Review for Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon

I have to admit, when I was young, I did not like Bruce Lee or his movies. I thought they were all action and no story. Now I am older and wiser (some might disagree), I have garnered an appreciation for The Cinema of Bruce Lee. The action is the story. Watching the master kick the crap out of his opponent or opponents with style and grace is story enough. Nobody moves like Bruce Lee (not even Neo from The Matrix). He has his own signature. He lives in his own time zone. A place where he can slow or speed up time at will. He moves like a monkey. He moves like a crane. He moves like a tiger. There is no wonder he defined martial arts. He was at the top of his game. Dispatching victims like it was going out of fashion - taking out the laundry kung-fu style. Now my views have changed I see Lee as an important cultural icon - a man who has become a myth. His purposeful movements are like a dance, a ballet of combat. When he takes off his shirt to bare his well-defined chest and starts jumping around, you know he is serious. You can see it in his eyes. They say Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in three movies. Well, Bruce Lee can do it in one:-



When you watch Lee fight, pure ecstasy runs through your veins. Some people may compare it to sex, but how many guys would admit to that? The philosophy of Bruce Lee is immortal. He has inspired people from James Coburn to Jackie Chan, from Steve McQueen to John Saxon. His body may have departed this realm but his ideals will live on until the end of time. His cocksure attitude is endearing. He wasn't just a fighter he was a thinker too. His way of life and his intellectual musings generated (in part) by the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti are magnetic, 'absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own'. This attitude reflects all facets of life. This is why Bruce Lee was not only a fighter, he was a teacher who put theory into his action:-



If Lee was alive today he would be 70-years-old. You can imagine him as a wise old soul with a tender heart and warm smile. Sadly, it was 37 years ago, that he died, at the age of 32. It would be pointless to do an overview of his career. Everybody knows his movies. Especially Enter The Dragon. Without Lee, martial arts movies would not be the same. Think of the Game of Death inspired costume Uma Thurman wears in Kill Bill and think of all the martial arts masters like Steven Segal, Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van-Damme who owe their careers to him. He was a sage, a thinker, a legend and most of all he was the man with the intercepting fist.


The re-release of Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon on DVD (as a Special Edition) signals the 70th anniversary of his birth. It is jam packed with the 'most comprehensive and well-rounded' information on Lee's life and career that you will find. It contains rare home videos, film-clips, behind-the-scenes footage, screen tests, photographs, and interviews with Lee's family members, co-stars, business partners and students. Here is a low down on what to expect from this exceptional disc. Be warned. The total running time amounts to only 2 hours, but the amount of written information available, could fill a book.


The Documentaries (87min)

History of Bruce Lee (Text)

An overview of the 12 Bruce Lee documentaries available on DVD, from the 1973 'The Man and the Legend' (released after Lee's tragic death) to 'Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives on' from 2002.

The Immortal Dragon (45min)

The most important feature on this disc is an exceptional account of Lee's early life in America and his subsequent career as an actor in Hong Kong. It features interviews with his wife Linda, his brother Robert, son Brandon and daughter Shannon. Also included are interesting antidotes from Lee experts, former students and co-stars.

Famous Families, the Lee's: Action Speaks Louder (42min)

This semi-exploitative 'famous families' programme rips open the memories of Lee's family and friends. It re-hashes the stuff we have already seen on the respectful Immortal Dragon documentary. The melodramatic voice-over and hardedge angle on the 'death of Bruce and Brandon' leaves a bad taste in your mouth - sensationalist drivel.


The Green Hornet Extras (32min)

Batman Script (Text)

Information that relates to the Batman/Green Hornet crossover episodes in which Bruce Lee and Van Williams appeared alongside Adam West and Burt Ward. Also included is the entire shooting script for the episodes.

Screen Tests

The introductory text discusses the footage of Bruce Lee auditioning for the role of crime fighter Charlie Chan in a proposed Number One Son programme that was unsuccessful due to lack of interest. The legendary 8-minute clip displays Lee's charisma and distinct fighting skill. It is a favourite amongst fans. The outtakes section features 16 clips (roughly a minute each) for The Green Hornet, there is no sound but the footage is insightful (if you are a purist). Also included is text about how The Green Hornet turned from a radio serial into a television series. The two 5-minute clips show Lee as Kato with different actors playing the title character.


Bruce Lee, Family & Friends Profiles

This section contains 18 in-depth profiles that include a wealth of information. The first, on Bruce Lee, is a chronological account of his acting career. The rest are on Linda Lee (wife), Brandon Lee (son), Shannon Lee (daughter), Robert Lee (brother), Taky Kimura, Dan Inosanto, Jesse Glover (former students), Van Williams (actor), James Coburn (actor), Blake Edwards (producer), Kareem Abdul Jabbar (basketball player), Raymond Chow (producer), Charles Fitzsimons (producer), John Saxon (actor), Alex Ben Bock (author), Miguel Ferrer (actor) and John Little (author).

Bruce Lee's Martial Arts

Split into three text sections - 'The History', 'What is Jeet Kune Do?' and. 'How to Get Instruction'. The first examines the rise of Bruce Lee's fighting style. The second offers a short introduction into the art of self-discovery. The third is a profile of Dave Carnell, instructor of Jett Kune Do.

Bruce and Brandon Lee Association

A short preface to the association related to Bruce and Brandon Lee.

Verdict: With a price tag of £5.99 (from a certain DVD supplier), this is an essential purchase for ALL Bruce Lee fans. It is a shame that the information cut-off is 2002, with eight more years to explore Lee's legacy an updated version is in order. If you already have this disc, check out the 2009 documentary How Bruce Lee Changed the World by The History Channel.