Bruce Lee, My Brother (2010)

To me, this movie is perfection.

A lot of fun.

Blistering performances.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I had certain expectations of this movie, but I'm glad it was nothing like I thought it would be. First, it was NOT an action packed display of consecutive fight scenes. There is some fighting, but this movie really focused on the relationships that Bruce Lee had with family and friends. It's based on the book which was written by Bruce's younger brother, Robert. That is pleasing by itself, considering that every film ever made about Bruce was just a fictional tale of his character. I can't say for sure because I did not know the man, but I would be willing to bet that this is the most accurate representation of Lee Jun Fan as a young man in Hong Kong. Now, I say that with full knowledge that this IS a movie, and there are obviously some fabrications and exaggerations mixed into it. But what I mean is, this movie does not portray Bruce as some magical fighting machine going around fighting everyone he comes into contact with. A large portion of the movie is focused on his relationships with friends and family, and that is something we have never seen, unless you count "Dragon", the movie with Jason Scott Lee (which I enjoyed, but it was not like this one). I enjoyed it much more because of that. I feel like I know a little more about where Bruce came from, and how things may have been for him as a young man. Definitely worth watching, especially if you are a fan of Bruce Lee the man, rather than Bruce Lee the movie star.

I don't at all mean the heading of this review as a criticism: just be warned going into this film that you are more likely to witness scenes of intense family drama than intense fists of fury.:)Based on the memoirs and reminiscenses of the late Little Dragon's younger brother Robert Lee, "Young Bruce Lee" (aka "Bruce Lee, My Brother") is a portrayal of the formative years of the action star growing up in 1940s and 1959s Hong Kong, firstly under the yoke of the invading Japanese, and latterly under the colonial British. We witness the early years of Bruce Lee as his personality and persona are shaped by early events in his life. Tony Leung and the luminously radiant (and very underrated acting-wise) Christy Chung play Lee's parents as we chart his birth and early life up until the age of around 19.Somehave voiced disapproval and frustration at the lack of action scenes, but this film is very much a drama following the life events that shape a person, rather than an all-out kung fu movie. That said, the two fight scenes we do get in the second half of the movie are especially well handled: i very much enjoyed the warehouse showdown, with its shades of the Colosseum duel from "Way of the Dragon" (replete with said film's unmistakable soundtrack).If the viewer is in the right frame of mind to watch a dramatic recreation of Bruce Lee's life, rather than straining at the leash for full-on action scenes, then there is much to recommend in this movie: not least the well-rounded performances, excellent recreations of post-war Hong Kong, and - my favourite part aside from the fights - recreations of period Hong Kong movies in authentic black and white. Great stuff, lovingly rendered.In all, a satisfying and nicely nuanced telling of a star's early beginnings. And far superior to Rob Cohen's overly histrionic "Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story". Here's hoping it did well enough to merit a follow-up that can cover the time period of that excreble film much better.

Recently watched this on a trans pacific flight.It is not a bad movie and the pacing was pretty good, the 2hours went by without me noticing. The pacing was good and the story was interesting. Visually it is very good. It was well shot and it actually gave me some insight into the era my father was growing up in (same time50-60s in Asia). So I will say i like this movie.However if i was to analyze this movie, I would say the makers are confused into what genre of movie to make. It is definitely NOT a documentary as I am pretty sure artistic license is taken. But how do you make a Bruce Lee movie without the action? So action scenes are thrown in, this however makes the movie go into the realms of "fantasy". I am pretty sure pre Hollywood Bruce got into fights but..running through rooftops and scaling scaffolding? the fight in the warehouse?.I guess thats the problem with making a Bruce Lee story for the cinemas. It has to be interesting enough to attract investors and movie goers so the rather long and probably fictionalized action scenes are thrown in.Good movie but I think the book would be better.

Just came back from cinema, i was totally surprise and awed by this movie. Honestly i didn't have much expectation at first, because there is not much martial artist/actors to backup the cast list, so i thought this gonna be a flop like Legend of Yip man. But it turn out it was much of a biography of the famous star than we know of so well ,but we haven't really seen or heard upon the story telling regarding his life hood growing up in a large family at a nostalgic times of Hong Kong. The narrations pacing was remarkable, while the story unfolds at a very decent pace for a movie running over of 2hour 15min.I have to be honest, i was really surprise and somewhat skeptic it was an actual Hong Kong production in the first place, where actors ,script and visual art has surpass anything i seen so far in Hong Kong movie standards. Well i was literary awe by the visual art & style of the camera works. Props and scenery brings such nostalgic memories to the viewers, they manage to brings the audiences back to the age of innocent and wonders or yesteryears. Camera works is top notch, Lomo filter, works superb at moments of romance and brings so much emotions and story to the scenes. I felt like i was watching an MTV from a tasteful Taiwanese love song.To conclude my experience, if u seek action ,most will be disappointed as the fight scene its done visually stylish using steady cam and action pan, but never really shows the techniques of the famous wing chun system. That being said, this movie never pretends to be an action flick to begin with, its a stylish ,romantic and touching story about the world re-known actor, martial artist, philosopher , friend and finally a inspiring 2Nd elder brothers of a family which we all love so much and yet known so little about. Bravo! i'm booking my second viewing now.