When martial arts fans talk about the "Holy Trinity" of Bruce Lee films, The Way of the Dragon often sits in a unique spot. Released in 1972 (and later in the U.S. as Return of the Dragon to ride the coattails of Enter the Dragon ), it wasn't just another action flick—it was Lee’s directorial debut and the only film where he had complete creative control.
The story is deceptively simple: Tang Lung (Lee), a "country bumpkin" from Hong Kong, travels to Rome to help family friends whose restaurant is being squeezed by a local syndicate. Way Of The Dragon [1972] (DVDR)
: Norris was the reigning US Karate Champion at the time. When martial arts fans talk about the "Holy
: Allowing the audience to see the full speed and precision of the movements. The story is deceptively simple: Tang Lung (Lee),
The Dragon in Rome: Why The Way of the Dragon [1972] is Bruce Lee’s Purest Vision
While critics like Roger Ebert initially found the plot "magnificently silly," retrospective reviews on platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes (where it holds a high 92% audience score) recognize it as a work of genius.
: The film introduces his "broken rhythm" fighting style, early glimpses of what would become Jeet Kune Do . The Colosseum: Lee vs. Norris