Bullet Points: The Last Dragon
One of my favorite action movies is a film about the legendary Shogun of Harlem. Known to his gang as Sho’Nuff, he destroys all of his adversaries with sheer aggression and sweet martial arts techniques. All except one; the elusive “Bruce” Leroy Green.
- The Actual Premise: To proceed to the next level of Kung-fu greatness, “Bruce” Leroy Green must search for The Master to help him succeed in his quest to inherit a rare skill known as the glow. But Leroy’s final journey will not be an easy one as he runs into an evil martial arts street thug named Sho’nuff who is known as The Shogun of Harlem. Sho’Nuff has been off the scene but he is back and want’s everyone to know that HE is the masta!
- It Gets Sexy: To also put a wrinkle in his quest, Leroy quickly falls in love with a singer Laura Charles who is being stalked by an insane wannabe music promoter named Eddie Arkadian. Arkadian is pissed because Laura Charles won’t play his rising stars music video on her music variety show called 7th Heaven. Arkadian hires every thug in town, including Sho’Nuff, to take a piece out of Leroy’s ass.
- We Love The 80s: The Last Dragon and its actors are the epitome of eighties break dancing, big hair, urban lingo, cheesy pop music, horrible clothing, freestyle rapping, and random brown leather jacket wearing thugs who work for a gangster that’s resemblance is more like Mr. Spacely Sprocket than an intimidating man of power. Half way into the movie, the ridiculous jerry curl sporting El De Barge rocks his classic tune Rhythm of the Night and Laura Charles (Played by Vanity of Action Jackson) performs the worst song ever called 7th Heaven on her television show.
- Sho’Nuff Steals The Show: His character is so outlandish and out of control, it’s easy to forget the story is really about Bruce Leroy’s quest. Sho’Nuff is constantly yelling the entire time and creates a bad guy persona that is legendary. Leroy stands in his way of total Kung-Fu domination. Sho’Nuff makes it very clear that he is the meanest, the prettiest and the baddest mofo low down around his town. When he says, Who’s da mastah?” You will say, “Sho’nuff!”
- Favorite Line: When Eddie Arkadian hires Sho’Nuff to get Leroy out of his way and offers him a briefcase of money, Sho’Nuff turns it down and says, “Keep your money. You just get that sucker to the designated place at the designated time, and I will gladly designate his ass… for dismemberment!” That’s a man who wants some serious vengeance.
- Hitsville U.S.A.: The founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, was the executive producer of this masterpiece. Also keep an eye out for early small roles from William H. Macy, Chazz Palminteri, and Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy from The Cosby Show).
- Final Thoughts: If you haven’t seen this I think it would be advantageous of you as an action film fan to check it out. I want to fight someone right now just thinking about it.
