``When the opponent expands,'' Lee says, ``I contract, and when he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit,'' he says, showing his fist, ``it hits all by itself.''
The story is a bit reminiscent of James Bond's "Dr. No," with a renegade fiend (same white cat and minus one hand) running an island fortress and a spectacular school in "martial arts." Just as obviously, the three tough agents invading the place are white (John Saxon), black (Jim Kelly) and yellow (Bruce Lee).
On an adventure level, the performances are quite good. The one by Mr. Lee, not only the picture's supermaster killer but a fine actor as well, is downright fascinating. Mr. Lee, who also staged the combats, died shockingly at the age or 32 shortly before the movie was released. Here he could not be more alive.
But the most surprising moment comes at a point when Lee is forced to kill, and what sticks with the viewer is not his body in action but an extraordinary slow-motion shot of the emotion playing across his face.
No one could overstate the degree of Lee's international star power and influence. He honorably held his place in a line of great action stars.
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