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The Last Dragon (1985)

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Old 04-27-15 | 01:04 AM
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The Last Dragon (1985)



Any fans of this movie? I saw this on cable as a kid and thought it was awesome. I was surprised to find out that it wasn't a hit. How is that possible? Such an entertaining film.

Last edited by brayzie; 04-27-15 at 01:21 AM.
Old 04-27-15 | 01:12 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

I love it. Julius Carry III was fantastic as Sho'nuff, The Shogun of Harlem. And if you love him here, you should check out The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

The music is fantastic, Vanity is at the peak of her hotness, and the action sequences are lots of fun.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gg-dg2tmcE4?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I always liked the goofy Asian dude that believed in using "the art of fighting without actually knowing how to fight".

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKL9IBnABss?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Great, now I want the soundtrack on CD and the movie on BD.

Last edited by RocShemp; 04-27-15 at 01:22 AM.
Old 04-27-15 | 01:14 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Kiss my converse.
Old 04-27-15 | 01:20 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

I didn't think there'd be any replies, thanks. I think the actor who played Sho'Nuff was more scarier in my nostalgic memory of him, but he's still a good actor. I'll check out The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

Whaaaat??? It's also with the dude from Bubba Ho-tep? I'm there.

@Mondo Kane
So that's where WC got that line from!

Last edited by brayzie; 04-27-15 at 01:22 AM. Reason: edit
Old 04-27-15 | 02:22 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Old 04-27-15 | 06:08 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

This movie is a phenomenal 80s time capsule. Over the top, self aware yet still somewhat serious, phenomenally tacky, politically incorrect and just fun.

I wouldn't consider it traditionally great, or good, but it is definitely a classic in its own right.
Old 04-27-15 | 07:01 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

One of my favorites. I met Taimak 2 years ago at a convention and he signed my DVD. Super cool and in fantastic shape too. He is 50 but easily looks 30.
Old 04-27-15 | 07:04 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Yeah, although obviously older, Taimak looks amazing.



<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R5nz6drd3NQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-27-15 | 08:23 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Saw it in the movies when it first came out in 1985 and liked it. Saw it again 10 years later and asked myself WTF was I thinking?
Old 04-27-15 | 08:32 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Julius Carry passed away a few years back. He was only in his 50's. I actually wanted him to beat the shit out of Bruce Leroy. That character was so irritating.

I also noticed that the girlfriend of the bad guy is the mother on Drop Dead Diva.

Overall, it holds up. Really funny movie. I put it at the same level as No Retreat, No Surrender.
Old 04-27-15 | 08:36 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Yeah, I was really bummed out when Julius Carry III died. Pancreatic cancer is what got him in 2008. He was only 56.

Apparently his favorite role was Lord Bowler from The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Kids in his neighborhood would constantly approach him and call him Lord Bowler. He seemed like a really nice guy.
Old 04-27-15 | 08:37 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

For you vinyl lovers.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyd38XazT_c?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-27-15 | 08:40 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Vanity
Old 04-27-15 | 08:50 AM
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When I went on the Hitsville tour, they had an original The Last Dragon post framed on the wall.
Old 04-27-15 | 10:13 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Originally Posted by RocShemp
Yeah, I was really bummed out when Julius Carry III died. Pancreatic cancer is what got him in 2008. He was only 56.
Leo O’Brien who played the little brother died a few years ago, also.



Interesting bio on Taimak.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R79kS-drlW8?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-27-15 | 10:18 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Really? Didn't know about that. Looking at Wikipedia, it simply states "The cause of death was not immediately released." Although it seems his nephew believed he died from improper medical treatment after three gunshot wounds he sustained the year before.

http://www.thelastdragontribute.com/...eo-obrien-die/

Official Toxicology reports were inconclusive but Michael feels differently he told me “a guy we know named Travis shot him 3 times in 2011. The doctors sewed him up but they didn’t sew him up properly, so he died in his sleep from the bullet wound injuries and the improper way the doctors stitched him up. After he came home from the hospital he would always say how much his insides hurt, and his hand would go numb all the time. We believe its medical malpractice… whatever they did to supposedly fix the bullet wounds they did not do right…. somehow his insides shut down and he died in his sleep. He had a private funeral in Inglewood, New Jersey where he was born. He was cremated. In the casket he had on a blue suit and his dread locks were nicely done. I Miss him a lot.”
That doesn't seem likely at all.
Old 04-27-15 | 10:31 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

I wouldn't consider it malpractice but odds are likely that his death was somehow linked from his prior injuries, or just side effects of pain medications.
Old 04-27-15 | 10:32 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Originally Posted by RocShemp
Yeah, although obviously older, Taimak looks amazing.


A friend of mine who knows Taimak is coming to my office later today and I'm going to show him this picture. Who are the other guys in the picture?

I've always found THE LAST DRAGON to be a silly and corny, but immensely charming movie. Taimak and Vanity really make it memorable because they're both so damned good-looking. What does Vanity look like now?
Old 04-27-15 | 10:38 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Vanity looks like a typical 50-something year old. She's an Evangelist now.
Old 04-27-15 | 10:40 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

I was reading up on Vanity after I saw you guys mention her. THIS sucks a lot:

Due to the effects on her kidneys of years of drug use while a performer, she must now undergo peritoneal dialysis five times a day (each session is 20 minutes long).
Goddamn. Like... that scares me. shit like that.


--------------

I remember liking the film as a kid. I always remember though that somehow I'd always catch it in the last 20 or 30 minutes of the thing. I think I've only seen it fully once. lol.
Old 04-27-15 | 10:44 AM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Originally Posted by Ash Ketchum
A friend of mine who knows Taimak is coming to my office later today and I'm going to show him this picture. Who are the other guys in the picture?

I've always found THE LAST DRAGON to be a silly and corny, but immensely charming movie. Taimak and Vanity really make it memorable because they're both so damned good-looking. What does Vanity look like now?
L to R:

Glen Eaton - Johnny

Ernie Reyes Jr. - Tai

I have no clue who that third person is.

Ernie is still doing TV work. He had a recurring role on NCIS: LA. and owns a couple of martial arts schools near San Jose.
Old 04-27-15 | 12:25 PM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Suki yaki hot saké Sue. You saké to me, I saké to you.
I love that part where the 3 guys are dancing outside the fortune cookie factory.
Old 04-27-15 | 12:48 PM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

What I remember about this movie - Taimek can glow. That was the highlight of the movie.

Old 04-28-15 | 01:02 PM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bskM5NQFz7c?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-28-15 | 06:53 PM
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Re: The Last Dragon (1985)

Originally Posted by brayzie
I was surprised to find out that it wasn't a hit. How is that possible? Such an entertaining film.
I'm a fan since childhood as well. FWIW, it made $25 million on a $10 million budget. Not a runaway hit by any means, but respectable.


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