BIG BOSS II


Year: 1981
AKA: Jeong Mu Gate 81, Dragon Bruce Lee 2
Starring: Dragon Lee, Jacky Chang, Bolo Yeung, Ko Fei, Liu Ying
Directed by: To Lo Po



A wannabe in name only sequel to Bruce Lee's THE BIG BOSS, this Dragon Lee vehicle is one of his more elusive titles. Lee stars as Lee Han Sung, an activist type who is in charge of delivering a list of names. Yes, it is the old "list o' names" plot! Of course, the Japanese (led by the ruthless, Hitler mustached Bolo) want said list and will kill anyone to get it. Wounded by the Japs, Lee takes up shelter with Uncle Joe, a Revolutionary sympathizer and former friend of Lee's father. Lee uses this solace to rebuild his strength and master his deadly chopsticks routine. Of course, he also falls in love with a girl and meets a Jackie Chan wannabe. Ah, so is the life of Chinese revolutionary circa World War II.

Dragon Lee fans should get a kick (or two) out of this title. He gets into an ample amount of fights and looks impressive in all of them (even the two cribbed from THE REAL BRUCE LEE). Lee also sports shoulder length hair and a snappy clothing ensemble (an all black outfit in the beginning and an all white one towards the end). Too bad the same can't be said for Bolo, who runs around for the most part in a huge red jacket and bowtie. Alongside the Bruceploitation is the added bonus of Chansploitation. Yes, co-star Jacky Chang appears to be doing his impersonation of Jackie Chan right out of his early films. Chang's likeness to Chan is pretty close actually. The best bit involves his death where he is strung upside down but his trademark cap remains on. The producers don't want the audience forgetting whom he mimicking for a second I guess.

Jackie Who?


A word of warning: on the Video Asia print of this film, the sound effects are out of sync towards the end. When Lee punches someone, the sound appears about 1 second later.

Reviewed by William.