Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Last Dragon Blu-ray Movie Review

Enter the music video.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 19, 2015

Ever wonder what a nearly two-hour music video-slash-martial arts film hybrid might look like? The Last Dragon, or Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon, if one really wants to get to the heart of the matter and credit the then-head man at Mowtown Records who served as producer, mixes 80s martial arts with 80s music in a film that can only be described as "unique." Maybe "strange" and "unwieldy" and even "infectious" and "fun" also fit but "unique" certainly drives to the heart of the matter. Yet no matter how one sees The Last Dragon, there's no denying that it stands apart from the crowd, playing like it's part The Karate Kid and part Big Trouble in Little China (which wouldn't release until a year later) combined with an infectious era beat that sets the tone and helps cover up the movie's structural shortcomings. It's a simple affair, a film with no aspirations of grandeur but rather a fun, easy diversion that mixes things up and projects a cheesy novelty that should leave audiences satisfied with the escapism, assuming they enter the movie understanding that it's a tongue-in-cheek affair rather than a serious stab at thoughtful cinema.

Leroy Green (Taimak) is a martial arts student who aspires to be like his idol Bruce Lee and has all but reached the end of his training. His teacher (Thomas Ikeda) instructs him to seek out Master Sum Dum Goy, the only individual who can help him achieve the final level of true martial arts understanding which involves capturing the power of a mythical energy known as "The Glow." Green sets out on the journey but finds it difficult to enter the master's inner circle. He also, and more urgently, becomes entangled with a group of bullies led by the powerful Sho'nuff (Julius J. Carry III), a man who sees Leroy as the only obstacle between himself and total martial arts supremacy. Leroy takes Sho'nuff's showmanship and shenanigans in stride, but the two are ultimately pitted one against another when Leroy comes to the rescue of a young television star named Laura Charles (Vanity) who is being harassed by Eddie Arkadian (Chris Murney), a man who hopes to use Laura's television platform to promote his girlfriend Angela Viracco's (Faith Prince) talents. Now, mixed up with a celebrity whose interest in him may extend beyond the rescue, Leroy must do what he can to channel his strengths and defeat the people who would threaten him, his family, and Laura.

Audiences looking for a serious martial arts film, a deep self-discovery picture, a heartfelt romance, or a lean, butt-kicking karate exhibition will probably walk away disappointed. The Last Dragon offers all of that, but none of it in a traditional sense. The movie takes genre status quo and reworks it to enticingly silly extremes, right down to character names like "Bruce Leroy," "Sho'nuff," and "Sum Dum Goy." There's a mystical power known as "the glow" that may be a real thing or a metaphorical conclusion of an inner journey towards deeper self discovery. There's a (pop) princess in peril and an evil showman who wants to take over her platform to promote his own wares in the form of Tony winner Faith Prince who here plays a convincingly colorful wannabe Pop icon with hardly a lick of talent to her name. And, of course, there's the highroad hero and the low-blow losers who serve as an artificial rival for said hero. Leroy is the classic young martial arts master who refuses to use his skills in any situation beyond a dire last resort, which, of course, is thrust upon him when he, and the girl for whom he develops feelings, are pushed too far. The film is crammed with basic storytelling convention but it's all healthily and happily reworked into a hearty and hardly serious bit of classic escapism that might look and sound juvenile on the surface but that shows a fairly good command of the genres with which it toys and the effortless silliness that flows from every scene.

The movie isn't perfect, though, even considering it as a play on the martial arts genre. It's a little clumsy in execution, fumbling around a story that's so trite and so centered around the common core that it's a tough escape even considering the shenanigans that play out around the periphery. There's a bit too much time spent idling, where the action and laughs and beats slow down, where various scenes -- including tense stand-offs and moments of blossoming romance -- seem to execute in slow motion. The story itself is a bit scattered and loose and overly simplistic, though arguably necessarily so to ensure that it's not taken very seriously. Performances do satisfy, however, and the characters -- including villains played by Chris Murney and Julius J. Carry III -- capture the comedic, over-the-top, hammy essence their characters have to offer, neither going so far as to appear as a human cartoon but certainly understanding of the movie's nature and what's required of them to ensure that the movie remains slyly funny rather egregiously goofy. Certainly, the film is dominated by Taimak's rookie performance. He brings a unique perspective to the character, blending an inward confidence with an outward "aw shucks" sort of charm that he can flip on and off like a switch as the situation dictates. He plays the character confidently and with a keen understanding of the character's dual influences of ancient martial arts teachings and 80s life on the streets. He builds a believably infectious chemistry with co-star Vanity in one of her earliest roles.

The Last Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Last Dragon's Blu-ray release impresses. It offers a good all-around image that retains a fine and consistent grain structure and showcases an impressive film-quality veneer. The image rarely appears flat, instead offering a nicely defined surface that's home to a myriad of solid detailing, particularly evident on elements like a complexly woven straw hat, general attire, and close-up facial features, including creases, pores, pimples, hair, and other skin details. Rough urban environments are also beautifully complex and well defined; city exteriors really impress. The image never pushes excessively soft but instead appears consistently, and naturally, sharp. Colors can be a bit warm, particularly in lower-light conditions, but primaries pop in well-lit scenes, including bold yellow jumpsuits, Sho'nuff's red costume, and Angela's multicolored hair. Black levels are suitably deep and flesh tones largely accurate save for a mild push to red at times. The image appears free of any serious bouts of banding, blocking, print wear, and other eyesores. This is an impressive effort from Sony, particularly for a thirty year old title that's more a cult favorite and less a mainstream sensation.

The Last Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Last Dragon features a solidly performing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It easily captures the essence of the 80s sound, belting out music and lyrics with a bubble-gum flavor that's crisp and refreshing, easy and well defined. Spacing is solid, particularly across the front; the back channels and the subwoofer are active but not prominent. The back speakers do carry a few specific effects here and there -- a ringing telephone around the 33-minute mark is very noticeable in back placement -- but the track isn't necessarily fully and consistently active through every speaker. Action effects are crisp and enjoy solid enough definition, including lightning strikes that jolt through the stage. Dialogue is firmly entrenched up the middle with a few scattered occurrences of organic depth and space when necessary. Basic linguistic definition and articulation satisfy requirements.

The Last Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Last Dragon contains a commentary, a documentary, and a trailer. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary: Director Michael Schultz offers an insightful and satisfying look at the film, including its racial components, casting and performances, fight choreography and actor training, stories from the behind-the-scenes process insofar as details like script and budget are concerned, cinematography, production design, budget and box office performance, and much more. Though softly spoken, the track is informative and enjoyable. Fans will love it.
• Return of the Dragon (1080p, 24:08): A fine and newly minted retrospective piece that looks back at the film's core qualities -- music, martial arts, setting, cast, characters -- and also explores its era, casting and performances, Berry Gordy's involvement in the film, crafting some of the key scenes, the film's legacy, and more.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:26).

The Last Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Last Dragon is a fun and easy tongue-in-cheek entertainer that understands itself and plays to its strengths. It may be a bit overlong but the cast is strong, the characters are endearing, the comedy works, and the music remains infectious. One of the stalwart and quintessential 80s films, The Last Dragon holds up as a fan favorite that's received a nice Blu-ray package from Sony for its 30th anniversary. Solid "fully remastered" video and audio are accompanied by a few good extras that fans will treasure. Recommended.