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I don’t know how or why, but the 1985 kung fu fantasy The last dragon I shaped myself at a very young age. I have strong memories of observing it, loving and Connect emotionally with him. For some reason I could never explain why. With the film, which celebrated his 40th anniversary this week, I gave him a repetition and not only discovered why I liked him, but that it is much better than I even remembered.
Directed by the productive Michael Schultz, The last dragon Is about a New York Kung student named Leroy (Taimak … only Taimak), who is looking for the final level of enlightenment. The journey leads him through the city to look for a master who teaches him and is also able to fight him with Shogun of Harlem with Sho-Nuff (Julius Carry), the self-proclaimed “Shogun of Harlem” who wants to fight Leroy.
The main thing I remembered The last dragon Was it always dangerous for me? Something about the mythology of martial arts, mixed with urban sensitives, had the feeling that I would get into trouble to watch them. Maybe it is because I was an eight -year -old white child who saw a film about cultures that I had no idea about. Maybe I could never find out when it started and only saw parts. Maybe I was just a sissy. Anyway, that’s how I felt.
When I looked at it last week, I quickly realized that some kind of evil or dangerous mood that I personally derived did not exist. At all. In reality, The last dragon is a joyful, innocent film that must have been too sincere for me to understand it as a child. It is a celebration of a time and a place that is completely unknown to me with an undeniable strange but welcome charm. In other words, when I saw for the first time The last dragonI definitely didn’t have the power of the light.
While Leroy’s search for this glow and “The Master” is the main story and its rivalry with Sho-Nuff is the main conflict, another story connects the two and it is, 1985. A rich arcade owner named named Waiting It, Eddie Arkadian (get it? Videos of his girlfriend Angie (faith prince). Every time Eddie tries to kidnap Laura or Invisory, Leroy is there by chance.
Through this action, The last dragonThe quirky originality is unveiled. For example, it is not just a martial art film. It is also a deep dive into the pop culture of 1985. Laura’s show is MTV meetings Soul train And sometimes, sometimes The last dragon The default settings for easy playing the music videos The characters dance in the film for minutes in the film. (The highlight is a debarge “Rhythm of the Night”, which comes in this film. It was a certified banger at the time, is today and will be forever.) Laura’s world is also filled with some of the largest, wildest fashions of the 1980s that you can imagine-hugs, sunglasses, shoulder pads, limit values, neon, as they call it. All of this also hugs Eddie’s girl Angie. She is a Cyndi Lauper rip -off that wears traffic lights as a bra that has some of the best scenes and lines in the film. Basically, The last dragon Tell us, it doesn’t matter whether you are a good guy or a villain. The appearance and sound of this time are everywhere and for everyone.
The relationship between Leroy and Laura is also very rewarding because it is so incredibly cumbersome and therefore cute. Remember Laura is a super famous singer and TV personality, so with a massive swarm in someone who is as clueless as Leroy, funny and sweet (to be fair, his good looks and his carved body probably also help). Leroy likes Laura back, but has no idea how to express it, which contributes to fun. Then there is Leroy’s younger brother Richie (played by Leo O’Brien, who unfortunately died in 2012). Richie may be a child, but he is everything Leroy is not: self -confident, smooth and charismatic. He also has a crush on Laura and the dynamic of him as a pseudo -thirds wheel adds more hijinks. You want Laura and Leroy to be together, but it’s almost better if you are not.
All of this works largely because of Taimak. His performance as a leroy is comparable to a cinematic puppy dog. Friendly eyes, violent loyalty, a little stupid, but completely lovable. It is exactly the opposite of what you would expect from a deadly martial artist like Leroy. Whenever he has to use his skills, it is so much more effective. Laura also makes vanity a layered, credible character. We totally buy that someone who is so successful could be so completely disarmed by love. In the best way, add the work of O’Brien and Carry and Carry and The last dragon Come together masterfully … a few dated stereotypes aside.
And yes, there is a lot of action in the film, some of which are exciting, some of which are a bit slow and boring. But it is worth it for the third act, which begins with a huge battle royale and highlight, with Leroy finding out that he is the last dragon while a song entitled “The Last Dragon” is playing in a film called The last dragon. Leroy finds the glow-literally and reaches the final level and defeats Sho-Nuff. The scene looked at me again when the nostalgia flooded in childhood. Schultz performs a phenomenal task to merge every element of filmmaking – SE and Music, Processing, Visual Effects, etc. – in an absolutely perfect cinematic moment. Here it is. You’re welcome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cnn0ptnbpy
Then it hit me. As The last dragon I realized that these climatic moments were responsible for all of this. I definitely had memories of the rest of the film, but at the end? I remembered every single nuance. The flashbacks, the line deliveries, the perfect arch of the water, sprays Leroy’s head. It is one of these endings that complete all stories of the film so professionally and are made with a completely new energy inflow that it is completely unforgettable. The film like Leroy finally finds an additional degree of enlightenment.
The last dragon Not only the test of the time, it is also pressed. The research of several cultures and tones in an entertaining, entertaining action package creates a snapshot of an era that is, in contrast to any other, and unexpected joy and innocence increases it through so much similar tariff. I loved the film when I grew up, even if I didn’t quite understand why, and now I think I love it even more because I can see how special it is from start to finish. Especially the finish.
The last dragon Celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 22nd. It is currently nowhere streamed, but available on Blu-ray and appears in services from time to time.
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