Look, if you grew up in the eighties, you didn't just watch movies. You lived them. And if you were into martial arts, there was one name that commanded more respect—and more laughs—than almost anyone else. I’m talking about Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem. He wasn't just a villain in the 1985 cult classic The Last Dragon. He was a force of nature. A neon-clad, feathered-hair-wearing, trash-talking legend who basically stole every single frame he was in.
Honestly, the movie is a trip. Produced by Motown’s Berry Gordy, it blends Motown soul, 1980s New York grit, and a heavy dose of Bruce Lee worship. It follows Leroy Green—"Bruce" Leroy—on a spiritual quest to find "The Glow." But let's be real for a second. While Leroy was the hero, the movie with Sho'nuff is what people actually remember. Julius Carry, the actor who played Sho'nuff, brought a level of theatrical energy that you just don't see anymore. He was huge. He was loud. He was terrifyingly funny.
The Shogun of Harlem: Who Is the Master?
The central conflict of the film is simple: Sho'nuff wants Leroy to admit that he, Sho'nuff, is the baddest mofo in town. It’s a power struggle built on pure ego. When you look at the movie with Sho'nuff, you’re looking at a masterclass in "heel" performance. Julius Carry didn't actually know martial arts before he got the role. Can you believe that? He had to train intensely, yet he moved with the confidence of a man who had been breaking boards since birth.
"Am I the meanest?"
"Sho'nuff!"
"Am I the prettiest?"
"Sho'nuff!"
That call-and-response routine wasn't just dialogue. It became a cultural touchstone. It’s been sampled in hip-hop songs by Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg. It’s been quoted in locker rooms and playgrounds for decades. The character's aesthetic was equally wild. He wore a red-and-black shogun outfit that looked like a cross between a samurai warrior and a professional wrestler from the future. And those goggles? Pure 80s gold.
Why Julius Carry Made the Movie
Without Carry, The Last Dragon might have been just another forgotten blip on the radar of mid-80s action cinema. Taimak, who played Leroy, was a legitimate martial artist but a novice actor. He played Leroy with a quiet, almost naive sincerity. He was the "straight man." You needed a massive, over-the-top personality to balance that out. Sho'nuff provided the friction. He was the chaos to Leroy’s order.
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Most people don't realize how much of Sho'nuff's persona was built on the fly. Carry took the character and ran with it, leaning into the absurdity of a man walking around Harlem with a posse of "shogun" henchmen. It was campy, sure, but played with such utter conviction that you couldn't help but buy into it. It’s that sincerity in the face of the ridiculous that makes it work.
Breaking Down the Movie with Sho'nuff and the Glow
The climax of the film is where things get truly legendary. We’re talking about the final showdown in the 7-Up bottling plant. It’s dark, it’s wet, and there are neon lights everywhere. This is where Leroy finally achieves "The Glow," a mystical golden aura that signifies he has reached the highest level of martial arts mastery.
But before that happens, Sho'nuff gets his own moment. He reveals his own power—a red, flickering aura. It’s the classic "dark side" vs "light side" trope, but filtered through a Saturday morning cartoon lens. Watching the movie with Sho'nuff today, you realize how much it influenced the visual language of modern superhero films. That "power up" moment is something we see in every Marvel movie now, but back in 1985, it was groundbreaking for a low-budget urban action flick.
Cultural Impact and the Hip-Hop Connection
You can't talk about this film without talking about its DNA. It’s a Black martial arts film, a genre that has a long and storied history, starting with the "Blaxploitation" era of the 70s. But The Last Dragon was different. It was polished. It was backed by a massive soundtrack featuring DeBarge and Stevie Wonder. It was a bridge between the old-school kung fu films played in 42nd Street grindhouses and the burgeoning hip-hop culture of the Bronx and Harlem.
Rappers loved Sho'nuff. Why? Because he had "flavor." He was the ultimate hype man for himself. In a culture built on bravado and "braggadocio" rap, Sho'nuff was the blueprint. He had the entrance music, the look, and the catchphrases. He was essentially a wrestling character before wrestling became the global behemoth it is today.
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The Mystery of the Remake
For years, there have been rumors about a remake of the movie with Sho'nuff. At one point, Samuel L. Jackson was heavily rumored to be taking on the role of the Shogun. Fans were split. On one hand, Jackson has the intensity. On the other hand, how do you capture the lightning in a bottle that was Julius Carry?
The project has been in "development hell" for what feels like an eternity. Some say it's because the original is too "of its time." Could you really have a guy walking around modern Harlem in a shogun outfit without it feeling like a parody of a parody? Maybe not. But the demand is there. Every time the film airs on a cable network or pops up on a streaming service like Netflix or Prime, it trends.
What People Get Wrong About Leroy Green
A common misconception is that Leroy is "soft." Because he’s polite and avoids conflict, people in the movie—and sometimes viewers—think he’s a pushover. But that’s the Bruce Lee philosophy coming through. "The art of fighting without fighting." Sho'nuff is the opposite. He is all fight, no philosophy. That contrast is the heart of the story.
Leroy's journey isn't just about beating the bad guy; it’s about finding self-confidence. He’s looking for a master to give him the "secret," only to realize the power was inside him all along. Yeah, it’s a bit cheesy. But in the context of the movie with Sho'nuff, it feels earned. When he finally catches the bullet with his teeth, you’re cheering. You’ve seen him get pushed to the limit by the most obnoxious villain in cinema history, and the payoff is glorious.
Why We Still Watch It
It's the vibes. Pure and simple. The 1980s was a decade of excess, and The Last Dragon is excess personified. The fashion is loud. The music is catchy. The fights are choreographed with a mix of genuine skill and theatrical flair.
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When you revisit the movie with Sho'nuff, you aren't just watching a film; you're visiting a specific moment in New York history. It was a time when the city felt dangerous but also like a place where magic could happen in an alleyway. It captures a sense of community and urban myth-making that is rare in modern cinema.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Viewing Experience
If you’re planning to dive back into the world of Bruce Leroy and the Shogun of Harlem, don't just stream it on your phone. Do it right.
- Find the Blu-ray: The 35th or 40th-anniversary editions have been remastered. The colors in this movie—especially the neon and the Glow effects—need to pop. Standard definition doesn't do it justice.
- Listen to the Soundtrack First: Put on "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge. Get yourself in that mid-80s Motown headspace. It sets the tone perfectly.
- Watch for the Cameos: Keep an eye out for a young William H. Macy and Keshia Knight Pulliam. It’s wild to see where some of these actors started.
- Learn the Lore: Research Julius Carry's career. He was a prolific character actor who appeared in everything from Murphy Brown to Boy Meets World. Understanding his range makes his performance as Sho'nuff even more impressive because he was playing so far against his own personality.
- Host a Double Feature: Pair it with Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon. You'll see exactly where the inspiration for Leroy’s character came from, and it makes the homage even more satisfying.
The legacy of the movie with Sho'nuff isn't just about nostalgia. It’s about a character who was so bold, so unapologetic, and so entertaining that he outlived the very era that created him. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer wondering what all the "Who is the master?" memes are about, there’s never a bad time to bask in the Glow. Just remember: when the Shogun enters the room, you better be ready to answer the question.
The lasting power of Sho'nuff lies in the fact that he represents the ultimate obstacle—the person who tries to define you before you've defined yourself. Leroy’s victory isn't just physical; it's a refusal to let a loudmouth in a shogun costume tell him who he is. That's a lesson that stays relevant, whether it's 1985 or 2026. Keep the Glow alive.