Dragon: The Bruce Lee story

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering”…..Bruce Lee

“I wanted to do in boxing what Bruce did in martial arts.  Lee was an artist, and like him, I try to get beyond the fundamentals of my sport. I want my fights to be seen as plays”……Sugar Ray Leonard

When mentioning their own problems, or the problems of others, it has become popular in the last twenty or so years for people to refer to these vices, habits or whatever they may be, as “demons.”  On the surface, many people will seem immune to this kind of metaphoric possession.  Even people that appear to be indestructible.  Even someone like “The Dragon” himself.  “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story,” is the movie that introduced me to this rhetorical trend of branding issues as “demons.”  It also, is the film that made me fall in love with the mysteries of the East.  Although, this is probably the most inaccurate biopic that focuses on a modern-era icon (Jason Scott Lee looks nothing like Bruce for starters), it is also one of the most romanticized and enjoyable.  I highly recommend it.

This is another movie that opened my eyes to a world I was scarcely aware of.  I remember feeling guilty after I saw this film (I was 10) for taking part in the cruel childhood tradition of teasing others for the crime of being different.  I basically came down with what is vulgarly referred to as “yellow fever.” “Dragon” is one of the few mainstream Hollywood films, not only starring an Asian actor, but celebrating the life of the most recognizable ethnically Chinese star, and glorifying the culture that gave birth to his legend.

Contrary to popular belief, Bruce Lee is a natural born American.  Despite this fact, many of the characters in “Dragon” remain unconvinced, and thusly, we are reminded of the true ugliness of racism.  One thing “Dragon” does very well is it forces us to empathize with others.  For example, Bruce and his future wife Linda go to see “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on their first date.  While the audience, and Linda, all burst into laughter at Mickey Rooney’s caricature of an Asian man, Bruce looks deeply indignant, and I almost hesitate to use this expression about such a man, but hurt emotionally.

Usually, I find love stories to be obnoxious, except when I actually care about the characters.  That’s why I thought “The Notebook” sucked, recycled garbage as I like to call it.  On the flip side, we get to know Bruce and Linda Lee very well in this movie.  We share in their triumphs and their defeats.  We want them to flourish.  This is a love story that works.  It also of course helps that this movie is based loosely on reality.  In my opinion, love stories usually are only effective when the relationship is not the primary concern of the movie.  “Braveheart” and “Crouching Tiger” are other good examples of this.

Moving away from this mushiness, the strongest theme in “Dragon” is that of fathers passing their “demons” onto their sons.  There is a legend regarding the Lee family, that some obscure curse was put on them ages ago.  Given the very freakish nature of both Bruce, and Brandon Lee’s deaths, it’s hard to ignore at first glance this superstition.  In “Dragon,” this fear is personified by a frightening and seemingly invincible demon that torments Bruce in various dreams and visions.  My favorite scene in “Dragon” is when Bruce pays a visit to his “sifu” (master), to discuss the significance of this phantasm.  I don’t think anyone could do a better job of analyzing this concept than the writers of “Dragon”: “It doesn’t matter how many men you defeat. If you do not conquer your own fears, then you will pass your demons on to your children, as your father passed his on to you.”  Yet another piece of wonderful philosophy that can be found in a film.

While heavily exaggerated, and largely inaccurate, “Dragon” does capture the spirit of Bruce Lee very well. He was the transcendent fighter-philosopher.  He embraced formlessness when he pioneered the style of Jeet Kun Do, and is the most influential martial artist of all time.  “Dragon” has something to offer everyone.  I can’t neglect to mention the fight scenes in “Dragon” either.  They are not as artful as the battles in Lee’s actual movies, but they are far more intense psychologically.  After watching “Dragon,” I hope you join the debate that my fellow fanboys and I have over which fight scene is the best.  Also, for pure fun’s sake, “Dragon” is a blast to quote with fellow admirers.  Obviously, the expression, “chasing the dragon,” has a meaning unrelated to Bruce Lee.  So in this instance, I won’t recommend that activity.  “Watching the Dragon,” has a different meaning altogether.  It must be done.

- Magistrate Dunham