Episode 172 - The Last Dragon: LIVE!

[JoeFindlay 10]

There is an interesting HDTGM connection in this movie that I wanted to bring up. While Taimak's resume isn't the most stellar on IMDB, one needs only look Off-Broadway in the year 2003 for Taimak in (and this is the full title)

 

Road House: The Stage Version of the Cinema Classic that Starred Patrick Swayze Except This One Stars Taimak from the 80's Cult Classic 'The Last Dragon' wearing a Blond Mullet Wig

 

[actionactioncut 14]

I was obsessed with this movie when I was a kid. I think Faith Price is legit amazing as Angela; the fucking Kew Gardens monologue!

[Elektra Boogaloo 3371]

Ernie was the kick ass little kid that helped storm Seventh Heaven.

I didn't recognize him without the six pack & perfect boy body.

[Cam Bert 8145]

There is some validity to Paul's argument over Leroy being a ninja. This movie is basically a hodgepodge of mixing Japanese and Chinese things together that are not related in any way shape or form. Leroy spends most of the movie walking around in a conical hat and tang suit, which are Chinese, but when he goes on his mission to save Vanity from Arcadia he dons ninja attire which is Japanese. It doesn't stop there. Bruce Lee started his own form of kung fu. Jeet Kune Do, which Leeroy seemingly practices and wants to emulate. However at his class he's teaching Chinese Goju which despite its name is from Okinawa and a form karate which is Japanese. But wait their is still more! When he comes into the apartment in the morning he refers to his parents as "-san" which is Japanese and his younger sister as "lotus blossom" which is more Chinese. The only one seeming consistency seems to be whenever we see chopsticks they are of the Japanese variety.

[RyanSz 3140]

The whole Jewish & Asian thing is a racial stereotype that Jewish people have a specific fetish for Asian people. It's mentioned in The Social Network when Andrew Garfield's character says something along the lines (cause I can't find the exact quote) "I don't know if there's a mathematical equation for why Jewish men love Asian women but it's true." So I think that's what they were trying to do with their horribly racist line lol.

What's more racist, that line or the fact that Leroy dress and acts in a worse stereotype than Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and that the same character has an interaction with a group of Asian men who talk to him in a stereotypical black accent, with one then using that voice to wear Leroy's hat and make a stereotypical Asian accent?

 

Also, Richie, who was at the oldest 14 when this was filmed, is maybe the most unlikable sibling since the brother in Bratz. I was just hoping for Leroy to hit him with the Glow.

 

Omission: The potential remake with Chris Brown and Rhianna has an unfortunate connection to the movie in that the actor who played Leroay, Taimak, was arrested for domestic abuse in 2010, but the charges were dropped.

 

Question: We've seen how 90s video games, namely fighting games, have been inspired by action and cult movies or actors, JCVD being the big inspiration for Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat and to some extent Guile in Street Fighter. So is Leroy's appearance and attire, namely his hat inspiration for the Mortal Kombat character Kung Lao?

[JoeFindlay 10]

So legitimately bummed out because I recorded an episode of my podcast a few weeks ago for The Last Dragon and it doesn't come out til next month. Late to the game!!!

[Ofcoursemyhorse 1043]

I wish that were true, but Kung Lao is actually based on another famed hat thrower by the name of Oddjob.

 

And I just want to reiterate how fantastic this movie is, especially its inclusion of one of Bruce Lee's most iconic moments in film history with that running side kick into Robert Wall. I love that they noticed William H. Macy but can't believe they didnt mention that he was wearing possibly the most 80's jacket to ever come into existence.

 

Was a bit surprised they didnt also notice Chazz Palminteri as one of Arkadian's thugs. He was the limo driver who tried to kidnap Laura.

[ChunkStyle 1160]

Does this movie hold the record for "Most Minutes of Other Movies Shown Within the Movie"? The coveted MMOMSWM. Bruce Lee should probably get 5th billing in this. I'd say beyond throwing out 40 pages the director found a really great way to make this movie cheaper. Just put in someone else's film.

 

I found the set design for Arkadian's combo living room/office/kitchen/(bedroom?) really gross. If I spent 23 hours a day in that room like they apparently did I'd also turn out evil.

 

Leroy was a real asshole wearing that giant hat in the movie theater.

[RevRay 18]

 

I didn't catch any mention of the Last Dragon song. Of note, this appears in an episode of the Sarah Silverman episode Humanitarian of the Year where Brian Posehn is claiming to be taking marital arts but refusing to show his skills until the end when he beats up crazy homeless guy Zack Galifinakis who is attacking Steve Agee.

 

The song was also used by wrestler Jimmy Yang between stints at WWE when working for Ring of Honor in 2005-2006. On at least one show in New York City, Taimak actually appeared in at the show in Jimmy's corner to counter his opponent's manager.

[Cam Bert 8145]

Am I the only one curious as to who won the contest? Leeroy got a date with Vanity but that was clearly unrelated to the dance contest being held.

[Dianainaflyingsaucer 25]

This tribute to The Last Dragon was created in 2011. There's an instagram.

[Dianainaflyingsaucer 25]

Here's an even older tribute from 2009.

 

Anyone who finds a geocities site, or the Space Jam equivalent, I owe you a single piece of popcorn served to you via chopsticks.

 

Shut up I found it.

 

All three sites were created by the same person. I'm not interested in meeting him, but I would like for HDTGM to ask him some questions.

 

Here's the "official site" which is apparently "hosted" by Taimak himself.

Here's his intro to the site (I'm gonna leave the original formatting because I think what the formatting is trying to convey is "fuck you", just like all 90s website designs). Hey ladies! Apparently at one point in time he was not married!

Greetings everyone!!

 

I'm very happy you've come to visit The Official Last Dragon website. The Last Dragon has changed my life and continues to even today over fifteen years later..

 

No, I'm not married yet and don't have kids, but I'm continuing to perfect my acting and martial arts talent every day.. I have had a hiatus from the entertainment world, but I'm now living in Los Angeles and plan to get on the big screen again.

 

In some exciting recent news, I have been working hard on getting a sequel to The Last Dragon made and have a script nearly completed. More news as it happens may be found at my website.

 

Thanks for visiting Fast-Rewind and please tell all your friends!

 

Always Glowing,

 

Taimak

 

a.k.a. "Bruce Leeroy"

 

Okay I keep editing this comment because there's so much great stuff to share from this "official" website, which I firmly believe has a 50% chance of being the actual official site. More quotes from the cast bios.

Sho-Nuff is 6'15", so he's actually 7'3":

Julius J. Carry III plays Sho-nuff, the "Shogun of Harlem" . Born in Chicaqo in 1952, he is 6'15" tall and weighed 200 pounds at the time of filming.

Taimak definitely wrote his own bio.

Taimak, who was nineteen years old, was chosen because, in addition to his expertise in karate, he could read lines, take direction, look good, move well and because he had personal qualities that the producers and director found attractive, namely "a wonderful attitude." The attitude shows on the screen, say those close to the production; in fact, radiates from a personality that the producers felt was born for motion pictures.

Taimak wants to bone Vanity irl, because he definitely wrote all these bios.

Described in Louis Venosta's screenplay, Laura Charles is "a gorgeously sexy beauty with a sultry ocean breeze for a voice and a drop dead presence on stage, a fresh, lovely young woman." These words were not written explicitly with Vanity in mind but very well could have been!

[JammerLea 2070]

Just finished listening to the ep at work, and I feel like I'll have to check when I get home, but I interpreted that swish of whatever in the fish tank to be a long fin. I wasn't looking closely, so maybe I misinterpreted, or it was just a bad effect.

 

Also when Leroy dunks Eddie's head in the tank his intentions were to get Eddie to cool off. It was meant to be innocent, not threatening.

[The_Triple_Lindy 2482]

This tribute to The Last Dragon was created in 2011. There's an instagram.

Oh my god, this site sells Harlem Shogun t-shirts and now I own one!

[The_Triple_Lindy 2482]

The only one seeming consistency seems to be whenever we see chopsticks they are of the Japanese variety.

Forgive my ignorance, but ... there are regional varieties of chopsticks?

[JammerLea 2070]

So, I rewatched the hint of creature we get when Eddie rests his elbow on the tank. It's really not clear, but it's definitely not a shirt

 

 

I know a screenshot doesn't really help, but the way it flows through the water is more like hair, with strands flowing about. It reminded me more of the tail on something like a fancy tailed betta fish.

 

 

 

Also, a couple other things that came to mind while rewatching a bit for the tank creature...

 

1. Eddie Arkadian wants to take Laura out for dinner to get her interested in his girlfriend's video. If he can't wait the four weeks it'd take to book a slot on the show... why doesn't HE enter the dance contest?? I mean, of course he'd have to hire someone, the man has the moves of a frog, but come on. There were various opportunities to play fair.

 

2. When whatever sound guy with that obnoxious metallic jacket is trying to beg Laura to go to dinner with Eddie, she tells him to go to the police if he's being threatened. If she has that much common sense, why doesn't she DO THAT HERSELF when she's attacked?

 

3. An observation... the video jukebox in the pizza shop is actually one of Arkadian's jukeboxes. It has an "Arkadian" logo on the front. That totally explains why it was playing Angela's video, which is a sneaky, but still fairer way to get her video to the public. Probably also explains why Eddie has 5 jukeboxes in his office... maybe...

[tomspanks 9039]

Road House: The Stage Version of the Cinema Classic that Starred Patrick Swayze Except This One Stars Taimak from the 80's Cult Classic 'The Last Dragon' wearing a Blond Mullet Wig

 

I saw this! At the time, I didn't know anything about The Last Dragon though.

[Cam Bert 8145]

Forgive my ignorance, but ... there are regional varieties of chopsticks?

Oddly enough there is between China, Japan and Korea. Chinese chopsticks are longer and have rounded ends. Japanese chopsticks taper to a point at the ends. Korean chop sticks are made of metal.

[The_Triple_Lindy 2482]

Oddly enough there is between China, Japan and Korea. Chinese chopsticks are longer and have rounded ends. Japanese chopsticks taper to a point at the ends. Korean chop sticks are made of metal.

Huh ...

 

[RevRay 18]

Old topic from an earlier episode but I can confirm amazingly.... porno mags found left in the woods, is still a thing in 2017. Went for a walk today in the woods in New Jersey and someone left 2 porno mags on the trail. I wanted to take a picture, but was further disturbed by the near by towel and droppings of unknown origin.

[Cameron H. 23786]

Old topic from an earlier episode but I can confirm amazingly.... porno mags found left in the woods, is still a thing in 2017. Went for a walk today in the woods in New Jersey and someone left 2 porno mags on the trail. I wanted to take a picture, but was further disturbed by the near by towel and droppings of unknown origin.

 

That Blair Witch is a real dirty bird...

[tomspanks 9039]

Old topic from an earlier episode but I can confirm amazingly.... porno mags found left in the woods, is still a thing in 2017. Went for a walk today in the woods in New Jersey and someone left 2 porno mags on the trail. I wanted to take a picture, but was further disturbed by the near by towel and droppings of unknown origin.

 

Yes but did you see any cool birds?

[sycasey 2.0 2301]

As requested on the podcast, let's catch up with some of the cast members of The Last Dragon!

 

Faith Prince (Angela, a.k.a. Not Cyndi Lauper) clearly had some musical talent, as she wound up winning the Tony Award for Guys and Dolls in 1992.

 

 

(Also a nice link to our current Musical Mondays selection.)

[sycasey 2.0 2301]

Julius Carry (Sho'Nuff) is sadly departed now, but I will always remember him as Bruce Campbell's buddy/sidekick from The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oI-nfeDtWc

 

(If you recognize that music, yes, it was later reused by NBC for their Olympics coverage.)

[PollyDarton 1807]

 

I found the set design for Arkadian's combo living room/office/kitchen/(bedroom?) really gross. If I spent 23 hours a day in that room like they apparently did I'd also turn out evil.

 

 

Yes! I don't think it had any windows and seemed to have metal walls?

Kind of reminds me of a Sim house - where you've leveled up and have a ton of money, but haven't had a chance to move into a bigger house so you just keep filling your shitty tiny house with expensive crap.