Issue Date: April 29, 2007
"Enter the Dragon"
A champion boxer finds the 1973 Bruce Lee martial arts classic a kick.
By Melanie D.G. Kaplan
A new HD version of "Enter the Dragon," starring martial arts icon Bruce Lee, was recently released on Blu-ray Disc.
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The Plot
A tough secret agent named Lee (Bruce Lee) and two other martial artists (John Saxon and Jim Kelly) take part in a brutal kung fu tournament. It's hosted by an evil drug lord, whose gang was responsible for the death of Lee's sister. (The actor died in July 1973 at age 32, one month before the release of this movie.)
Our Insider
Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's light heavyweight class. His mixed martial arts titles include WEF Light Heavyweight Champ and Elite Fighting Light Heavyweight Champ. Eastman's training includes Muay Thai, jujitsu and boxing.
OVERVIEW "It was a really good story line, and it's still applicable today. We haven't stopped the drug trade. Bruce Lee was so fast. He was 20 years ahead of his time."
MEMORY LANE "When I was a kid, I watched all the Bruce Lee stuff and the [English-dubbed] kung fu movies with the dialogue that didn't sync up with the actor's lip movements. I remember putting on those flat $5 karate shoes and trying to do ninja moves. I couldn't afford formal training, so we just had to watch what was on TV and emulate it."
EVENING THE ODDS "My favorite scene was when Lee had to fight the bodyguard Oharra, and then Oharra starts cheating and [wields] a broken bottle. Lee isn't even shaken. I know how to fight, and I have confidence in my ability, but if someone came at me with glass I'd probably retreat and look for something to even up the odds."
ON STYLES "Bruce Lee combined lots of different fighting styles and modernized it to make it work for him. He believed in breathing techniques, all that karma. It helps you concentrate, and it helps with your senses and balance. Some martial artists call it your chi, but I believe in prayer and faith. If you dream about your performance and play out the way it's going to go, it manifests itself."
MODERN MOVES "In the movie, they use a lot of karate and kung fu. But you don't hear about those much anymore. They've just weeded themselves out. It's not a disrespect, but it's kind of like how nobody uses cellphones the size of bricks anymore. Now you've got phones on your wrist."
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