if Bruce Lee had lived, would he have gotten more famous? - Page 2

masraum · 02-08-2009, 10:50 AM

Bruce Lee always seemed to come across as very cocky to me, but I love his movies and just recently got Enter the Dragon on Blu-Ray when it was on sale.

He was amazing. It's interesting to wonder what he'd have done had he been around longer.

masraum · 02-08-2009, 10:53 AM

Jackie Chan is amazing especially considering he's 54 and still doing the stuff that he's doing.

artplumber · 02-08-2009, 12:41 PM

Would Bruce Lee be more famous? Hard to say. Depends on what happened long term with his Vicodin and alcohol use. Oh wait....

OK that wasn't a great joke. And he was a great technical fighter.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

My teacher knew Bruce Lee - maybe in Hong Kong - not sure when. He will sometimes talk about what "Bruce wanted to do"... based mostly on that I think he might have trended back more into a traditional style. He seemed to be doing that somewhat with his Wing Chun teacher...

He was certainly an extraordinary individual. In movies, they usually speed up the action in camera to make the techniques seem faster. With Bruce, it was just the opposite -- he had them slow the action! He did this so you could see what he was doing on screen instead of just seeing a blur.

Bruce had a lot more involvement in his films than most realize. He was not just an actor or action figure, but exercised great control over all aspects of the film making. Enter the Dragon was revolutionary for its genre at the time -- and it also shows how he could have become the next James Bond.

Jackie Chan is interesting b/c he was NOT trained in martial arts. He came out of the Beijing Opera world. After, Bruce died a lot of people were trying to be the next Dragon. But nobody could really follow him - Jackie Chan didn't even try - he became the clown martial arts figure. That was very smart I think.

KFC911 · 02-08-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artplumber

Would Bruce Lee be more famous?.....

I'd venture not more famous (and that's not taking away anything from BL's skills). His death is part of what made him famous just like countless other "stars" who left us way too early imo...it's part of their mystic.

Oh Haha · 02-08-2009, 04:26 PM

Great point, KC.

I think some could say the same about James Dean. There's something to be said for remembering an actor/actress for the younger days instead of seeing them in the tabloids as they age.

I was not a Bruce Lee fan until the mid 80's when a friend MADE me watch "Enter the Dragon". I was hooked from then.

What a smart, focused, extremely disciplined guy.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMentat

I have no doubt that Bruce Lee would kick his ass in real life

Jacky Chan DID kick his ass

911pcars · 02-08-2009, 10:57 PM

Bruce Lee was ahead of his time, but Hollywood myopia and stereotyping would prevent him from furthering his career in the US. Case in point: Up for the role in the TV series, "Kung Fu", as Caine, the wandering character traveling the early west. Lee's talents and abilities would have been a perfect fit, but Hollywood producers felt a Chinese actor couldn't carry the show. Dumb ****s. Lee was disillusioned w/Hollywood thereafter.

Someone mentioned Lee's fight scenes were shot in slo-mo so audiences could see his lightning quick moves. With Carradine, they had to slow down the action so as not to see how amateurish his moves were in real time. A travesty in casting. They had the perfect actor in Lee in the role of a Chinese man. Instead, they hired a Caucasian with slanted eye makeup and minimal martial arts skill.

Not alone at the mercy of film producers, Lee also didn't see much profit from the hit movie, Enter the Dragon.

Not sure Lee would have risen much above the level of cult hero status unless someone had taken a big chance on him at the time. Even today, Hollywood remains somewhat fixed in stereotypes. Unfortunately, I think it'll take awhile before they're fully up to speed. Director, Ang Lee, has made the most impression thus far with his wide range of movies, but his are still small steps in casting minority characters in mainstream cinema.

Sherwood

artplumber · 02-09-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911pcars

..... Even today, Hollywood remains somewhat fixed in stereotypes. Unfortunately, I think it'll take awhile before they're fully up to speed. Director, Ang Lee, has made the most impression thus far with his wide range of movies, but his are still small steps in casting minority characters in mainstream cinema.

Sherwood

The sad truth, is that many folks don't know/or acknowledge this about Hollywood.

Schumi · 02-09-2009, 12:09 PM

I agree with those here that do not like the 'wire' style martial arts 'impossible' movies... Bruce's films were so excellent in that they were 'raw'.

If you want to see just good, plain old martial arts ass kicking, watch any of the movies with Tony Jaa in them.

This is a good example:

The Gaijin · 02-09-2009, 12:15 PM

His son would have certainly become very famous and had a great career if he did not die young..

sammyg2 · 02-09-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

if Bruce Lee had lived, would he have gotten more famous?

Trick question. He wouldn't have lived, Chuck Norris would have seen to that.

BTW, bruce lee was all hype. get it? He was an actor. It was all a big act. Just like professional wrestling. Same with the easter bunny. Oops, hope I didn't spoil that for ya.

911pcars · 02-09-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schumi

I agree with those here that do not like the 'wire' style martial arts 'impossible' movies... Bruce's films were so excellent in that they were 'raw'.

If you want to see just good, plain old martial arts ass kicking, watch any of the movies with Tony Jaa in them.

This is a good example:

the video was jumping a little, but I could see possibly one cut. Otherwise, it's one long take for 3:47. Excellent.

SammyG,
Feeling posiive today I see. I didn't know you were a Chuck Norris fanboy.

Sherwood

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

The 1980s were perfect for a Bruce Lee type...big, bold, holding nothing back type action films.

If Sly and Arnold and Van Damme could make it in that perfectly suited environment...surely Bruce Lee would have been a big star on that stage too.

strupgolf · 02-09-2009, 07:16 PM

Bruce Lee and WWF wrestling are the same thing. Fake, Fake Fake. You can do so much with a camera.Come on guys, give me a break. A Chinese guy with a kick, wwwhhoooo, now thats scary.

911pcars · 02-09-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Bruce Lee and WWF wrestling are the same thing. Fake, Fake Fake. You can do so much with a camera.Come on guys, give me a break. A Chinese guy with a kick, wwwhhoooo, now thats scary.

Correction. Bruce Lee movies and WWF wrestling are the same. It's entertainment, just different forms. I believe you knew that already.

But if you're saying you could have kicked B. Lee's or Hulk Hogan's a$$, that's something else. Are you claiming it was all special effects, camera angles and stunt doubles or just the requisite bad guy vs guy guy plot?

Is strupgolf really Jet Li?

Sherwood

artplumber · 02-09-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Bruce Lee and WWF wrestling are the same thing. Fake, Fake Fake. You can do so much with a camera.Come on guys, give me a break. A Chinese guy with a kick, wwwhhoooo, now thats scary.

Movies are fake. Lee never fought in tiered tournaments (although he did fight and box). He is widely acknowledged as being an excellent technical fighter, and ran his own school. Many came to learn from him ("no way as way"). Actually, he changed the kick from that typically used in Wu style.

carr914 · 02-19-2009, 06:46 AM

scottmandue · 02-19-2009, 07:03 AM

Yes he would have become more famous.

The beginning of his career was spent over coming ethnic stereotypes.

And of course the quality of film is much better today.

He only would have got better IMHO.