The Last Dragon (1985)

17Sep08

The Last Dragon IMDB Link

Directed By: Michael Schultz

Written By: Louis Venosta

Starring: Taimak, Vanity, Julius Carry

Whose da Masta?

SHO’NUFF!

What’s the reason to watch this movie?

SHO’NUFF!

I think my head exploded when Sho’nuff made his entrance. See, The Last Dragon is one of those movies where people would look at me weird and exclaim in horror “you haven’t seen The Last Dragon?” like it should have been required in my personal training in life. You’ve heard about Sho’nuff, you’ve heard people yell Sho’nuff, you’ve heard samples of Sho’nuff but shit I really didn’t expect Sho’nuff to be as fucking awesome as he was.

This guy wears custom made martial-art football shoulder pads rolling with his crew claiming to be the Shogun of Harlem. This guy gets pissed at the annoying white girl on TV and yells “Shut up bitch!” before he kicks the screen. He is the centerpiece for the ridiculousness that is The Last Dragon. You know the movie isn’t taking itself seriously when the main character is known as Bruce Leroy.

This is the first in my exploration of Michael Shultz who seems to have a clear philosophy after watching two of his films. Make it fun. Whatever it is that people think film making is, my goal is to make the movie fun at any cost. And he without a doubt made those movies that people all over love and that critics scoff at. I bet The Last Dragon is a favorite among a lot of people so who gives a fuck what they think.

And it’s not only about Sho’nuff, even if he completely steals the show as one of the greatest characters I’ve ever seen. Bruce Leroy’s brother is hilarious, so good that I’m surprised he wasn’t in every 80’s movie I’veseen as a schtick actor. And that’s really what The Last Dragon is, a 80’s movie rendition of a kung fu flick.

There are Bruce Lee homages everywhere, neon lights, funky hair, 80’s music at every corner and people getting their ass kicked. But seriously, it’s all about the meanest, prettiest, baddest mofo low down around this town: Sho’nuff.

Filed under: Action, Classic/Old, Comedy   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: 80's, Kunk Fu, movie review, Sho'nuff, The Last Dragon