Way of the Black Dragon (1978)

A Masterpiece!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I watched a version of this movie which runs only 75 minutes, nevertheless it has to be said the first half hour is slow and terribly boring. Gangsters are making money with drugs and prostitutes - unsuspecting girls whom they abduct from Bangkok. The story is lame and the fighting action begins only when Ron van Clief finally enters the movie. He plays an Interpol agent in Thailand, wears a T-shirt saying "It's better in the Bahamas" and starts kicking and hitting all the baddies as soon as he's on the screen - sigh of relief from all who did not fall asleep until then. With a boat chase, co-star Carter Wong and increasingly violent fights, "Way of the Black Dragon" turns into a passable cheap flick, but nothing you'll still remember next month.

Allison Wong (the lovely Cecilia Wong) gets abducted by a nasty gang of drug smugglers who have a foul sideline business involving white slavery and prostitution. Honest worker Chen (the likable Carter Wong), stalwart Interpol agent Bill Eaton (a solid and engaging Ron Van Clief), and Allison's brother (the brawny Hsaio Ho) join forces to take on the nefarious crime syndicate. Clumsily directed by Billy Chan, with rough, unpolished cinematography by Lo Wan Shing, a mean, sleazy tone, an initially poky pace that doesn't pick up until halfway into the movie when Van Clief finally appears at the 42 minute mark, a sloppy, meandering story, cruddy dubbing (most of the Asian characters sport totally inappropriate British accents!), a funky groovy score by Eddie Wang, laughably lousy dialogue, plenty of thrilling fight scenes (the action-loaded climax is especially stirring), and ridiculously broad and over-the-top women-beating cackling villains, this choice chunky of blithely low-rent martial arts trash overall rates as a real cheesy hoot.

Simply, this movie is a treat. Ron Van Clief is perhaps the most underrated and purest action star ever, excluding Chuck Norris.Most memorable dubbed line: "You're just a bunch of bitches" (Followed by group pimp slapping) Most what in the hell moment? : 20 minute of needless expose on heroine smuggling to introduce film.Most what in the hell moment II the sequel? : Jet ski bonanza boat fight, and why did we fight those guys anyway? Also See: (Pick any random scene in the movie and ask questions of relevance to plot or storyline) Not only does this movie teach aspiring directors what not to do, but it also subtly plays on this by asking? You A-Hole, isn't this one of the greatest martial arts movies ever made? ... And you respond, well actually yes... in fact it is you're the one who is the err... (gulping noise)... are the one having the last laugh, damn you Way Of The Black Dragon, damn you bitches!"

I'm sort of wondering why I am bothering writing this review, because I have a feeling no one will read it. Anyway, this is ONE TERRIBLE MOVIE! Scratchy print, awful pan and scan with constant closeups, and horrible dubbing! Crude and cheap! Lousy fights! Ron Van Clief shows talent and charisma, but he is incredibly wasted - his character doesn't appear until about half the movie is over!