Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Name: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, Romance
Released: May 7, 1993
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Jason Scott Lee, Kay Tong Lim, Lauren Holly, Luoyong Wang, Michael Learned

1993

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Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 7, 1993 | PG-13

Starring: Jason Scott Lee, Kay Tong Lim, Lauren Holly, Luoyong Wang, Michael Learned, Nancy Kwan, Ric Young, Robert Wagner, Sterling Macer Jr., Sven-Ole Thorsen

Summary: From a childhood of rigorous martial arts training, Bruce Lee (Jason Scott Lee) realizes his dream of opening his own kung-fu school in America. Before long, he is discovered by a Hollywood producer (Robert Wagner) and begins a meteoric rise to fame and an all too short reign as one of the most charismatic action heroes in motion picture history.

Director: Rob Cohen

Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 120 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Harrington

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is rousing entertainment with many faces -- martial arts thrills, romance, mystery, comedy -- and a double dose of poignancy. Read full review

Peter Rainer

What's exciting about Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is that, in Jason Scott Lee, the movies have created a new star out of an old star. The film is a tribute to Bruce Lee but it's also a tribute to the transforming powers of performance. Lee does justice to Bruce Lee while, at the same time, creating a character out of his own fierce resources. He is, quite literally, smashing. Read full review

Joe Holleman

An entertaining and sometimes exceptional look at the short life of the man who singlehandedly brought about the boom of martial arts in this country. Starring Jason Scott Lee (no relation), "Dragon" covers Lee's life from his early days in Hong Kong to his final scene from "Enter The Dragon," Lee's only big-budget American movie. [12 May 1993, p.6F]

Vincent Canby

An enjoyably hokey, big-budget theatrical film with a lot of kicks and the soul of a television movie. It's exactly what it announces itself to be and won't offend (or surprise) anyone...Although "Dragon" has few surprises, it is an entertainingly predictable enterprise. Read full review

Roger Ebert

You cannot do in real life most of the things the characters in these movies do, because of the unfortunate restrictions imposed by Newton's Laws, but what the heck: It's fun to watch. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Part chopsocky action, part romance, part hokey fantasy, Dragon will please anyone open to a well-made, if superficial, Hollywood biography, a "biopic-lite." [8 May 1993, p.G5]

Shawn Levy

An intermittently engaging and confused blend of biopic, chop-socky, dopey mysticism and, oddest of all, melodramatic weepie, is no ``JFK.''[7 May 1993, p.AE15]

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User Reviews

alejandro970

Feb 11, 2021

Born to fight. The big boss. A glimpse into the life of one of the greatest martial arts legends; how kung-fu helped him as learning, the difficulties of making his way in a prejudiced America, and his successful but short career in the entertainment world. To enjoy a weekend afternoon,Born to fight. The big boss. A glimpse into the life of one of the greatest martial arts legends; how kung-fu helped him as learning, the difficulties of making his way in a prejudiced America, and his successful but short career in the entertainment world. To enjoy a weekend afternoon, especially if you are unconditional of The Green Hornet or Enter the Dragon.… Expand

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DogeGamer2015

Jan 24, 2021

La trama es muy buena y la actuación de Jason Scott Lee es excelente; la recomiendo mucho.

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Kai82

Feb 18, 2021

This movie has its moments but is not strong enough to compete especially since other movies set the bars higher. Bruce Lees own movies are better and IP Man 4 for example has a better feeling representation of Bruce Lee (Recommend all movies of the franchise by the way). The movie is aThis movie has its moments but is not strong enough to compete especially since other movies set the bars higher. Bruce Lees own movies are better and IP Man 4 for example has a better feeling representation of Bruce Lee (Recommend all movies of the franchise by the way). The movie is a loose adaptation of Linda Lee Cadwells Bruce Lee The man only I know. With this I mean it is a Hollywood adaptation with some things that never happened, additions or changes that fit a narrative better and even a lot of incorrect stuff. You can look this up if you have interest but I wont list it here. Even the Wikipedia articles name a few things by the way. For itself it is or claims to be the biography of Bruce Lee but sadly you do not learn enough about him. For clarification: There is a lot of things that are entertaining but there are missing parts too like motivations, reasons and parts of his development or even stations of his life. The story itself is engaging and knows which buttons to press. It has immersion and delivers some emotional moments. Sadly it never reaches the heights of better martial arts movies or biographies. The fights are well done and deliver a good atmosphere. There are however 2 big missteps. The most interesting battle is not show except the beginning and end (It is not even a fight if I be honest as nothing is shown). While it fits the narrative or better said is explained it is a letdown. When you think you get the epic final showdown comes another letdown. This is as anticlimactic as it can get. I am not sure if they ran out of time or money here. Remark or fair warning: If you have watched the IP Man movies, the Raid or some of the better martial arts movies this is nothing to write home about to be honest. Just be fair that this movie was produced far earlier so it is an unfair comparison. For the actors we get a good general performance. Jason Scott Lee delivers a great performance as Bruce Lee. Lauren Holly is one of my favorite actresses since Picket Fences and does also a great job. From the others I remembered and enjoyed the performance of Robert Wagner as Bill Krieger and Ric Young as Bruce Less father. I also praise the Green Hornet related characters but cant figure out who was who anymore. With Louyong Wang as Ip Man the circle is closed now as Bruce Lee is now also in his movie;-). For the sets, visuals and soundtrack I have nothing to criticize. Overall this was enjoyable and has some memorable scenes. However it sticks not up to become well remembered or named as a classic of the genre be it as biography or martial arts movie. There are also some disappointing parts as well so I do not rate it higher.… Expand

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