Shannon Lee Responds To BIRTH OF THE DRAGON, Calls It A ‘Travesty’, ‘Inaccurate’ And ‘Insulting’
I think it’s safe to say you know your movie sucks when you not only screw the rights holders whose name and content you base your unsanctioned film on, but when said rights holders join the chorus of critics panning your movie from literally every angle of the internet. That is the level of achievement you have reached if your name is George Nolfi and you’ve directed a film called Birth Of The Dragon, long hyped to be a hopefully legendary homage to Bruce Lee, the late founder of Jeet Kune Do and patriarch of American martial arts movie fandom.
Pan over to what Lee’s own daughter, actress and CEO of Bruce Lee Enterprises, Shannon Lee, had to say about the film after watching it herself. She’s busy with several people working on advancing some of her late father’s work as we speak, in addition to a forthcoming TV series, and what she and her company are deeming as the definitive Bruce Lee biopic for the past few years now, and they are essentially the gatekeepers of anything and all Bruce Lee related. And having apparently screened the film herself following its recent premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and much to the chagrin of many a critic and those observant of how the late martial arts master and film star’s legacy has been treated, her response is not a pretty one.
With any luck this doesn’t curtail actor Philip Ng’s own film ambitions on an international level. He’s proven his skillset time and again and he deserves better, and I’m personally hoping this movie doesn’t sound off the death knell of his career. It can’t. Otherwise, we’ll see how far this goes. Ugh… ouch.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
October 6, 2016 @ 10:33 pm
what has Steve McQueen's estate have to say?
October 7, 2016 @ 7:24 am
Im pretty sure Chad McQueen will be voicing his opinion on this film REAL soon…
October 7, 2016 @ 11:32 am
Sorry ass movie
October 7, 2016 @ 3:39 pm
the trailer and the acting within it look good. THe movie definitely takes a ton of leeway. Wong Jack Man was not a shaolin priest. He was a Northern Shaolin Kung Fu teacher. but hey,it's a movie…not a specific biopic.
October 7, 2016 @ 4:56 pm
Looks and sounds ridiculous. I'm willing to bet the fight scenes will fake as hell too. I can't believe someone would make a movie this bad about Sifu Lee. I stand with Shannon Lee on this.
October 7, 2016 @ 5:16 pm
And Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and that wack TV series ( which Shannon/Lee estate authorized ) was accurate? Whatever. lol Remember, Shannon is the one who endorsed all of the lame Bruce Lee apps/games, etc.
October 7, 2016 @ 8:26 pm
It's an absolute disgrace of a movie, insulting to the memory of a man, who both touched and changed the lives of billions of people the world over from one generation to the next. Bruce Lee's life was amazing enough and the truth should be told unfiltered by Hollywood crapology. He was and still is a legendary inspiration to many of us who love him for what he gave to the world and for what he stood for. Bruce Lee EARNED his place and it's sickening to see his memory trampled on like this. Hollywood racism has to be stamped out.
October 7, 2016 @ 8:49 pm
Is this a modern movie ? seems like a 70s fake Bruce Lee movie.After Bruce lee died they made all these movies which this one looks like. In the 70s I would go see anything that was a Bruce Lee movie not knowing at first they were all fake but of course when I watched them I knew. I just took them as stories and this one is a fake one as well.If Shannon lee who has been asked to approve it and does not like it then that is enough for me. I will not watch it and considerate junk ,which in this time and day why would anyone make a made up movie when like I stated has been made so many times over .
October 7, 2016 @ 9:51 pm
What I meant is Shannon Lee
was not asked to approve it
October 8, 2016 @ 4:15 am
I am an advocate of Asian Americans in film, but I am tired of seeing people hate on the birth of the dragon. People are confusing Asian Americans being portrayed by white actors and the actual life of Bruce Lee. If people do there research the movie is based on Steve McQueen who is substituted for Steve McKee because they did not get permission from the Lee family. In addition, Steve McQueen is an actual student of Bruce Lee and he was white, he also does have an Asian wife. So if people can understand the plot of the movie first before judging the film they will understand Bruce Lee's life was filled with people that were white and he was actually human with emotion. I hope people can support the numerous Asian Americans in the movie.
October 8, 2016 @ 7:55 am
Trailer looks like every other pathetic movie in the last 30 years. I am waiting to laugh my ass off at what Chuck has to say about it.
October 9, 2016 @ 7:34 pm
Now Shannon Lee know how Wong Jack Man's family and students feel for the past 52 years
April 7, 2017 @ 12:32 am
Wong Jack Man got his ass kicked. Only Wong Jack Man's dumb ass fan boys and students doesn't want to admit that fact. So get over it.
April 7, 2017 @ 12:34 am
Wong Jack Man's family and students can't admit the fact that Bruce Lee beat the crap out of Wong Jack Man for the past 50+ years. And this was before Bruce Lee became a better fighter by abandoning that weak wing chun crap and learning real combat arts such as boxing, wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and combined it together.
October 9, 2016 @ 7:34 pm
Now Shannon Lee know how Wong Jack Man's family and students feel for the past 52 years
February 2, 2017 @ 10:42 am
Where can I see this movie at now? Please anybody know where or what Web site?
February 2, 2017 @ 10:44 am
Try reading our most recent article on it.
July 14, 2017 @ 3:24 pm
Ah sometimes I wish I could talk to you Shannon. Hope consolation is near and hope your heath is filled with love from your father.
July 26, 2017 @ 7:32 pm
This is a very poor adaptation of Bruce Lee's personality not to mention his legacy to the art. the fact of that they didn't consult with shannon or even do the research trough the only living relatives for collaboration shows that all they trying to do is portrayed him as a bully and a selfsenter person wish was he not!! But then again is only Hollywood trying to tell a so call true story with their head up there fatasses in the name of the lee family fuck them all!!
July 26, 2017 @ 11:28 pm
This is a very poor adaptation of Bruce Lee's personality not to mention his legacy to the art. the fact of that they didn't consult with shannon or even do the research trough the only living relatives for collaboration shows that all they trying to do is portrayed him as a bully and a selfsenter person wish was not But then again is only Hollywood trying to tell a so call true story with their head up there fatasses in the name of the lee family he he'll with all of them !!!