Though it isn't always the case, Bruce Lee's most famous movie is probably his best; Enter the Dragon is a martial arts extravaganza oozing in '70s culture, brilliant fight scenes, and a gripping plot that sees our hero - creatively named "Lee" - invited to take part in a competition on a private island, where upon he discovers an underground drug smuggling operation ruled by a mysterious character named "Mr. Han." Really, this set-up provides our protagonist with an excuse to take down a variety of unsavoury challengers in a badass ways. So although there's no hiding the fact that Enter the Dragon purely exists as a showcase for Lee's skills, there's also no denying that the movie - directed by the very underrated Robert Clouse with a brilliantly memorable score by the great Lalo Schifrin - also transcended its B-movie origins somewhat. Not only is the picture packed to the brim with an array of inventive, bone-breaking fight sequences, it also contains a fair degree of tragedy via a subplot regarding Lee's sister. And who could forget Lee's face-off against Jim Kelly, or the final battle in the hall of mirrors, where Lee goes up against Mr. Han and his deadly claws?
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
