in 1985, is a classic and it shouldn't be touched. However, so many of us have questions about what happens once the film ends.If I could describe this film to someone who has never seen it, I'd say that this film is the essence of the 80s. The original script was written by Louis Venosta. I met with Venosta myself, and asked if I could write the sequel. This was back in 2006, long before the RZA was involved or even mentioned a remake.If you have access to Youtube, please check out THE LAST DRAGON fan commentary, which was created by myself and a writing partner.Venosta did not intend for Leroy to be such a sensitive character. He envisioned more of a serious fighter. Berry Gordy is the person who is actually responsible for the humor, and the sensitive character that is possessed by the protagonist, Bruce Leroy.The actor who played Leroy, Taimak, has his own unique story, which is compelling and you'll understand why he deserved the role. You can read it on Kung Fu Cinema, google THERE IS ONLY ONE BRUCE LEROY and you'll find my interview with him.As I mentioned, I sent a script to the RZA in California, back in 2007. I wrote a separate story about a modern day protagonist based in New York City. The title of the story is MASTERNEVER AND THE FLOW OF DEATH. I mentioned in my letter that the Last Dragon had been one of my influences. I'm not saying that the RZA did not already want to remake the movie, but he has never mentioned it over the years.After I met with Louis Venosta, I realized that a new story needed to be made.Reason being is that the LAST DRAGON, is a metaphor for the 80s. A time when people would really loose themselves in alternate personalities. Hip Hop was still in its infancy and there was a mixture of rock, rap, r&b and pop. Back then, more people wanted to be like Micheal Jackson, then Kanye West.So now, the remake has been announced and Samuel Jackson has been asked to play the role of Sho'nuff. Although he has agreed, he has mentioned that he has never seen a script. I've heard that in Hollywood, once you announce a film and if nothing happens in a year, the project is dead.Having that been said, I would encourage everyone to please read my book. I've placed the book and soundtrack online. You can find it by googling MASTERNEVER AND THE FLOW OF DEATH.When I met with Taimak, he intimated that he had a role in the upcoming film, but would not say what it was. So the film is more of a sequel and not really a remake. Most of us want closure and hopefully this is what we will get in the "remake." As I mentioned, I don't think a remake is necessary. Elements of the film, will be impossible to reintroduce. For one, the music supervision is excellent. The 80s soundtrack is timeless and that kind of music does not exist now.It is fitting that I mention The Last Dragon soundtrack because, while I was on this very message board four years ago, I began my journey to write the sequel.We're ready for a new story.

fantasticfreddyg First, to all those out there who think this movie is bad - I say if you're looking for great acting, brilliant writing and Oscar worthy direction - this is not that movie; and for those that have dissed this movie in their comments - you just don't get it.This movie is a prime example of film-making just for fun. It clearly is intended to be campy and never takes itself too seriously. If at times it has the look and feel of a music video, it's because it was made by music video makers and intended to help sell the great 80's soundtrack and artists featured in the film.A lot of the haters of this film point to the campy dialogue and bad acting. Well, as Jack-Luminous commentated here already on this - that's because the cast plays the material 100% straight and that's done quite INTENTIONALLY. And for this film it works brilliantly! The ridiculous dialogue being delivered in a straightforward manner by the cast elicits more unintentional and intentional laughs than most straightforward comedies.The film is also intended clearly as an homage to the kung fu and blaxploitation flick craze of the 1970's. Yet it turns the typical characterizations on its head in recognition of the changing times of the 1980's. (e.g. The hero is a black man who dresses up in traditional Asian garb, eats with chopsticks and acts very decidedly un-black.)This is not done just for effect as the film is aware of the globalization and diversification that is taking place in America and around the world at the time and where would it take place more so than in New York City? The film may be dated for those who didn't grow up in the 80's or don't like the music of that era. Otherwise, it is an incredibly enjoyable film that delivers a lot of laughs while having at it's core a nice hero story that promotes good values with quite a bit of social commentary and observations about the time thrown in also.I've seen this film countless times and every time I see it on TV, I can't help but watch and laugh. The Last Dragon is one of those campy films that you wouldn't think you'd see more than once, but find yourself watching over and over.---I hear they're making a remake of this. Clearly it's not gonna work without major revamping of the script as much of this film is contextualized with the 1980's. Let's hope they come up with something good.RIP Julius Carry - you'll always be the Shogun of Harlem to us!