Kelly WandGame ofDeath 2
October 1st 2006 06:19
When Ed Wood took his 8mm footage of Bela Lugosi pausing to smell the roses and used it as the close horse to hang “Plan Nine from Outer Space” upon, who knew he’d be setting a precedent. Bruce Lee had a fair bit of “Game of Death” shot before he died but the footage they used to complete the film was shocking. With that film, you had a splendid finale but it was damn hard work getting there.
“Game of Death 2” is, similarly, a film of two halves. The first half – much like the stupid Mars Bar television commercial – tries to convince us that Bruce Lee is the star of the film. Cutting room close ups are cut with interminable long shots, interminable shots of the back of a stand in heads and extremely unconvincing side shots of stand ins. The one thing I will say is that – despite this – I have seen far worse martial arts films; many far worse martial arts films.
The film really picks up when stunt Bruce falls off a helicopter. At this point the ridiculous façade of the production falls away and the film makers start the business of making a real film.
Bruce’s brother (played by Tony Lung) has to avenge his sibling’s death. I don’t like to give plots away but, in this case, the villain’s reasoning utterly escapes me. It seems to have something to do with proving one’s Kung Fu is the best (doesn’t it always?). I don’t know, I was bought up with David Carradine spouting non-violent philosophy before delivering the ass kicking the baddie deserved. I was under the misconception that all this training taught you that this power was not a thing to be abused.
Similarly, I’m told that Bruce Lee intended the first “Game of Death” would be a metaphor for the psychological aspects behind his martial arts teachings. Well, lets just say the final assemblage of the first film fails almost entirely at achieving this lofty goal. The sequel doesn’t really bother to try. In the beginning, we see (stand in) Bruce write down his Kung Fu secrets in a book. Fortunately, he has passed this book on to his brother and it must have been some book. Tony Lung gets to do a fairly terrific Bruce impersonation for the rest of the film.
I’ll be honest with you. Thursday, I got home from work at 11 O’clock at night. I was up at 4:30 the next morning to get ready for a thirteen hour shift. I picked this up in my lunch break for five bucks and I watched it when I got home. I should have just collapsed into a dead heap and I thought I would as the first part of the film worked its complete lack of magic. Only its utter absurdity kept me going. I had slowed to watch the car wreck and – even in my zombied state – my disbelief utterly baulked at any attempt of suspension.
The final half of the movie, with it’s non stop action (Fists of Fury signifying nothing?) was completely satisfying. Dumb but satisfying. Okay - that bit with the guy in the lion suit - what was that all about? Answers in the comment box, please.
The fights are well staged. The pace is furious but contained. You know how it is with some of these films. The pace gets so frantic that it just becomes boring. This film strikes the right balance.
I also liked the monk in the Tower of Death. My guess is that was supposed to be some kind of David Carradine piss take. Why a monk would be protecting the evil super villain once again confuses the hell out of me but, there you go.
It is rather tragic that, whilst Bruce’s legend was being used in this way, his son Brandon’s career also ended badly. However, “The Crow” - whilst having to be finished with stand ins and CGI – is seemless.
“Game of Death 2” is, similarly, a film of two halves. The first half – much like the stupid Mars Bar television commercial – tries to convince us that Bruce Lee is the star of the film. Cutting room close ups are cut with interminable long shots, interminable shots of the back of a stand in heads and extremely unconvincing side shots of stand ins. The one thing I will say is that – despite this – I have seen far worse martial arts films; many far worse martial arts films.
The film really picks up when stunt Bruce falls off a helicopter. At this point the ridiculous façade of the production falls away and the film makers start the business of making a real film.
Bruce’s brother (played by Tony Lung) has to avenge his sibling’s death. I don’t like to give plots away but, in this case, the villain’s reasoning utterly escapes me. It seems to have something to do with proving one’s Kung Fu is the best (doesn’t it always?). I don’t know, I was bought up with David Carradine spouting non-violent philosophy before delivering the ass kicking the baddie deserved. I was under the misconception that all this training taught you that this power was not a thing to be abused.
Similarly, I’m told that Bruce Lee intended the first “Game of Death” would be a metaphor for the psychological aspects behind his martial arts teachings. Well, lets just say the final assemblage of the first film fails almost entirely at achieving this lofty goal. The sequel doesn’t really bother to try. In the beginning, we see (stand in) Bruce write down his Kung Fu secrets in a book. Fortunately, he has passed this book on to his brother and it must have been some book. Tony Lung gets to do a fairly terrific Bruce impersonation for the rest of the film.
I’ll be honest with you. Thursday, I got home from work at 11 O’clock at night. I was up at 4:30 the next morning to get ready for a thirteen hour shift. I picked this up in my lunch break for five bucks and I watched it when I got home. I should have just collapsed into a dead heap and I thought I would as the first part of the film worked its complete lack of magic. Only its utter absurdity kept me going. I had slowed to watch the car wreck and – even in my zombied state – my disbelief utterly baulked at any attempt of suspension.
The final half of the movie, with it’s non stop action (Fists of Fury signifying nothing?) was completely satisfying. Dumb but satisfying. Okay - that bit with the guy in the lion suit - what was that all about? Answers in the comment box, please.
The fights are well staged. The pace is furious but contained. You know how it is with some of these films. The pace gets so frantic that it just becomes boring. This film strikes the right balance.
I also liked the monk in the Tower of Death. My guess is that was supposed to be some kind of David Carradine piss take. Why a monk would be protecting the evil super villain once again confuses the hell out of me but, there you go.
It is rather tragic that, whilst Bruce’s legend was being used in this way, his son Brandon’s career also ended badly. However, “The Crow” - whilst having to be finished with stand ins and CGI – is seemless.
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