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Bruce Lee, Gig Young, Dean Jagger, Hugh O'Brian, Colleen Camp ... see more see more... , Mel Novak , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Chuck Norris , Danny Inosanto , Billy McGill , Hung Kim Po , Roy Chaid , Jang Lee Hwang , Robert Wall , Tang Lung

Star Bruce Lee died before this film was completed, thus the producers were forced to pad out the running time with outtakes and alternate shots. They also lifted chunks of footage from Enter the Drag... read more read more...on and Return of the Dragon. The finished product finally hit the screens in 1978, five years after Lee's death. The film's finale pits Lee against such formidable opposition as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chuck Norris. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

31,618 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Robert Clouse

Release Date: March 1, 1978

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DVD Release Date: July 3, 2001

Stats: 1,179 reviews

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Game of Death Game of Death (1978) BRUCE LEE Bruce lee is great!! Hail to the master of self-defense! French Poster Game of Death
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Flixster Reviews (1,179)

  • spielberg00
    September 22, 2011
    spielberg00
    I saw clips of this. Kind of cheesy, but good.
  • matertenebraum
    October 15, 2009
    matertenebraum
    '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 moreothers 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.
  • Chiefilms
    March 9, 2008
    Chiefilms
    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 morehich 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.
  • deano
    August 21, 2007
    deano
    The climactic 20 minutes of Bruce Lee in action fighting Kareem Abdul-Jabber and Danny Inosanto are thrilling. But the rest of the film is not.
  • juliomendez19941
    March 4, 2012
    juliomendez19941
    This was a hard movie to sit through to be honest because Bruce Lee died before finishing the movie which is a real shame. Even though the film isn't at the usual standard Bruce Lee know for, it's a overall fun mess of a movie.

    Game of Death is about a martial arts movie star ... read morewho fakes his death to find the people who are trying to kill him. Well if you're looking for a intriguing story like in Enter the Dragon prepare to be disappointed because the plot is an excuse for doubles to be in it. The story itself isn't half bad, though it's not half good either. At times it's uninteresting and boring, but I have to give points for it actually fitting in footage with the actual Bruce Lee in so naturally. It works overall as we do get some interesting characters, unfortunately the movie villains aren't. Which is a real shame, this is the only Bruce Lee movie where the villains are not interesting at all. Yet despite the story having some ridiculous moments, I enjoyed it for what it was and applaud there effort for at-least trying.

    Now there only one reason why I saw this, Bruce Lee kicking ass. While you will have sit through most of the movie before seeing footage from the actual Bruce Lee it'll be worth because it's classic Bruce Lee. As for the double, they do a decent job replacing Bruce Lee for the most part. Though at times they do look ridiculous imitating Bruce Lee bringing in some unintentional laughs. The cast for the villains is more memorable than the movie heroes. The actors who portrayed the villains put more energy into there role, though unfortunately there characters aren't memorable due to the way they were written.

    I'm not done yet, I've this with my dad because we both like Bruce Lee and we both knew that the movie had allot stock footage being used. Though what I find despicable is that my dad notice the funeral footage during the movie and to my shock. It was actual footage of Bruce Lee funeral, this is no way you respect the actor who made Martial Art movies popular in America.

    Game of Death is a mess of a movie, but it was a mess of movie I enjoyed despite its many flaws. Though its a shame Bruce Lee never got to finish this movie the way he wanted, fortunately it has some of the last footage Bruce Lee ever filmed and to me it's worth watch for that reason alone.
  • xxdebxx
    May 28, 2011
    xxdebxx
    I am a huge Bruce Lee fan, and this film would've been the best one ever in my opinion if it wasn't for Bruce Lee's very unfortunate death. That didn't stop the filmmakers from finishing the movie. Director Robert Clouse (who also directed Lee in the supremely better Enter the Dr... read moreagon) hired an actor to stand in for Lee and this is painfully apparent when watching the movie.

    Basically shots from previous Lee films are spliced in wherever they'll fit...and often where they won't...in order to fake a larger role for the departed master. Perhaps the most degrading moment is using footage of Lee's actual funeral for the funeral scene of his character in this film and is a fine example of unbelievable crassness.

    The only Bruce Lee action you get to see is in the last 15 to 20 minutes, but it's worth it and has some amazing fight scenes in it including the locker room fight. The final sequence of Bruce facing the various bosses is amazing, with each fight better than the last and an extended Nunchaka scene with the superb Dan Inosanto, so skilled and so fast it has to be seen to be believed! Plus there is a fight with Lee pitted against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of his celebrity pupils. Definitely a must-see if you are interested in fight scenes or the master, Bruce Lee.
  • jonnycrumley
    October 1, 2009
    jonnycrumley
    The story may be crap, but the action is legendary.
  • FanadFilmsProduction
    May 6, 2009
    FanadFilmsProduction
    If you just watch the fighting scenes at the end, it's enjoyable. The technology to insert Lee's face on someone else's body was not ready and just horrible.

    This was just a money grab.
  • Ivan6655321
    October 11, 2008
    Ivan6655321
    Very, very disappointing, using only a double ( who doesn't look like Bruce Lee at all) and footages from Lee's past work just to complete the film. Bad acting, and a very lousy plot makes it a very bad film overall. The reason why I gave it 2 stars is because of the film's clima... read morex, the only scenes with the REAL Bruce Lee in it, showing his fighting skills for the very last time. The other 1/2 stars is for the film's ending credits, a great tribute to Lee using the song "Will this be the song I'll be singing tomorrow?"
  • leekyle1968
    February 22, 2008
    leekyle1968
    due to this being bruce's last flick and like his son he died thru the making of it this is my least fave of his movies

View All Game of Death Reviews

Critic Reviews

April 15, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

To cash in on footage from a film Lee did not finish before his death, producer Chow puts in a double and uses out-takes for this kung-fu mess. Full Review

Cole Smithey
December 5, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Bruce Lee's last movie contains his best fighting sequences.

Scott Weinberg
November 18, 2005
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic

Aside from a few clumsy insert shots, Bruce Lee doesn't even appear until the final 20 minutes! Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

A bizarre, entertaining, disjointing and strangely discomforting film that marked the end of Bruce Lee's career. Full Review

Rob Vaux
September 6, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

More classic kung-fu from the genre's legendary master.

Almar Haflidason
September 26, 2001
Almar Haflidason, BBC

...the standard of the choreography is excellent, and the final 20 minutes - which are almost all of Bruce fighting - are well worth holding out for. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
September 26, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Michael Szymanski
June 20, 2003
Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com

No review available.

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    • Billy Lo: Let it go. What must be done is being done.
    • Billy Lo: You lose Carl Miller!
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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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