I don't know how or why but the fantasy of 1985 kung fu The last dragon Print me at a young age. I have a strong memory of watching it, love, and Emotionally connecting to it. Even for some reason, I still can't explain why. And so, with the movie celebrating the 40th anniversary of this week, I gave it a visit and discovered not only why I liked it, but that was way, better than I remembered.
In the direction of the practical Michael Schultz, The last dragon is about a New York student Kung FU named Leroy (Taimak … Just Taimak) looking for a final level of explanation. The journey brings him throughout the city looking for a master who will teach him and also puts him in the odds with Sho-Nuff (Julius Carry), the self-expressed “Shogun of Harlem” who wants to fight Leroy to prove his efficiency.
The main thing I remember The last dragon Is it always dangerous to me. Something about the myth of martial arts mixed with urban sensations that feel like I have a hard time watching it. This is probably because I am an eight -year -old suburban white kid watching a movie about the cultures I have a zero clue. Maybe I just can't imagine when it started and just saw pieces and pieces. Maybe I'm just wimp. Whatever the case, that's how I felt.
Watching it last week though, I quickly realized any kind of evil or dangerous vibes that my personal infer did not exist. At all. To the fact that The last dragon is a fun, innocent movie that should be too sincere for me even if you understand as a child. It was a celebration of an hour and a place that was completely unfamiliar to me, told an undeniable strange but welcome of beauty. To put it in a different way, when I first saw The last dragonI definitely don't have the strength of the glow.
While Leroy's efforts to find the glow, and “The Master,” is the main line of the story, and his competing with Sho-Nuff is the main conflict, another story that connects the two and thus, so 1985. Videos of his girlfriend, Angie (Faith Prince). Each time Eddie tried to kidnap or scare Laura though, Leroy just happened to be there. Haphazard Knight in Shining Armor Rutin makes Laura fall for Leroy, even though his life is so focused on martial arts he has zero social skills.
By this storyline, The last dragonThe quirky originality was expressed. For example, this is not just a martial arts movie. It is also a deep dive in the 1985 pop culture. Laura's show meets MTV Soul train and, at times, The last dragon Defaults to just play music videos The characters dance to the movie for a few minutes each time. (The highlight is the “Rhythm of the Night,” which came from this movie. It was a certified baker then, today, and it would be forever.) Laura's world is also filled with some of the biggest, wildest 1980s fashions to think-huge hats, sunglasses, shoulders, cut-offs, Neon, your name. All of this is also embraced by Girl Angie. She is a Cyndi Lauper Ripoff wearing a traffic light as a bra with some of the best scenes and lines in the movie. Really, really, The last dragon Tells us that it doesn't matter if you are a good person or a bad person. The appearance and sound of this season is everywhere and for all.
The relationship between Leroy and Laura is also strictly enjoying it because it has that incredible awkward, and therefore beautiful, energy. Remember, Laura is a super -famous singer and personality on TV so she sees her with a huge crush on a person who is worthless that Leroy is happy and sweet (to be fair, her beautiful look and chiseled body probably can help too). Leroy wants Laura back but no idea how to express it, adding to fun. Then Leroy's younger brother Richie (played by Leo O'Brien, who died sadly in 2012). Richie may be a kid but he's all Leroy is not: trust, smooth, and charismatic. He also has a crush on Laura and the ever -changing -change of her as a third pseudo tire adds more hijinks. You want Laura and Leroy together but it's almost better when they don't.
All of this works in a large part because of Taimak. Her performance as Leroy is similar to a cinematic puppy dog. Kind eyes, fierce loyalty, a little dumb, but completely lovely. He himself is the opposite of what you want to expect from a deadly martial artist like Leroy, so any time he needs to use his skills, it affects more. Vanity also produces an incapable -believed work in making Laura a layered, reliable character. We will buy that a person who has successfully this can be completely disarmed of love. Add to over-the-top, in the best way, O'Brien's work and carry, and The last dragon are together together … some dated stereotypes beside.
And yes, there is a lot of movie actions, some of which are Kapana -excitement, some of which are relatively slow and boring. But it's all worth it for the third gesture starting with a big Battle Royale and Climax with Leroy knowing that he was the last dragon while a song entitled “The Last Dragon” played in a movie called The last dragon. Leroy found the glow-literal-and reached the final level, defeating the sho-nuff in the process. Watching it again, the scene brought me tears as childhood nostalgia entered. Schultz is doing an amazing work of digestion of every element of filming -constructed, music, editing, visual effects, etc. – In a perfectly perfect cinematic moment. Here it is. Welcome you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cnn0ptnbpy
That's when it hit me. Number The last dragon After all, I realized that these climatic moments are responsible for all of this. I definitely have memories of the rest of the movie but the ending? I remember every single nuance of it. The flashbacks, the line delivers, the perfect arch of water that sprays from Leroy's head. It is one of the ends that is so expert that wraps all the movie stories, and is done with a whole new energy flow, which is completely unforgettable. The film, like Leroy, eventually finds an excessive level of explanation.
The last dragon Not only the test of time stands, it aces it. Exploring many cultures and tones in a fun, entertaining package of action creates a snapshot of a season unlike any other, with unexpected joy and innocence that has raised it above a similar fare. I like the movie to grow, even though I don't understand why, and now I think I love it more because I see how special it is from start to finish. Especially the end.
The last dragon Its 40th anniversary is celebrated on March 22. It is not currently streaming anywhere but available on Blu-ray and appears in services from time to time.
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