Network knockoffs of successful theatrical releases has always been the norm, so it came as no surprise that the groundbreaking ENTER THE DRAGON should give rise to the telefilm MEN OF THE DRAGON. While it lacks the integrity of Bruce Lee's masterpiece, MEN OF THE DRAGON does boast some decent production values (most of it appears to have been shot on location in China). The music echoes Lalo Schifrin's score for ENTER THE DRAGON and many of the sound effects sound like they were lifted directly from the film. Unfortunately, MEN OF THE DRAGON is SO derivative that it's hard to evaluate it properly: as a "remake" (or a "re-imagining," as today's Unimaginative filmmakers tend to put it), it's not bad; as a rip-off, it's spot on; as a martial arts movie, it's about as by-the-numbers as it gets, with choreography of the Chuck Norris variety- which is to say, choreography that LOOKS like choreography, with few if any above-the-waist kicks and little or nothing in the way of Originality. MEN OF THE DRAGON followed close on the heels of ENTER THE DRAGON; it's just too bad that it also clung so tightly to its coattails. The IDEA of a team of martial artists combating Evil in the Orient is STILL a viable idea- as long as it's done with REAL Asian Martial Artists, in Asia. (Mark my words: if done right, such a show would put to shame derivative shows like THE WALKING DEAD.) If THAT'S out of the question, a series about a rivalry between opposing schools of Mixed Martial Artists in THIS country would work.
