Grade: B
Rating: PG-13, 91 minutes
In a nutshell: I love China, San Francisco, Kung Fu, and Bruce Lee. Put all of those things together and you get this entertaining movie directed by George Nolfi, who also directed the fun movie The Adjustment Bureau.
While Birth of the Dragon is a fictional origin film, it's based on an event that supposedly occurred.
It's an imagining of what may have inspired Bruce Lee to develop his unique style of martial arts.
Uplifting theme:
"Kung Fu is not a game, gentlemen. It is not a religion. It is about who lives and who dies." – Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) "Kung Fu is about self-discipline and self-discovery." – Wong Jack Man (Yu Xia) "Kung Fu does not reside in the fists, but it resides in the soul." – Wong Jack Man Balance and harmony
Things I liked: Serious old-school Kung Fu fighting. 1 inch punch. Ha ha A good amount of humor. Great stunts and action. I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I was always pretty clumsy and awkward, especially compared to all of the actors and stuntmen in this movie! I loved the flowing movement of Wong Jack Man's golden robes. Besides it looking cool, it represented his inner dance for balance in his life. I've been to China twice and love their philosophy of chi and harmony in all things. If you liked this, you might like watching the 1973 Enter the Dragon (1973)
Things I didn't like: The movie makes Bruce Lee look really cocky. I can't stand fake flying in martial arts movies. Steve McKee (Billy Magnussen) has a much larger role in the film than he probably should, considering this movie is supposed to be about Bruce Lee.
Interesting lines:
"Now you have begun to exceed your limits." – Wong Jack Man "What limits?" – Bruce Lee "I was going to be a star, but I'd rather be a legend." – Bruce Lee
Tips for parents: Some profanity. Lots of fighting! (Duh!) Discussion of prostitution. If you have a child who is taking some kind of martial arts lessons, you can point out the lessons learned in this movie about when to fight and how to do it with honor.
MOVIE REVIEW MOM
.
Rating: PG-13, 91 minutes
In a nutshell: I love China, San Francisco, Kung Fu, and Bruce Lee. Put all of those things together and you get this entertaining movie directed by George Nolfi, who also directed the fun movie The Adjustment Bureau.
While Birth of the Dragon is a fictional origin film, it's based on an event that supposedly occurred.
It's an imagining of what may have inspired Bruce Lee to develop his unique style of martial arts.
Uplifting theme:
"Kung Fu is not a game, gentlemen. It is not a religion. It is about who lives and who dies." – Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) "Kung Fu is about self-discipline and self-discovery." – Wong Jack Man (Yu Xia) "Kung Fu does not reside in the fists, but it resides in the soul." – Wong Jack Man Balance and harmony
Things I liked: Serious old-school Kung Fu fighting. 1 inch punch. Ha ha A good amount of humor. Great stunts and action. I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I was always pretty clumsy and awkward, especially compared to all of the actors and stuntmen in this movie! I loved the flowing movement of Wong Jack Man's golden robes. Besides it looking cool, it represented his inner dance for balance in his life. I've been to China twice and love their philosophy of chi and harmony in all things. If you liked this, you might like watching the 1973 Enter the Dragon (1973)
Things I didn't like: The movie makes Bruce Lee look really cocky. I can't stand fake flying in martial arts movies. Steve McKee (Billy Magnussen) has a much larger role in the film than he probably should, considering this movie is supposed to be about Bruce Lee.
Interesting lines:
"Now you have begun to exceed your limits." – Wong Jack Man "What limits?" – Bruce Lee "I was going to be a star, but I'd rather be a legend." – Bruce Lee
Tips for parents: Some profanity. Lots of fighting! (Duh!) Discussion of prostitution. If you have a child who is taking some kind of martial arts lessons, you can point out the lessons learned in this movie about when to fight and how to do it with honor.
MOVIE REVIEW MOM
.