Different Ways of Perceiving ‘Dragon’

Having endured the cheap, grainy Hong Kong movies about Bruce Lee that came out right after his death, I was looking forward to the quality production “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” that was promised recently by the media. But I was shocked to find an expensive, sharp-focus replica of those chop-socky films that was characterized by a total disregard of how this man really lived.

The real Lee led a genuinely interesting life. Where the movie depicts his Long Beach debut as a bloody fight, the real Lee was astonishing the martial arts world with the power of his one-inch punch. Where the movie has him engaged in one asinine fight after another, the real Lee walked away from such off-camera challenges, afraid to hurt someone.

I found “Dragon” to be an infuriating parody of the film it could have been. I wish someone had the integrity to produce a screenplay that portrays his fanaticism with training, explores the development of his phenomenal technique and reveals the shy philosopher who dwelt beneath his cocksure facade.

RICHARD DuPERTUIS, Pomona