The Way of the Dragon (1972)

The Way of the Dragon (1972)

Dir. Bruce Lee

Sometimes titled with the definite article and sometimes without, The Way of the Dragon is the film in which Bruce Lee fights Karate champion Chuck Norris in a Roman coliseum while a kitty cat spectator sits on high.

Beyond that it's basically the same old story: Bruce's character arrives from overseas and helps some family members that are being exploited (this time they're in the restaurant business); there's an attractive woman (the adorable Nora Miao) for him to engage with; a traitorous countryman weasels about; and it culminates in a death match that enables Lee to show how bad-ass he really was - his fists are lightning fast during the fight with Chuck.

Even though poor Chuck only gets three words of dialogue he makes an impression.

It was the only film that Bruce got to direct before he died; he did well, especially on the finale. He also wrote, co-produced and is credited as martial arts director. The commentary on styles and how a student can be proficient in more than one is something he taught in real life.