Long de ying zi

Bruce Li (real name Ho Tsung-Tao) made 38 movies between 1972 and 1982 this one being one of his last. In some movies he was the next Bruce Lee, sometimes deliberately, sometimes not. His best movies were when he dropped the Bruce Lee act. He also surrounded himself with the best.

On the other side we have John Ladalski and this is his first movie credit. He is not credited as the producer of this movie but has said in an interview the original idea for this movie was his. He had been pitching a movie based on authentic Jeet Kune Do that would be realistic fighting. Bruce Li and Dan Inosanto liked the idea and signed on. Once filming began the original concept was quickly replaced with one gimmick after another and the result was the same old type of movie that everyone else was making that year.

This movie begins when John Ladalski walks into a martial arts studio full of Asians and challenges them all. The fighting stops when Bruce Li shouts "I have a job", as an insurance salesman. He stops by a martial arts gym and spars with his pals. He then goes out to sell insurance and no one wants to buy insurance. What is worse – No one wants to watch a movie about selling insurance!

The high point of this movie is Dan Inosanto and Bruce Li near the end. Call it whatever – kali, arnis, escrima – it is Philippine stick fighting at its best. They did an excellent sequence that has nothing else to compare.

I rate this just above average for the good pacing and above average fight sequences throughout. I recommend it for fans of the genre and do not miss Dan and Bruce and the sticks.