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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1973)
I s Enter the Dragon, exit Lee Enter the Dragon. Exit Bruce Lee This newest film in the Kung Fu craze is Bruce Lee's last. Lee, master of oriental martial arts and the leading figure of many of the recent films dealing with the subject, died last month. It would have been interesting to see what path his career might have followed once the current Kung Fu fad has died. (Its end certainly seems near after seeing Enter the Dragon.) Lee does have screen charisma, even if his acting is a bit stilted. One immediately thinks of him in terms of a Clint Eastwood type-quiet, reserved, stone-faced. Yet when the action begins, all hell breaks loose. One easily could have seen him making movies in non-oriental settings-as, for instance, a tough New York narcotics agent or even as a Western hero. For money-minded producers, he certainly would have been a sought-after commodity in future years. But there is nothing new on the horizon in Enter the Dragon. Lee is invited to participate in a martial arts tournament on a small island near Hong Kong, sponsored by an oriental criminal big-shot named Han. Lee also does a little on-the-stage undercover wotk for the British government, trying to investigate Han's suspected drug involvement. The film is nothing more than an excuse for filling the screen with a fight scene in every conceivable spot. The film's three leading protagonists at the tournament, Lee, an American playboy (John Saxon) and a hip, overconfident black (Jim Kelly), even have flashback dreams so the movie can provide three more fight scenes. There are no developed subplots and Han's sinister activities are never made cleai. They ore something Lee can be caught investigating, thus resulting in a fight with Han's personal army. Enter the Dragon is one of the first Kung fu films produced and made by a l.vje Ami i icon company (Warner Bros.). But teu.nicallv the film is as bad in some areas as the earlier oriental imports. The dubbing of the dialogue of some of the oriental characters is still atrocious, and the photography is grainy and hazy. Then there's that cute little trick the sound effects people came up with of inserting what sounds like the loud crack of a bull whip every time a hand or foot lands in somebody's face or groin. It's crunchingly dfuctive but so fakey that it soon becomes lauqhable. But so do the magical works of the film editors, as thoy turn Lee into a Douglas Fairbanks acrobat who jumps, chops and kicks his way through dozens of attackers. Like Clint Eastwood in the Italian spaghetti Westerns, wrr.-uj an effective use of film cutting would enable him to gun down five men before any of them could get a shot off, the miracles of editing enable Lee to leap into mid-air, flail his arms and legs and land with a half dozen attackers strewn about him. Despite all the trickery surrounding him, Lee was still a master of his art, and the choreography of his dynamic skills is one of the few bright points of the film. greg lukow keij grip Nothing else can be said for a poorly made film that exists only lor the violence it portrays, other than the fact that it is enigmatically (but per'nps not) the kind of movie people will flock to see. A short note on the brighter side. The Alfred Hitchcock double feature oof The Lady Vanishes (1938) and The 39 Steps (1935), now playing at the Douglas 3 should not be missed. Made before Hitchcock r,,me to Hollywood in 1939, they are excellent examples of his finest British works. . f omm (O 472-2200 j) WALK-IN WI ST DOOK HKAL'I II CI N IT K JOHN SUNSHINE BAND The Inn 17th & M 25 Draw - PLAMOR POLKA DANCING every Sunday 6-10 p.m. 4 mi. west of Lincoln on '0' Beer-Mixed Drinks Call 435-9411 . i-444 1 i ' 1 1 Fraternities! Sororities! Dorms! Independents! J Silk Screened Garments ..... SpLtulized T-shirts Greek Lettering and Crests Specialized Dorm Designs Intramural Jersey's- Foo'lull and Basketball Special Party designs CALL NOW FOR AN Af'POINTMEN PHONE 432 9897 SINK! KNTKKI'KISKS 134 NORTH 14TH STHEET if... ., V, . ' ' v. IN CONCERT I he University ! Nrbr.isk.i Visiting Artists Irio Ml m K,r. V m EL m L$&0r cello Grant JOHANNESEN piano SLIMI MBI K 21, :()())in KIMBAI I MAI I student 2.00 dui 1(H) s(Us reserved phone 472-i 7r- 01 ' 472-2500 Art Series to include concerts This year's Performing Series opens next vveok v ' program of danco a youthful ballet troupe includes a classical guitar Metropolitan Opera sopra; pianist and an inter nat i acclaimed flute player. Season tickets for the ? are on sale at the Union b Desk in Westbrook Student tickets are $7.5t! the five concerts, while performance tickets $2.50. Ballet West USA is o. the first full ballet romp, to visit UNL. n v mm mi I Wl i H THIS AD ON English Books and Novels Wednesday, September 19 irr;..zt s fib Y- llkademia n -net' & f'rvkw "' l " '.' ' Open 0-5. Monday -Snturd.jy 1135 R 432-0111 I Saturday, it H September will be the Inst day for full refunds on hooks not needed that were purchased from us this semester. Please bring your cash receipt and droo slip. i . Open 0-5 Daily. 9-3:30 Sat. iWMi. II II HI 4 k J" V -MB- VM f A "ltitiMi.jAtni mi 1215 R om j 432-0331 monday, September 17, 1973 d.iily nebraskan