Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Rob Cohen

Writers (WGA):

Robert Clouse (book)
Linda Lee Cadwell (book)

Release Date:

7 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Mystery. The Life. The Love. The Legend

Plot:

A lionized account of the life of the martial arts superstar.

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Demon | Green Hornet | Hong Kong | Kung Fu

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jason Scott Lee	...	Bruce Lee
Lauren Holly	...	Linda Lee
Robert Wagner	...	Bill Krieger
Michael Learned	...	Vivian Emery
Nancy Kwan	...	Gussie Yang
Kay Tong Lim	...	Philip Tan
Ric Young	...	Bruce's Father
Luoyong Wang	...	Yip Man
Sterling Macer Jr.	...	Jerome Sprout
Sven-Ole Thorsen	...	The Demon
John Cheung	...	Johnny Sun
Ong Soo Han	...	Luke Sun
Eric Bruskotter	...	Joe Henderson
Aki Aleong	...	Principal Elder
Chao Li Chi	...	Elder

Runtime:

120 min | UK:119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The director of "The Green Hornet" (1966) was played by Van Williams, who played the Green Hornet in the series.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Bruce Lee hurt his back lifting weights, not in a fight. The fight scene is an distortion of a true-life fight in Lee's school.

Quotes:

Bruce Lee: [Watching Linda & Vivian reunited by Brandon] Brandon, you're a strong one. Only you could do this.

Movie Connections:

Features Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Soundtrack:

Runaway

Cult Movies 52

52. DRAGON: The Bruce Lee story (action, 1993) A re-telling of the life of legendary martial-arts star Bruce Lee (Jason Scott Lee). From his brief childhood days in Hong Kong, to his days as a dishwasher, martial-arts teacher and eventual cinema superstar in Hollywood.

Critique: The life and death of Bruce Lee has inspired many a film and documentaries since his death. Most of these accounts center around Lee's 'mysterious' death from a 'brain edema', never developing anything really new of interest, just speculations. Incredibly it took over 20 years for a film to finally put to rest the many theories and innuendo.

"Dragon" is by far the best of the legendary Lee story, not only for omitting the many death scenarios but also for giving us the closest account of the man. Apart from these welcome omissions, the film wouldn't have worked without Jason Scott Lee in the role. He gives a spirited, charismatic performance that captures the zest for life that Lee possessed. It's a long way from one of his first 'extra' roles as an Asian immigrant in the rather forgetful "Born in East L.A." (1988). Scott Lee is totally appealing here, taking on such a legendary figure and making us believe that Lee is truly up there once again on the screen.

The film's major theme of the "demon curse" Lee's family inherited, had a frighteningly real resonance when, after the movie premiered, Lee's eldest son Brandon (for whom the film is dedicated) was accidentally killed on the set of "The Crow". This would prove to be his breakout film, just the same way Lee's last film, "Enter the Dragon", made him a world wide superstar. This gives the film an added prophetic note that puts it in a category all its own.

Based on wife Linda Lee Cadwell's book, "Bruce Lee: the man only I knew", directed with skillful restraint by Rob Cohen (who also co-scripted). Randy Edelman created the unforgettable musical score (you'll be humming the tune long after you hear it).

QUOTES: Linda: "All these years later people still wonder about the way he died. I prefer to remember the way he lived."