Bruce Lee’s third film “The Way of the Dragon” is a mixed bag. Written, directed, and starring Bruce Lee, it is a weaker entry than the excellent “Fist of Fury” or the famous “Enter the Dragon.”
Bruce Lee plays Tang Lung, a martial artist who visits his relatives in Italy and is drawn into protecting them and their restaurant from gangsters who repeatedly threaten and harass them. It builds on the trope of the lone hero from “Fist of Fury,” a trope borrowed from American and Italian western movies.
As expected in a Bruce Lee movie, the fight scenes are the highlight. The alleyway fight shows Tang Lung takes down a gang of thugs with his lightning-fast kicks, punches, and double nunchucks. While not entirely realistic, it is marvelously entertaining, as Lee demonstrates his extraordinary speed and strength.
“The Way of the Dragon” is best known for its climactic showdown between Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, who was the holder of multiple U.S. and World Karate championships. This face-off between two martial arts masters is a great combat sequence, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Roman Coliseum. There are no quick cuts or camera tricks, simply two masters in a hand-to-hand fight to the death
Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in the climactic scene from “The Way of the Dragon” (Golden Harvest Films, 1972).
However, while Lee is undoubtedly a martial arts legend, he is not a great director. There are some super bizarre editing and directing choices.
One of the most jarring elements of the film is the attempted mash-up of action and comedy. The movie opens with Tang Lung attempting to navigate his way around an Italian airport. There is a scene where he is forced to eat a variety of soups for some reason and then frightens a small child into dropping his ice cream. Later on, during the climactic showdown, there are repeated cuts to a small kitten in the midst of the actions. While Jackie Chan would later perfect the martial arts action-comedy, these farcical moments clash with Lee’s intensity.
Another problem with the film is the obvious Italian stock footage. There are numerous shots of Italy’s biggest tourist attractions and generic shots of the city with voiceovers placed over top. This takes away from the experience, as it dilutes the tension and pulls the viewer out of the film.
Additionally, as with many of Bruce Lee’s films (and many films from the 1970s, for that matter), there are many issues with stereotypical characters. From the clichéd Italian gangster to the Afro-hairstyle of the black thug, the film is just bursting with tropes and clichés. One of the most problematic characters is the gay villain, who repeatedly flirts with Tang Lung, resulting in a series of extremely uncomfortable scenes.
While not without its redeeming factors, the tonal inconsistency of “The Way of the Dragon” makes it a less cohesive film than either “Fist of Fury” or “Enter the Dragon.” While the movie is still a lot of fun and a must-see for Bruce Lee fans, I would recommend just watching the fight scenes from this one.
