Bruce Lee, Gig Young

Bruce Lee died after shooting only a few scenes of his ambitious Game of Death, but that didn't stop greedy producers from finishing and releasing "Lee's last film," even if he's doubled for mo...( read more  read more... )st of it. Lee planned an ambitious expression of his fighting philosophy, and his story culminates in the rigorous challenge of the "Game of Death," in which combatants take on successively greater and greater masters as they fight their way to the top of a tower. Only a few fight scenes were completed, and the released film is about a martial arts movie star who takes on a syndicate of drug dealers. Lee faces down the towering Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in an impressive battle, one of the only surviving scenes from Lee's original shoot, while outtakes from his battle with Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon are used along with real-life footage from Lee's funeral. The rest of the film is a mishmash of car chases and clumsily edited fights, complete with awkward inserts of Lee's face. His double remains hidden behind a pair of dark glasses or a motorcycle helmet throughout, and he abruptly changes into a yellow jumpsuit for no reason other than to match Lee's costume in the final scene. --Sean Axmaker

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73% liked it

28,428 ratings

R, 105 min.

Directed by: Robert Clouse

Release Date: March 1, 1978

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DVD Release Date: July 3, 2001

Stats: 1,070 reviews

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  • October 15, 2009
    'Game of Death' is the equivalent of having your dog swallow a gold ring - you've got to sift through the cr*p to find the polished stuff.

    Completely different to Bruce's original vision, the 1978 version is hugely controversial. To some, it's a shameless cash-in and insult, to ...( read more)others it's a curiosity. To me personally, it's a guilty pleasure. Obviously, with such limited footage of Bruce Lee to use, the film was always going to suffer. Not only that, but how do you incorporate the footage into a film and give it context? The stand-in's that are used to fill the time leading up to the Lee footage are never going to fool anyone. Even as a kid, I could tell it someone else. The techniques used to have Bruce Lee on screen range from awful (superimposed heads) to tasteless (his real funeral) to fairly good (quick cuts from old footage). The disguises that Billy Lo and Bruce's doubles wear throughout the film are hokey but nothing that we haven't seen in Lee's films before (Fist of Fury), so that didn't bother me too much.

    Despite some awful dubbing and a poor script, 'Game of Death' is still watchable for it's action. Fight choreographer Sammo Hung makes the non-Lee fight scenes entertaining even if the doubles don't match Bruce Lee's speed or technique. However, they do capture some traits of Lee's fights including the slow motion finishing move. Also, the film's budget allows for a number of locations ensuring that Billy's quest for revenge keeps moving. In this regard, the Hollywood frills that are added give the film a degree of watchability, especially the classy score which appears throughout and heightens the final scenes.

    But of course, the main point of watching 'Game of Death' is to see Bruce in action. Although criticised for cutting down the "pagoda sequence", I think it still contains enough to satisfy. You have to remember that this original footage included two companions of Lee's who don't feature in the 1978 film, meaning a lot had to be left out. The nunchuk duel is unique while the fight with Kareem Abdul Jabbar is bizarre but thrilling.

    There are some moments of bad taste, but on the whole the film is a cheesy and quite fun attempt to build up to the final 20 minutes. Whether you think this was a cash-in or a tribute, you still need to see it in order to understand the 'Game of Death' phenomenon.
  • March 9, 2008
    Filmed primarily after Lee's death using a stunt double in his place throughout the movie. Most fans, myself included, disregard this film because it is not really Lee, more of a studio trying to cash in on his image. The only scene worth watching is the final fight sequence, w...( read more)hich is edited and is in its full state in a documentary, A Warrior's Journey. Its probably best not to watch this movie at all.
  • June 19, 2007
    Bruce Lee vs Karem? Classic
  • January 24, 2007
    all bruce lee films are classics could watch them a dozen times
  • October 12, 2006
    this movie depresses me but i still like it
  • November 13, 2009
    some really sad effects and great scenees from way of the dragon
  • November 12, 2009
    no one too tall for him to kick
  • October 20, 2009
    Can watch this over and over.
  • October 1, 2009
    The story may be crap, but the action is legendary.
  • August 25, 2009
    My all-time favorite Bruce Lee movie.

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Comments


  • Muktidaya
    August 7, 2009
    I love bruce lee
  • purnell888
    June 17, 2007
    Without Bruce Lee , then no real Game of Death .He died just like he started (HE FACED THEM ALL)

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Game of Death Trivia


  • chuck norris appeared in 'way of the dragon', which other bruce lee movie?  Answer »
  • Who does Bruce Lee fight at the end of Game of Death?  Answer »
  • What are the 2 Bruce Lee's movies released after his death?  Answer »
  • The Game of Death, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon and Big Boss were movies of which actor?  Answer »

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