Robert Clouse's 1973 worldwide hit Enter the Dragon is a landmark film for a number of reasons. For starters, not only did the movie help introduce American audiences to the wonders of the martial arts film genre, but it also propelled Bruce Lee to international superstardom, albeit posthumously.

Plot-wise, Enter the Dragon plays out like a kung fu-heavy James Bond flick. Bruce Lee plays a Shaolin monk named Lee (how creative!), who's called upon by British intelligence to infiltrate the island of an evil druglord named Han (Shih Kien) by competing in the villain's martial arts tournament. Along the way, Lee meets conman extraordinaire Roper (John Saxon) and funk soul brother Williams (Jim Kelly), but as with all the Bond movies, our protagonist must uncover and thwart the arch-villain's devious plot all by his lonesome before finally calling for reinforcements.

Though the film's representation of Chinese culture is a little too Hollywood, its depiction of Bruce Lee's philosophy is right on the money. From Lee's refusal to wear a uniform to his clever "art of fighting without fighting," Enter the Dragon showcases tenets of Lee's martial arts outlook in a more pronounced way than his previous effort, Way of the Dragon, did.

It's easy to see why Enter the Dragon is Bruce Lee's most popular film. Of all the Dragon's movies, this one is by far the most appealing. From its exotic locale to its diverse cast to its thumping Lalo Schifrin score, Enter the Dragon is a highly entertaining sensory experience. One need only look at the film's climactic, pulse-pounding duel in the hall of mirrors to know why Enter the Dragon is a certifiable classic. (Calvin McMillin, 2002)