Here is the story oh so loosely based upon the life of Bruce Lee, someone whom I hope is familiar to you. But let's get down to actually why this was made. China the self-appointed centre of the world since the Beijing Olympics, decided recently it needs a role model for it's people, and not just any role model, since he's from China, he's Chinese. Seemingly China is just realising that from all the museums and statues popping up. Why only recently ? Was it forgotten who & how influential Bruce has been for the world the last 30 plus years ??? Perhaps that explains the amnesia, because Lee is/was such a global personality, and not really China's one and only son.
Regardless, choosing Bruce Lee as a hero for the nation is a no-brainer; a person with resonating charisma, who truly believed in himself and his ability to overcome all odds no matter how they are stacked against him. I believe Bruce and his outlook on life is a most important aspiration to us all not only in his day but more now than ever and in future times as we try to stay focused to our goals, dreams and evolution.
So whether you have an interest in martial arts or not, the subject matter is undoubtedly appealing, but trust me it really helps if you do because these 3 hours chopped into 50 episodes consist of quite a lot of face punching or kicking, bodies flailing through the air and winces of pain. So how is the action ? Well pretty good for fake looking martial arts actually. A raw physicality of ex dance instructor and Bruce Lee lookey-likey, Danny Chan, is brought to the small screen certainly convincing enough. He's definitely done some homework in imitating the minutia of Bruce's facial expressions and body language at least. Ok so with the latter mentioned, we believe he's Bruce, the less I mention of the other actors the better although brawling film fans should notice brief competent appearances by Gary Daniels, Mark Dacascos and Ray Park. I will mention however that I was watching the terribly dubbed english version, so please try to avoid that if you can.
However seems there's some problem with the distribution rights to this as three years on it stills awaits DVD release anywhere outside China. And lastly speaking of China; I think it could actually distance others against the show to pound this patriotic nationalism into it's proceedings because that only really occurred in his film "Fist of Fury" set during the Japanese invasion of WWII. I know he experienced extreme forms of racism especially during his lifetime but more than he ever exclaimed "I AM CHINESE !!!" Bruce would always mention that he was and wanted to be remembered as a "human being", something we can all celebrate.
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