I love the The Last Dragon. To me The Last Dragon is the Greatest Movie of All-Time.  Why? There are so many reasons. One simple one- The Last Dragon has character! It should not be taken at face value. At first glance you see a cheesy 80’s urban kung fu movie but this campy facade hides how deep and inspiring the movie actually is.

What people don’t realize is that it is purposely made to make fun of itself. It’s a tribute to Bruce Lee, Martial Arts Movies, the 80s, Motown, Blaxploitation & Spirituality.

My Top 10 Reasons to love Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon brought to you by

The Last Dragon Tribute

10. THE SOUNDTRACK

Remember “You are the Last Dragon, you possess the power of the Glow”? or how about “Dancing to the Rhythm of the Night”? the El Debarge song that was made for The Last Dragon.  If you’ve seen The Last Dragon, I bet you’re  got one of these songs stuck in your head right now!

Motown Mogul Berry Gordy produced The Last Dragon and wanted to use the movie as a vehicle to promote some of his music and artist.  The soundtrack really captures the feel of 80’s black culture. The soundtrack is a vibrant mix of R&B and Hip Hop from the time which includes hits from Vanity, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Debarge, Smokey Robinson and Willie Hutch. For a complete list of the song on the soundtrack and where you can go to pick up a copy of the serious, elusive Last Dragon soundtrack check out: The Last Dragon Soundtrack on The Last Dragon Tribute Site.

9. 80’s URBAN CULTURE MEETS KUNG FU

Thanks in a large part to the First Dragon, Bruce Lee, a large portion of 80’s Black culture was obsessed with Kung Fu movies. The Last Dragon gave us something very rare back then and even today- a Black (biracial) superhero. Add some great kung fu, an unforgettable scene stealing Black villain, a beautiful Black (also biracial) love interest then throw in a little spirituality/mythology, break dancing and Motown music and what do you have- an instant classic. The kind of movie that people watch over and over again. Even the kids of this generation love The Last Dragon. It has acheived cult classic status.
The Last Dragon truly captured 80’s black culture. The seemingly mismatched Motown meets kung fu theme was actually a perfect fit. This match made in heaven may have been missed by the critics at the time, but ask anybody that was raised in the 80’s and they will remember and probably love this movie. In fact, until recently The Last Dragon was highest grossing kung fu movie of all time! I wonder how many young black kids got into Martial Arts just because they wanted to be like Bruce Leroy.

8. THE STORY

Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon is a comic book come to life. It is a fun, action filled fairy tale like story of Good vs. Evil. I call it a kung-fu/motown/fairy tale. Directed by Michael Shultz, Written by Louis Venosta (who was a dancer on Fame and also wrote Bird on a Wire) and Produced by Rupert Hitzig. It is the story of Leroy Green Jr. (Taimak) a young quietly heroic character who aspires to reach the final level in his martial arts teachings. Along the way he learns that love, fear, confusion and vengeance are all parts of life he must embrace before he realizes that the key to the final level and the magical glow comes from within.

7. THE CLASSIC QUOTES

The Last Dragon contains some of the most memorable quotes in movie history. Classics like “Who’s the Master”, “Just direct-a your feet-za to Daddy Green’s pizza”, “Kiss my Converse!”, “Can you teach me some moves?” and “Catches Bullets with his teeth! N**ga PLEASE!” I’ve assembled hands down the largest and Best list of Last Dragon Quotes on the internet on The Last Dragon Tribute Site: The Last Dragon Quotes. You also want to check out The Top 22 Quotes from The Last Dragon

6. THE UNFORGETTABLE SCENES

The showdown between Leroy and Sho’nuff in the end is worth the price of admission alone, but there are so many great scenes leading up to that. I’ll have to make another Top 10 list of the greatest Last Dragon scenes. My list would have to include:

• Opening scene when Leroy’s Master at the time ask “How did you know that was the blue one?”

• The first time Sho’nuff barges on to the scene, busts into the movie theater and asks for the first time “Am I the meanest?”
• Out of shape dude in red belly tank top gets up in the Theater with his buddy and shouts to Sho’nuff  “Why don’t you sit down and shut up”
• Johnny Yu explains the art of fighting with out knowing how and then unsuccessfully tries it out on Sho’nuff and his boys.
• Sho’nuff makes Leroy to Kiss his Converse
• Every scene with Leroy’s little brother Richie Green, like when he break dances his way out of ropes!
• Laura Charles telling Leroy that he look like a master to her and that she would like him to guard her body
• The Chinese guys dancing outside of the Sum Dum Goy fortune cookie factory, acting “Black” and giving Leroy a hard time about acting “Asian”
• Leroy asking Laura to teach him some moves.

This is definitely another blog post….. There are way to many great scenes to mention

Watch your favorite scene in The Last Dragon for free from The Last Dragon Tribute site: Watch The Last Dragon

5. THE CHARACTERS

When you first mention The Last Dragon many people don’t  are sure what you are talking about many people assume you mean Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon or confuse it has another one of Bruce Lee’s movies, but mention Sho’nuff! or the Black Bruce Lee: Bruce Leroy and say “Who’s the Master?!?” all of a sudden people started getting flash backs. Even the secondary characters bring back great memories.

The Classic Characters in The Last Dragon:

Richie Green– Leroy’s jive talking little brother who is cooler and knows more about sex than his older brother. In one scene he famously “pops and locks” his way out of the ropes he is tied up in.  I’ve compile all his best scenes in this Tribute to Richie Green.

Johnny Yu – one of Leroy’s Kung Fu students who claims to have mastered “the art of fighting without knowing how to fight”
Tai– young black belt Ernie Reyes Jr.’s first acting role, who went on to star in “The Last Electric Knight” and it’s TV Spin off “SideKicks” (beside Gil “Buck Rogers” Gerrard), “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Movies, and plays the little guy who beats on the Rock in “The Rundown”

Leroy’s Teacher– who sends Leroy on a quest to find the great Sum Dum Goy with a special golden charm.
Eddie Arcadian– “the heavy dude” that wants his girlfriend’s video played by Laura Charles in “the worst way”. He is a napoleon complex having Arcade King from Kew Gardens with dreams of ruling the world
Angela– Eddie’s girlfriend- the Cindy Lauper like wanna be rock star also from Kew Gardens
Sho’nuff’s lackeys like Beast, Crunch and Cyclone in their urban samurai outfits who are always there to caress Sho’s ego by answering Sho’NUFF! To anything Sho’nuff says. i.e.: Am the prettiest? Am I the meanest? Am I the baddest mofo low down around this town? Who am I? etc…
Arcadian’s thugs like Rock played by Mike Starr (Mobster in Dumb and Dumber) and Hood #2 played by Chazz Palminteri– the limo driving thug who gets his ass kicked by Leroy while trying to kidnap Laura Charles
In one of his first roles William H. Macy plays Laura Charles’ producer JJ who begs her to meet with Eddie Arcadian or else he’s gonna get it. He tells Laura “there is a point. The point of a knife that is pointed at this point on my neck, he’ll slit my throat if you don’t do this for me.”
One of Richie’s friends is played by a young Carl Anthony Payne II who later starred along side Martin Lawrence as Cole on “Martin” and played “Cockroach” on the Cosby Show.
Leroy’s little sister is played by a very young Keshia Knight Pulliam who played Rudy also on the Cosby Show.

4. VANITY

“I thought that maybe it would be a great idea if i got myself a bodyguard…ya ‘know? like someone to guard my body”

Vanity who know goes by her real name Denise Matthews plays a beautiful singer and DJ at 7th Heaven, Laura Charles. If you where a teen aged boy or kid like I was in the 80’s it hard not to have found memories of Vanity, man was she beautiful. She pulls of this role with a sexy, flirtatious, confidence. She is a huge part to what makes this movie so memorable. You feel good for Leroy when he wins the fight and gets the girl because the girl is Vanity.

3. BRUCE LEROY

“Bruce” Leroy Green Jr. is the ultimate nice guy. It’s hard not to root for him. He’s corny, thinks he’s the Black Bruce Lee, eats popcorn with chopsticks, doesn’t always know the right thing to say and dresses like a Chinese peasant but he has huge heart and really kicks some ass when push comes to shove. He proves that nice guys don’t always finish last. He’s actually only referred to as Bruce Leroy in one scene but that’s how people remember his character, the movie and the man who played him. Taimak actually learned to act on set. He was an accomplished Martial Artist but this was his first movie role.  Ever wonder what Taimak’s been up to? Check this out: Whatever happened to Bruce Leroy.

2. SHO’NUFF

Who’s the Master?!?!? A 6’5″ charismatic but totally arrogant dude with a bad attitude, big hair, shoulder pads, funky shade glasses, crazy samurai outfits and the martial arts moves to back up his big talk. He takes over every scene. Every move he makes and word he says is hilarious. From “Kiss my converse!” to claiming he’s the “Shogun of Harlem” and the “Prettiest, Baddest mofo low down around this town” this character has to go down as one of the greatest Villains of all time right up there with the likes of Darth Vader and Heath Ledger’s Joker.  Julius J. Carry III who played Sho’nuff passed away in 2008 but his memory lives on as this unforgettable Villain in the Last Dragon.

1. THE GLOW

How cool is the glow, personally I am still looking for mine. Leroy describes the glow as “the final level where the spirit takes over from the mind and guides the body without thought”. Leroy’s quest for the glow shows us how we need to find balance to be truly happy. We need to face our fears, recognize our value and believe in ourselves to reach our goals. Most of the time the answers to the most difficult problems lie within. The Glow has become so popular that it is commonly referred to in pop culture i.e: “I Got the Glow like Bruce Leeroy”. Just do a search on Twitter for Bruce Leroy or Bruce Leeroy and you’ll see what I’m talking about. While your on Twitter follow: @TheLastGlow

WHY DO I LOVE THE LAST DRAGON?

WHAT ARE YOUR REASONS FOR  LOVING THE LAST DRAGON?