Forty years ago tomorrow one of my favorite film's graced the big screen. It's campy, the storyline is very simple, and some of the acting is very B-movieish. But damnit all those things combined make the film work and truthfully a cinematic masterpiece.
If you've never seen the movie it follows a young man named Leroy a shy and naive martial artist who goes by Bruce Leroy. He is in search of "the master" and the "glow" which is the highest level a martial artist can achieve. On his quest, he crosses paths with a guy who has napoleon complex in Eddie Arcane, a video host who he becomes smitten with, and the "Shogun of Harlem" Sho'Nuff.
Speaking of Sho'Nuff, Julius Carry embodied that role and made it legendary. He was a bully, ferocious, arrogant, all at once. He could however back all of that up, and Carry just exuded confidence as he bought the character to screen. There is a reason many folks today cosplay as Sho'Nuff for comic-cons and Halloween, and Busta Rhymes cosplayed as him in a music video. He was a badass simple as that and is one of the most underrated film villains ever in my opinion.
Sho'Nuff aside the film is legendary for many reasons. The fight scenes are very fast paced, well edited and pay homage to old Kung Fu movies. The big battle near the end of the movie between Arcane's goons and Bruce Leroy's students is a highlight of the film. The biggest reason it is legendary is that, for many 80's kid's and later 90's kid's Bruce Leroy was the first Black superhero they saw. I know when I first saw the movie I was somewhere around 6 or 7, and between Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and other martial arts shows and films out around that time. I was pulled into the story of Bruce Leroy a guy who looked like me. And the fight scene where he found "the glow" is still one of my favorites of all time. Much as I love the movie, I sometimes skip past it and just watch that one scene. Mainly because the film and that scene has so many messages I've found the older I get.
I mentioned earlier Bruce Leroy was shy and naive, outside of martial arts he lacked a lot of social skills and confidence. Part of obtaining "the glow" meant he needed to find his confidence, which while subtle is something he is often chasing in the film. From attempts to flirt with Laura Charles (Vanity) to trying to fit in with a trio of Asian men to infiltrate and obtain information from them. He was always unsure of himself when out of his element, which many people can resonate with. It took some loses for him to realize all along what he was missing to be the master.
That lesson can be applied anywhere in life. Life lesson aside the movie is a classic for being ahead of the curve in portraying how Black culture and Asian culture are intertwined and the influence they have on one another. Along with the soundtrack produced by Motown founder Berry Gordy and led by the Debarge classic Rhythm Of The Night. that provided the film with a certain esthetic fusing pop, the soul sound of Motown, and some early 80's hip hop. It was 100% a 80's film as well, if you watch it today it is still dated but still great either way.
I can't stress enough how much I love this movie. I've dressed as Bruce Leroy one Halloween, proudly wear t-shirts celebrating the film. I wrote about the movie for a film class I took. When I visited the Motown museum in Detroit there was a original poster on the wall, which I proudly smiled ear to ear taking a photo next to. Quoted it at the most random times, and wrote a blog on how the series could be revived in Cobra Kai fashion. This movie will never get old to me, and I will celebrate 40 years of The Glow every chance I get.
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