40th Anniversary Screening!
In December, The Black Nerds ring in the holiday season with an 80s cult classic where it’s meant to glow - on the big screen. Directed by Michael Schultz and produced by founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy The Last Dragon returns to the big screen, a rare gem that bridges martial arts fantasy, Motown soul, and Black heroism in one unforgettable film. Released in 1985, it follows Leroy Green aka “Bruce Leroy”, a young martial artist from Harlem, on his journey to achieve “The Glow,” the ultimate level of mastery. Played by Taimak, Leroy’s quiet discipline meets its match in Vanity’s Laura Charles, a radiant TV host whose charm lights up the screen. Their meet-cute happens when Leroy rescues Laura from a dangerous situation, and from that moment on the chemistry between them is electric. She captivates both Leroy and the audience, bringing warmth and heart to the high-flying action, while their connection gives the film an emotional core that balances every punch, kick, and epic showdown.
And who could forget Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem? Julius J. Carry’s larger-than-life performance made him one of cinema’s great cult villains, all bravado, leather, unforgettable one-liners, and oh, the hair. “Am I the meanest? Am I the prettiest? Am I the baddest mofo lowdown around this town?” Sho’nuff’s words still echo through pop culture like a call to arms for confidence and chaos. With its explosive style, neon palette, and Motown soundtrack featuring DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night,” The Last Dragon is more than a movie, it is a time capsule of joy and vitality.
For The Black Nerds, this film is a portal into the golden age of 80s fandom, when martial arts ruled pop culture. From Bruce Lee flicks to The Karate Kid, Bloodsport, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the era’s fascination with combat and discipline laid the groundwork for today’s anime-loving, cosplay-building, fight-scene-quoting nerd culture. The same energy that fueled Bruce Leroy’s quest lives on in modern heroes like Goku and Naruto, stories about mastery, self-belief, and the strength that comes from within.
Forty years later, The Last Dragon still burns with the same spirit, fearless, funny, soulful, and unshakably cool. It is a love letter to the dreamers and the fighters, to the nerds who found themselves in cinema’s glow. This December, join The Black Nerds at the Revue Cinema for a big-screen celebration of style, strength, and self-discovery. Because some movies shine, but this one glows. SHO'NUFF! (FADUMA GURE)
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