Bruce Lee remains arguably the greatest martial arts star who ever lived, and even though he’s no longer with us, the legacy of influential hits like Enter the Dragon can be seen in all sorts of later fighting films. As a Hong Kong star who helped popularize kung fu in the United States and around the world, Lee’s unmatched cinematic talents helped inspire countless more martial arts movies in America, such as 1980s classics like The Karate Kid or even later action franchises such as John Wick.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the influence of Lee and Enter the Dragon, as there are plenty of underrated hidden gems just waiting to be rediscovered by new audiences. While Lee was truly irreplaceable, many other martial arts stars emerged in subsequent years, and there’s one underseen early Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that owed a lot to the legacy of Enter the Dragon. In fact, it featured a character who idolized Lee so much that he even sought guidance from the martial artist’s spirit in a story that paid tribute to his outstanding career.
Enter The Dragon Fans Should Love No Retreat, No Surrender
Bruce Lee’s Spirit Even Appears As A Character
No Retreat, No Surrender is a cult classic martial arts movie from 1986 that paid homage to the legacy of Bruce Lee and Enter the Dragon throughout. Telling the story of Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney), a young karate student training at his father’s dojo whose life is turned upside down after a crime syndicate tries to take over all the dojos in the country, No Retreat, No Surrender mimicked much of what made The Karate Kid such an enduring hit.
With martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme as the terrifying Russian fighter Ivan Kraschinsky, much of his stoic characterization was clearly inspired by Dolph Lundgren’s performance as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Although Van Damme’s role was minimal and he was a mostly silent character, he oozed charisma in every scene he was in, and his future status as a major leading man was clear right from the beginning.
Jason’s plea was answered as the soul of Lee awakened and agreed to train him to become a martial arts master.
Although the exceptional fight choreography of No Retreat, No Surrender would already appeal to Enter the Dragon fans, the film pushed things even further by having the ghost of Bruce Lee actually appear in the film. With Jason unsure of where to turn following the threat on his father’s dojo, he turns to Bruce Lee for help and visits his grave to ask for advice. To his amazement, Jason’s plea was answered as the soul of Lee awakened and agreed to train him to become a martial arts master.
Why No Retreat, No Surrender Is Underrated As A Martial Arts Movie
Looking Back, No Retreat, No Surrender Is Nothing But Fun
When No Retreat, No Surrender was released, it was slammed by critics who dismissed it as a cheap knock-off of much better movies. While the influence of The Karate Kid, The Last Dragon, and Rocky IV was immediately clear, it also carved out its own idenтιтy and stands as an enjoyable tribute to the martial arts movie landscape of the 1980s. As a knowing, tongue-in-cheek exploration of coming-of-age kung fu tales, No Retreat, No Surrender was just plain fun.
With an over-the-top energy and sense of earnestness, No Retreat, No Surrender deserves credit for its enjoyable abundance of teen drama, training montages, and hilariously cheesy dialogue. Although the legacy of Bruce Lee on American martial arts cinema is clear, few films showcased such open reverence for his legacy, and even if having Lee’s ghost appear may have felt silly at times, it was also a touching tribute. It’s easy to dismiss No Retreat, No Surrender as a low-budget Karate Kid knock-off, but if you take the time to check it out, you’ll see it had a lot of heart.
