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Birth of the Dragon
2017 103 min China, United States of America PG-13 16+
★5.4
Action, Drama
Director: George Nolfi
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown, this cross-cultural biopic chronicles Bruce Lee’s emergence as a martial-arts superstar after his legendary secret showdown with fellow martial artist Wong Jack Man.
Budget:
$31M
US Gross:
$6.9M
Worldwide:
$7.22M
Starring
Billy Magnussen
Actor
Yu Xia
Actor
Philip Ng
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
Birth of the Dragon is a polarizing biographical drama that prioritizes entertainment and dramatized historical fiction over factual accuracy. While the performance of Philip Ng as Bruce Lee earns praise for its capture of the master's physicality and personality, the film is frequently criticized for its inclusion of unnecessary subplots and weak storytelling.
| Acting | Philip Ng provides a credible and physically impressive performance that captures Bruce Lee's unique mannerisms and psychological intensity. | |
| Production | The production design effectively reconstructs the period atmosphere of 1960s San Francisco through costumes, vehicles, and music. | |
| Screenplay | The plot is cluttered by distracting and artificial narrative threads, specifically the tacked-on mafia subplots and romantic drama. | |
| Direction | The fight sequences divide viewers: some appreciate the technical execution and martial arts credibility, while others find them poorly filmed and underwhelming. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions on the characterization of Bruce Lee are split; some applaud the humanization of his early ego and arrogance, while others find the deviation from historical reality insulting. |