Way of the Black Dragon (1978) User Reviews

Degradation, then action

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 3 September 2017]

WAY OF THE BLACK DRAGON is an action vehicle for black superstar Ron Van Clief, a man second only to Jim Kelly in terms of '70s-era macho toughness. However, he only really appears in the action-focused second half of the movie. The first half of this film is a pure exploitation picture as it depicts innocent young girls being forced into prostitution and also acting as drug mules for a heroin-pushing criminal gang. There's a lot of degradation and physical violence involved in the story. In the second half, Van Clief and his buddy Carter Wong kick a lot of criminal backside, and there are various bit parts for a ton of familiar faces including Hsiao Hou, Hoi Mang, and Fat Chung. If the first half had been more like the second, I would have really got a kick out of this.

Skip the beginning...

[unbrokenmetal · 4/10 · 8 May 2008]

I watched a version of this movie which runs only 75 minutes, nevertheless it has to be said the first half hour is slow and terribly boring. Gangsters are making money with drugs and prostitutes - unsuspecting girls whom they abduct from Bangkok. The story is lame and the fighting action begins only when Ron van Clief finally enters the movie. He plays an Interpol agent in Thailand, wears a T-shirt saying "It's better in the Bahamas" and starts kicking and hitting all the baddies as soon as he's on the screen - sigh of relief from all who did not fall asleep until then. With a boat chase, co-star Carter Wong and increasingly violent fights, "Way of the Black Dragon" turns into a passable cheap flick, but nothing you'll still remember next month.

THE PITS!

[Wizard-8 · 20 July 1999]

I'm sort of wondering why I am bothering writing this review, because I have a feeling no one will read it. Anyway, this is ONE TERRIBLE MOVIE! Scratchy print, awful pan and scan with constant closeups, and horrible dubbing! Crude and cheap! Lousy fights! Ron Van Clief shows talent and charisma, but he is incredibly wasted - his character doesn't appear until about half the movie is over!

Way of the Black Dragon attempts to blend blaxploitation and martial arts genres from the popular era but falls short

[kevin_robbins · 3/10 · 26 January 2024]

I recently watched Way of the Black Dragon (1978) on Prime. The storyline follows a woman abducted by a sex trafficking ring, prompting her brother to team up with an American agent to track down the responsible gang, rescue the young lady, and bring them to justice.

Directed and written by Chih Chen (The Big Boss Part II), the film features Carter Wong (Big Trouble in Little China), Ron Van Clief (The Last Dragon), Cecilia Wong (Shaolin Mantis), and Lau Chan (Angel Terminators II).

Way of the Black Dragon combines elements of blaxploitation with a Venoms movie, leaning more towards action with cool stunts and fight sequences involving dirt bikes, boats, and car chases. The action is entertaining but falls short of excellence, and Carter Wong's action scenes were long anticipated but left me disappointed. The acting is average, and there's a massage scene that had potential but didn't quite deliver.

In conclusion, Way of the Black Dragon attempts to blend blaxploitation and martial arts genres from the popular era but falls short. I would give it a score of 3/10 and recommend skipping it.

Kung Fu/Exploitation Hybrid

[Falconeer · 7/10 · 16 October 2019]

Solid, very adult-oriented sequel to another fine Martial Arts gem, the original "Black Dragon" from 1974. Featuring the powerhouse "Kung Fu King," Ron Van Clief, who is once again battling corrupt heroin smugglers, like in the first installment. This is the third entry in the "Black Dragon" series, although the second film is fairly worthless nonsense that has no connection with the other films, other than the presence of Van Clief. "Way of the Black Dragon" is one of the sleaziest and most disturbing films of this kind, as it's actually a strange hybrid of two genres; the Kung Fu genre and the "sexploitation" genre that makes this one a real Grindhouse title directed at adult audiences. The first half of the film tells a sordid tale of both heroin smuggling and white slavery, as a slimy drug cartel kidnaps a group of innocent young women in Thailand and forces them to board a plane to Hong Kong, with bags stuffed with heroin, hidden inside their vaginas. After they make the drug delivery, they are expected to remain in Hong Kong as prostitutes. This portion of the film is very detailed, and is a real expose of drug smuggling and sex trafficking, and for those interested in the subject, this part of the movie will be so fascinating that you might be surprised at the martial arts action that explodes on to the screen in the second half. And explosive is the word, as Ron Van Clief appears on the scene, searching for one of the missing girls. This is a fine buildup to the action , but audiences looking for nothing more than wall to wall kung fu fight scenes with little story might lose patience with this story heavy flick. Filmed on location in both Thailand and Hong Kong, "Way of the Black Dragon" features footage of many exotic locales, which is always fun to see. Some viewers might be offended at how savagely females are treated in this one, but when Van Clief teams up with the brother of the missing girl, who is a champion Muay Thai fighter, they really get their revenge, in a long, exciting finale that includes a wild speed boat chase. It feels like a big production with all the different plot developments and the many different filming locations, at least in the 92 minute version that I have seen. Apparently there are some censored versions floating around out there, some as short as 75 minutes long, so be aware of what you are getting. "Way of the Black Dragon" and it's predecessor from 1974 are in desperate need of the Bluray treatment, as the only prints available for so many of these Chinese movies are scratchy, cut to pieces and horribly dubbed. These films deserve to be rediscovered..this is true vintage Gold.

A Movie So Bad It's Genius

[djmanifesto · 10/10 · 24 April 2006]

Simply, this movie is a treat. Ron Van Clief is perhaps the most underrated and purest action star ever, excluding Chuck Norris.

Most memorable dubbed line: "You're just a bunch of bitches" (Followed by group pimp slapping) Most what in the hell moment? : 20 minute of needless expose on heroine smuggling to introduce film.

Most what in the hell moment II the sequel? : Jet ski bonanza boat fight, and why did we fight those guys anyway? Also See: (Pick any random scene in the movie and ask questions of relevance to plot or storyline)

Not only does this movie teach aspiring directors what not to do, but it also subtly plays on this by asking? You A-Hole, isn't this one of the greatest martial arts movies ever made? ... And you respond, well actually yes... in fact it is you're the one who is the err... (gulping noise)... are the one having the last laugh, damn you Way Of The Black Dragon, damn you bitches!"

An enjoyably awful piece of chopsocky schlock

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 23 January 2008]

Allison Wong (the lovely Cecilia Wong) gets abducted by a nasty gang of drug smugglers who have a foul sideline business involving white slavery and prostitution. Honest worker Chen (the likable Carter Wong), stalwart Interpol agent Bill Eaton (a solid and engaging Ron Van Clief), and Allison's brother (the brawny Hsaio Ho) join forces to take on the nefarious crime syndicate. Clumsily directed by Billy Chan, with rough, unpolished cinematography by Lo Wan Shing, a mean, sleazy tone, an initially poky pace that doesn't pick up until halfway into the movie when Van Clief finally appears at the 42 minute mark, a sloppy, meandering story, cruddy dubbing (most of the Asian characters sport totally inappropriate British accents!), a funky groovy score by Eddie Wang, laughably lousy dialogue, plenty of thrilling fight scenes (the action-loaded climax is especially stirring), and ridiculously broad and over-the-top women-beating cackling villains, this choice chunky of blithely low-rent martial arts trash overall rates as a real cheesy hoot.