Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

1993

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Critics Consensus

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71%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 21

79%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 57,758

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Movie Info

The brief but eventful life of actor and martial arts trailblazer Bruce Lee is portrayed in this drama, based on a biography written by his widow Linda Lee Caldwell. Lee is introduced to the study of martial arts as a child living in Hong Kong by his father (Ric Young); the father dreamed that a demonic armored dragon would take his son from him, and wanted young Bruce to be able to protect himself. Bruce continues his training as he grows to adulthood, and after the cocky teenaged Lee (Jason Scott Lee, no relation to Bruce) seriously injures a prominent British citizen while fighting a gang of troublemakers at a dance, he's sent to San Francisco. While working as a dishwasher, Bruce begins to study philosophy, and in time develops a personal martial arts discipline, Jeet Kune-Do, which blends Kung Fu fighting techniques with lessons gained from his philosophical research. Bruce decides to open a martial arts academy on the advice of his fiancée Linda (Lauren Holly); Linda and Bruce encounter resistance as a mixed-race couple, especially from Linda's mother Vivian (Michael Learned), and Bruce earns the enmity of traditional Chinese martial arts experts for his new style. But after a strong showing in several public tournaments, Bruce's fighting skill and charisma attracts the attention of TV producer Bill Krieger (Robert Wagner). Bruce is cast as Kato, the karate-trained sidekick on the series The Green Hornet, and while the show is short-lived in America, it's a huge success in Asia, leading to a series of films based around Bruce's remarkable fighting skills. Sadly, shortly before the release of the film that would make him a major screen star in the United States, Enter The Dragon, a mysterious brain disorder sends Lee into a coma that soon kills him. In a tragedy with eerie timing, Bruce Lee's real-life son Brandon Lee died shortly before this film was released, the result of an accidental shooting while completing the picture The Crow.

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Cast

Jason Scott Lee
as Bruce Lee
Lauren Holly
as Linda Lee
Robert Wagner
as Bill Krieger
Michael Learned
as Vivian Emery
Jackie Chan
Nancy Kwan
as Gussie Yang
Kay Tong Lim
as Philip Tan
Ekin Cheng
Ric Young
as Bruce's Father
Wang Luoyong
as Yip Man
Sterling Macer
as Jerome Sprout
Janet Hirshenson
Sven Ole Thorsen
as The Demon
John Cheung
as Johnny Sun
Jane Jenkins
Han Soo Ong
as Luke Sun
Julien Collet
as Raoul
Eric Bruskotter
as Joe Henderson
Aki Aleong
as Principal Elder
Iain M. Parker
as Brandon
Hélène Médigue
as Isabelle
Marie Pailhes
as Virginie
Jean Lescto
as Raoul's father
Sam Hau
as Young Bruce
Michelle Tennant
as Shannon
Philippe Morier-Genoud
as Mr Clarke
Clyde Kusatsu
as History Teacher
Alicia Tao
as April
Mireille Franchino
as Report hite's woman
Kong Kwok Keung
as Mr. Ho
Anthony Carpio
as Chef
Chan Tat Kwong
as Chef
John Lacy
as Nunnemacher
Harry Stanback
as Benny Sayles
Michael Cudlitz
as Tad Overton
Forry Smith
as Green Hornet
Van Williams
as Green Hornet Director
Paul Raci
as Bad Guy
Sean Faro
as Assistant Director
Robert Garrett
as Kreiger's Butler
Ed Parker Jr.
as Ed Parker
Lala Sloatman
as Sherry Schnell
Paul Mantee
as Doctor
Louis Turenne
as Maitre D'
Lau Pak Lam
as `Big Boss' Director
Rob Cohen
as `Enter the Dragon' Director
Jonathan Penner
as Studio Executive
Calvin Bartlett
as Stunt Coordinator
Jan Solomita
as Heckler
Chao Li Chi
as Elder
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Critic Reviews for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (4)

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

  • Feb 26, 2012
    Interesting film about the short life of the legend
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • May 31, 2010
    A dramatic biography about martial arts legend Bruce Lee (played by Jason Scott Lee *no relation*) who trains in Hong Kong and goes to America overcoming every obstacle from racism to rejection from his own people, to opening his Kung-Fu school, getting married and having kids. Lee's life is a touching tale depicting the struggle against a family curse of their sons dying young. It is said that the naming of Bruce Lee as Little Dragon -- Xiao Loong -- by his parents was sacrilegious and offended the gods (because Gods were also referred as Dragons in Chinese mythology). The release of Dragon and the retelling of the Chinese curse were given even greater poignancy and disquiet as they coincided with the death of Brandon Lee, Bruce's only son, while filming the Crow. Both father and son died at the threshold of breaking through in their careers. Lauren Holly is competent as the devoted wife Linda Lee's who stands by her man (but then again this is based on her own biography of Lee and actually co-written by her and no doubt she clearly wants to portray him in a positive light.) The movie depicts Bruce Lee's day to day trials and his own style, Jeet Kune Do including the incredulous reaction on the set of 'Green Hornet' the first time he did the role as sidekick Kato to his groundbreaking success in movies like The Big Boss and Enter the Dragon. How he led a life of fullness until it was short circuited at the tender age of 32. Dragon the Bruce Lee story may not be completely accurate and Jason Scott Lee is no Bruce Lee; he is physically too big to portray him. Bruce wasn't buff like him. Bruce was lean but still very muscular and extremely chiseled. Nevertheless this was a very inspirational story of a man who simply wanted to show others "the beauty of his culture" and I really enjoyed it. I saw Bruce Lee as an Idol and I choose to see him as a hero.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 05, 2009
    Exceptional ! the Legend of Bruce Lee will truely live forever, thanks in part to this remarkable film.
    Jess B Super Reviewer
  • Jun 29, 2009
    I LOVE Bruce Lee. I think his rise from very little to something very big, his worldview, and his philosophies were all very admirable, but, as sad and sensationalist conspiracy-theorist as it sounds - what I love most about Bruce Lee, and the Lee family in general, is the mystery surrounding them and their deaths. While this movie portrayed Lee in all his awesomeness, it didn't focus at all on A. any bad sides he may / may not have had (COME ON!!! Even freakin' Ghandi liked to sleep with 12 year old girls, everyone has some dodgy skeletons in their closets!), and B. It did nothing to further my knowledge on the conspiracy surrounding his death (actually managing to confuse me more). So ja, if you want to watch a teary chick-flick filled with romance and triumphing over great odds, then watch this, otherwise someone needs to come out with a proper movie filled with some real meat, as apposed to the tofu that this movie is stuffed with.
    alex m Super Reviewer
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