The Legend of Bruce Lee, 2008.
Starring Kwok-Kwan Chan, Michelle Lang, Ted E. Duran, Hazen MacIntyre, Ray Park, Mark Dacascos and Gary Daniels.
SYNOPSIS:
A biography of the legendary martial arts icon Bruce Lee, following him from his childhood in Hong Kong through to movie stardom and his untimely death at the age of 32.
Bruce Lee was undoubtedly a legend. He was instrumental in bringing the art of Kung Fu to Western shores. He was also a movie Icon, with his popularity spanning East and West. Of course since his passing his following and popularity increased a lot. Like many a renowned artist, it took his own death to launch him from mere notoriety to legendary figure. There’s been plenty of myth surrounding his life and indeed his death, and the film and TV world has already been well stuffed with recounts of Lee’s life. The Legend of Bruce Lee, a Chinese-made TV series, finally makes it way over to the UK. Have we finally seen the ultimate telling of the Lee legacy? Well…no.
The series release in China was an epic 50 episodes. The show ticks all the Bruce Lee boxes, from his younger days, through his martial arts study, his movie career, through to his death. We see Lee working his way from mediocrity, to mastering the martial arts. This marks one of his most interesting journeys in his short life. Lee brings Kung Fu to America and Americans. It caused uproar, the ancient Chinese teachings being taught to white and black folk. The problem, like the rest of the portions of Lee’s life in the UK release is the fact that 50 episodes from the Chinese series have been condensed and positively crammed into this 3 hour telemovie. As such, with a very noticeable abbreviation of material, this movie breezes through what otherwise might have been more dramatic elements. It doesn’t really work.
However, given the production values, the quality and the standard of acting it is also very evident why this has been so dramatically trimmed. This film really drags at times. Often the choice of cuts seem strange, whilst some sections are played out for too long. There’s far too much melodramatic musing and potentially dramatic aspects of Lee’s life are bypassed who brushed over. There’s no time given to the multi-racial relationship with Linda, and it’s perception at the time. Lee’s study of martial arts to create his own (Jeet Kune Do) is glossed over, becoming little more, during the films midsection, as a fight scene compilation. Lee just seems to jump from one fight to another. Most criminally however, is the fact that Lee’s death is so badly handled in this version. He just dies and that’s it.
This is not to say that this doesn’t have its merits. Kwok-Kwan Chan makes a very convincing Lee. He’s got the looks and the mannerisms down brilliantly. He’s not the best actor however, but his competition in this isn’t much. The trouble is it just seems little more than a novelty impersonation. The fight scenes are also very well done. Of course they’re very dramatic and over the top, like many Lee bio film fights (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story). There’s also a few noticeable guest stars who stand toe to toe with Lee, such as Gary Daniels, Mark Dacascos and Darth Maul himself; Ray Park. Dacascos’ battle with Lee stands out.
Overall this doesn’t offer anything new, certainly not this version. Given it drags enough in its three hour form, watching the 50 episode version may well be immensely dull. It would be good to see a more grounded and realistic portrayal of Lee’s life, but if you’re going to view one of his bios that goes for myth and fantasy brushstrokes in its painting of the man, then you’re better off watching Rob Cohen’s Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. It’s far more entertaining and Jason Scott Lee offers dramatic weight as well as physical prowess.
The Legend of Bruce Lee is released on January 9th. Read our interview with Gary Daniels here.
Tom Jolliffe
Originally published January 5, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
