If you could remake any movie you want, what would you do to it and who would be in it? It’s a very fun thing to imagine. This is my first in a series of movies that I will “remake.” This isn't because I don't like how it was done the first time, or that it needs improvement...but if you were filming it now, and you were the director, what would you do with it?
Circle of Iron is one of the greatest…and most controversial…martial arts films of all time, written by, and intended to star, the late, great Bruce Lee. This movie was not great because of it’s fight choreography, which most martial arts films are based on…but because it was one long lesson in self enlightenment. In fact, the quality of the fight scenes obviously suffered with the lack of Bruce Lee’s prowess (he died a few years before filming began), but that wasn’t the intended focus of the film anyway.
This movie is solidly based in Zen Philosophy, much of which was given Bruce Lee‘s own twist. This film ruffled quite a few feathers when it first came out thirty years ago, and would ruffle even more now. For example, the scene of the Blind Man (played brilliantly by David Carradine), breaking the young boy’s nose to “free his parents from their bondage to his beauty,” would drive today’s bleeding hearts completely insane. In fact, I can see the protests in front of the theaters now! Most people might understand that the best way to teach a spoiled brat to respect his parents and his elders is with a good smack, but many others who believe that it’s wrong to discipline a child in any way would cry that it promotes “child abuse.” These are the same people who let their own kids walk all over them and everybody else, thus we have kids running around with guns killing their teachers, their parents, and each other.
Therefore, a remake of this film would require a director (maybe the same director, Richard Moore), who was not afraid to stick to his guns and preserve the controversial nature of this film. This is a thinking-man’s movie. It’s designed to make you ponder each event and decipher the meaning of it, hence the reason it wasn’t a very popular film with many people outside of martial arts enthusiasts. Most people want a film to guide them through a variety of emotions without having to stop and think about things….
The Seeker: Talking to you is like talking to a wall!
The Blind Man: Buddha once sat before a wall, and when he arose, he was enlightened.
The Seeker: Do you compare yourself to Buddha?
The Blind Man: No, only to the wall.
What does it mean? There are a million ways to interpret that conversation…something the average moviegoer doesn’t want to think about. It’s much easier to have the answers given to you in the course of a movie. Actually, all the questions and problems presented in the movie are answered. You just have to be very perceptive to pick up on them. It can take several screenings of Circle of Iron to catch the meaning of what is said throughout the movie, and even with how many times I’ve seen it, I still rack my brain over many things.
This film stars Jeff Cooper as “Cord,“ the seeker…a Robert Plant look-alike who has to go through several “trials” to find and defeat the keeper of “The Book,“ which contains all the wisdom of the world. David Carradine not only portrays the Blind Man, but all of Cord’s opponents during his trials. Christopher Lee plays “Zetan,” the keeper of the book…and Roddy McDowell has a cameo as the judge of a contest to determine who has the right to be the next “seeker.” Cord gets disqualified, in which he defies the judge and sets out in search of the book anyway, and Anthony DeLongis plays the rival seeker, “Morthos,” who wins the contest. For all of you fight scene critics, DeLongis appears to be the most skilled martial artist in the movie, but he has one of the smallest parts with only one fight scene against Cord, in which Cord is disqualified for striking Morthos while he is down. Cord’s excuse: “Morthos is a dancer…I’M a fighter!” Mr. DeLongis, as far as I know, is still an active martial artist…so he is my choice to reprise his role as Morthos.
In remaking this movie, the only logical choice for an actor to portray Cord would be Bruce’s son, Brandon Lee. Unfortunately, his untimely death during the making of “The Crow” ruins that idea. So I’ve selected Ron Smoorenburg, the actor with amazing skill and technique from Jacky Chan’s “Who Am I“ movie. His form is unbelievable, and he has the leading man looks to go with it. Also, it would be hard to find anyone to top Carradine’s performances as the Blind Man and all of Cord’s trial opponents. It’s a testimony to his remarkable acting ability that he pulled off all of those characters, although it may not be necessary to have the same actor portray all these rolls. The only exception would be having the actor double as “Chang Sha,” one of Cord’s trial opponents who becomes more of a teacher.
I know I’m going to catch hell for my choice of actors for this part (which you will see below), but my reasons are this: First, he has the philosophical background and understanding to pull the part off; second, I feel he’s a very good actor who is the victim of typecasting (cop with a bad attitude); and third, I feel his style (Aikido), and weapon skills fit the parts of both characters perfectly. A blind man may prefer a style like Aikido, which is more of a grappling style, in conjunction with a staff, especially if he possesses the sensory skills portrayed in this roll. It would also be a chance for this particular actor to stretch beyond the rolls that he is usually given and prove his acting ability. You may have figured out by now who I'm talking about, but if not, he's named in my list below.
The part of the judge of the contest is a very small part, but the character commands respect and exudes wisdom and experience. Who better for this part than Sean Connery? His on screen presence and charisma is perfect for such a character. It would also add his considerable star power to the movie. That is exactly what the late Roddy McDowell did in his role as the judge.
The only other criteria for the rest of the cast, in order for it to compete with other martial arts films of today, would be to find outstanding martial artists to portray these rolls. Also, with David Carradine being such a staple of the original movie, he would have to have some part in a new one. The only part, which I feel would pay him the respect due, would be the part of Zetan, the keeper of the ultimate prize. Even though Zetan only appears at the end of the movie, it is a very important and powerful part. Here is my dream cast for Circle of Iron:
Ron Smoorenburg: Cord
Steven Seagal: The Blind Man/Chang Sha
David Carradine: Zetan
Sean Connery: The Judge
Billy Blanks: The Monkey Man, The Panther Guy, and rival seeker defeated by Chang Sha
Anthony DeLongis: Morthos
Director: Richard Moore (original director)
If you want to weigh in on your picks to be in the movie, throw them in. This is all in fun, and you might have better ideas of who can play what part. I’ll be posting another “remake” soon. Click on my name to see all of them!
Martial Arts DVD - This symbol-laden drama explores the inner mythology of martial arts practice and is based on a Bruce Lee story idea. The original ...More at Barnes and Noble
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