More than one version of Bruce Lee‘s life story has hit the screen, with the most notable dramatized biopic being Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, starring Jason Scott Lee. (There is no relation between the men, despite the common name.)
Now QED International and banner Groundswell Productions plan to re-tell the “origin story” (gag) of Lee through a new film, Birth of the Dragon. The movie will be written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele (Nixon, Ali). The term “origin story” is used in part, it seems, to indicate that this is more like an action film inspired by Lee’s life than an account of his history that is meant to be close to reality. This will be no straight biopic, but something more like Ip Man with a lot more action.
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Documentary filmmaker Pete McCormack (Facing Ali) has made a new doc about the late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, which will show up in a limited theatrical engagement starting February 9. The film, I Am Bruce Lee, features clips from Lee’s films and his few filmed interviews, and is bolstered by a host of celebrity Bruce Lee admirers. Check out a trailer for the doc below. Read More »
There’s always a serious cachet to making a film based on a ‘lost’ story or treatment from a deceased talent. For example, we’ve just been talking about Lunatic at Large, which will be based on a long treatment Jim Thompson wrote for Stanley Kubrick.
Today an old Bruce Lee story is coming back to light. In the late ’60s Lee wrote The Silent Flute, which he conceived with James Coburn (envisioned as Lee’s co-star for the film) and Stirling Silliphant, before it went by the wayside prior to Lee’s death. Now producer Paul Maslansky wants to mount the story as a new martial arts film. Read More »
In a new interview with The Onion in which he discusses everything from Dawn of the Dead to sperm cells, the RZA let it be known that a biopic on Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late id of the Wu-Tang Clan, is in early discussion stages. The highlight of Funny People also updated on his hands-on role on The Last Dragon remake and his directorial debut, the kung-fu flick The Man With the Iron Fist, under the tutelage of his pal Eli Roth. Supremely good stuff…
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French Canadian filmmaker Patrick Bolvin wondered what a fight between Bruce Lee and Iron Man might look like, so he created a 1-minute short film showing what might have happened if the two action heroes battled it out. The narrow depth of field cinematography is stunning, but the stop animated film is much shorter than I would’ve liked. Check out the short film after the jump.
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Like a good number of dudes and a fair number of gals, I haven’t followed the NBA with much interest since Michael Jordan exited in 2003. Tried, but too much bark and vanity in my opinion, not to mention the Lakers. Jordan’s remained super low-key since his final retirement–a few Hanes cameos and the ever present Jumpman23 logo–but now a documentary is set to be made about him and his unparalleled career by bud and former sidekick, director Spike Lee. According to Lee, the doc is tentatively set to premiere at next year’s Cannes Film Festival.
It will reportedly feature a decent amount of exclusive footage from Jordan’s later and middling years with the Washington Wizards. No other information has been released. Jordan’s made a few trips to theaters in the past, including 1996′s infamous belly flop Space Jam, 2003′s Looney Tunes: Back in Action (aww, Joe Dante) and 2002′s decent if empty IMAX doc …to the Max. I was hoping for a more independent, introspective look here, but since the NBA is financing the pic, maybe next time. But Lee’s not one to compromise (he gave a pretty ballsy “fight the man” speech at my alma mater), so I’m sure his take won’t be shinier than Jordan’s dome.
Wait a sec, what’s that sound? It’s the sound of my younger brother incessantly talking my ear off about Scottie Pippen for the entire ’90s. Get out of here ghost.
Discuss: So, of course MJ deserves this doc. That’s a given. But in your opinion, which NBA player was/is the best actor (in movies, not foul drawing)? My picks are Kareem in Bruce Lee’s Game of Death and Fletch (obvi), followed up by Bo Kimble in Heaven is a Playground. If any of you remember that one, you’re cool 4 life.
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