James Bond and Bruce Lee Team Up in the Wildest Fantasy Film You Never Knew Existed!

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  • Bruce Lee Fights Them All in ‘The Dragon Lives Again’

Despite currently being embroiled in a legal tussle, the globally recognized secret agent, James Bond, created by English author Ian Fleming, boasts an impressive cinematic legacy spanning over the years. The character has been featured in 12 novels, 25 movies, 30 video games, and numerous comics. It’s safe to say that if you can name it, James Bond is likely associated with it. However, anything fantastical would be a stark contrast to his roots, as his origins are deeply intertwined with actual British history.

momentarily, let’s entertain the idea of delving into that genre. About half a century ago, it’s intriguing to note that James Bond appeared in a fantasy movie alongside other renowned figures such as The Exorcist, The Godfather, Emmanuelle (known for her roles in numerous erotic films), and Dracula. This isn’t an underground fan production, nor is it the most bizarre assembly of pop culture icons ever to share the silver screen simultaneously. Meet director Rocky Law Kei, who played a significant role in the Bruceploitation genre during the ’70s with his film titled The Dragon Lives Again. By the way, did we forget to mention that Bruce Lee is also depicted in this movie?

Following the untimely demise of the extraordinary martial artist in 1973, studios across Hong Kong (and nearby regions) found themselves in a state of consternation. The nation’s most prominent screen idol had departed! The logical course of action was to carry on producing martial arts films, and this was done using actors who bore a striking resemblance to Lee as well as adopting stage names that aligned with their new personas. This is how we came to have an actor named Bruce Leung portraying Bruce Lee in the film “The Dragon Lives Again“, despite his real name being Leung Choi-Sang. Unlike other filmmakers of the era post-Bruce Lee, the cultural impact and creative spark didn’t cease with writers Ke Shek and Leung Wai.

James Bond Is in Hell? With Bruce Lee?

In addition to the five characters mentioned earlier, we also have Clint Eastwood’s character The Man With No Name from the Dollars Trilogy, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi, Popeye the sailor who loves spinach, Fang Kang from the 1967 wuxia film The One-Armed Swordsman, and Caine from the Kung Fu TV series. Fortunately, not all of these characters are adversaries to Bruce Lee in this humorous action movie; instead, they turn out to be his allies, which is quite fortunate!

In a 90-minute movie like “The Dragon Lives Again“, it might seem as if too many characters are being given their moment in the spotlight, but trust me, it’s skillfully done. Even James Bond gets his turn! The story begins with Bruce Lee waking up in a realm akin to hell or the “underworld”. It turns out that the antagonists form something like a mafia, terrorizing villages at their leisure. They also have an ambition to seize control of the underworld from King Yama, a character derived from Buddhist scriptures.

It’s clear that “The Dragon Lives Again” doesn’t meet today’s movie standards, being quite cheesy and awful. However, its charming and playful storyline makes up for these flaws. The actor portraying Popeye, reminiscent of Curly from “The Three Stooges,” brings an amusing touch to the film. In times of trouble, he comically munches on a can of spinach, which he conveniently carries with him. The character Zatoichi stands out with his outrageous special attack names such as “Blind Guy Kills Mosquitoes” and “Blind Dog Pisses.

In a surprising move for his confrontation against Dracula, Bruce Lee chooses to assume the role of Kato from “The Green Hornet” for just one scene. Even a walking, talking skeleton makes an appearance in this! Despite being overshadowed by numerous similar films, there’s a unique allure to the bizarre and fantastical elements presented here that cannot be dismissed.

Bruce Lee Fights Them All in ‘The Dragon Lives Again’

In the film “The Dragon Lives Again,” the battles may not be groundbreaking, but they’re always engaging, largely due to the thrill of witnessing these extraordinary pairings. For instance, Dracula attempts a rather unusual bite on Lee’s private areas before being subdued by an unexpected third limb of Bruce Lee. James Bond meets his end while holding onto a money-filled briefcase that doesn’t influence the plot beyond this scene, and Emmanuelle focuses less on fighting and more on unsuccessful seduction attempts instead.

As a cinephile, I find myself pondering over an intriguing scene: the climax where Bruce Lee confronts both The Exorcist and The Godfather in a sequence that’s reminiscent of a final boss battle in a video game. But here’s the question that’s been bugging me – how did these characters end up in the underworld? While some, like The Godfather, seem fitting, I’ve always wondered about the presence of Popeye, Caine, and Father Lankester Merrin from The Exorcist. The reason behind their appearance has never been explained, leaving room for intriguing speculation. Some mysteries are best left to our imaginations.

What makes this film particularly intriguing is its cleverness, which is quite unexpected given the typical Bruceploitation genre. From the get-go, the script presents unique characterizations that deviate from their usual appearances. Additionally, you’ll find the same iconic music from The Godfather and James Bond films, though it’s not officially licensed. It’s puzzling how this movie has managed to avoid legal action all these years.

Examining the images provided, it appears that “The Dragon Lives Again,” a posthumous blend of fantasy, pornography, comedy, martial arts, and superheroes (as described by Wikipedia), could very well be one of the most hilariously terrible films ever made. Take a look for yourself, as it’s currently available to stream for free on Plex.

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2025-01-19 21:31