The Last Dragon (1985)

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writer:

Louis Venosta (writer)

Release Date:

22 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

He's a martial arts master who refuses to fight. He's a Bruce Lee fan who's so sure he's Oriental that he eats popcorn with chopsticks. his friends think he's too serious. His family thinks he's crazy. His enemies think he's no challenges. But she knows he's THE LAST DRAGON.

Plot:

A young man searches for the "master" to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the glow...

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Music Video | Kung Fu Classic | New York City | Cult Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Taimak	...	Leroy Green
Vanity	...	Laura Charles
Christopher Murney	...	Eddie Arkadian
Julius Carry	...	Sho'nuff / The Shogun of Harlem (as Julius J. Carry III)
Faith Prince	...	Angela Viracco
Leo O'Brien	...	Richie Green
Mike Starr	...	Rock
Jim Moody	...	Daddy Green
Glen Eaton	...	Johnny Yu
Ernie Reyes Jr.	...	Tai
Roger Campbell	...	Announcer
Esther Marrow	...	Mama Green
Keshia Knight Pulliam	...	Sophie Green (as Keshia Knight)
Jamal Mason	...	Roy
B.J. Barie	...	Jackie

Also Known As:

Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Delphi III Productions

Trivia:

In 1997, Busta Rhymes parodied the character Sho Nuff in his music video for "Dangerous". In the video, the music cuts off, and Busta proclaims, "Yo Leroy! Am I not the baddest . . ." and replicates the first on-screen speech of Sho Nuff in this movie.

Quotes:

Sho'nuff: I AM the Shogun of Harlem!

Movie Connections:

References Game of Death (1978)

Soundtrack:

Inside You

Does this movie rock? Sho'NUFF!

If you occasionally get nostalgic for break dancing, too much hairspray, De Barge, and Cyndi Lauper-style hair extensions, then this movie will give you an awesome blast from the past! I watched it on a Saturday morning and it made me feel like a kid again.

As many of the naysayers have already posted here, this ain't no bona fide martial arts flick. But it does make Tarantino-esque allusions to kung-fu pop culture- namely, Bruce Lee's films- that will be appreciated by 'true' kung-fu fans. And the fight scenes were co-choreographed by Ernie Reyes, Sr., so that gives them some credence.

In my opinion, the "worst" parts of this movie are actually the best because of their kitsch value: Prince protégé Vanity performs a ridiculously bad song and dance number; Leroy finds his inner "glow"; Sho'Nuff and his gang interrupt a screening of ENTER THE DRAGON; the list goes on. I think I'll watch it again next Saturday!