MovieChat Forums > Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019) Discussion > How Bruce Lee changed modern cinema

How Bruce Lee changed modern cinema

posted 5 years ago by kuku (3510)
31 replies | jump to latest

A very interesting analysis about how that guy that Tarantino portrayed as a clown was a key influence not only in martial arts, but in modern cinema.

He changed martial arts cinema, and through it, he changed how action scenes in modern cinema. Probably he wasn't the only influence, but he was definitely a key one. There's an 'after' and a 'before' the 70s in how action is represented in movies.

How Bruce Lee Changed Martial Arts Cinema - Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gR0m-tTk6w

How Bruce Lee Changed Martial Arts Cinema - Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2lDX38w7zQ

[–] Roguemail (1634) 5 years ago

Dont get your point at all.

We all know and accept what Bruce Lee's contribution to martial arts and movies were.

The scene in Tarantinos movie was clearly fictional...it doesn't happen...it was not real.

So...what exactly is your point?

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

The point is Bruce Lee is not fictional, he was real. And he was a famous martial artist, it is kind of suspension of disbelief that a stunt man can beat him in hand to hand combat.

Tarantino was clearly disrespecting a great actor.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 5 years ago

No... I disagree, nobody is invincible. You have to keep in mind that Bruce Lee is in part a Hollywood construct. There is no actual footage (to my knowledge) of Bruce Lee in a REAL fight.

Bruce Lee DID knock down the hero of this movie! Lee wasn't portrayed in the fight as a push over, just that Lee CAN be knocked down. This is taken as disrespectful to Bruce Lee fans (he has been knocked down in his movies)

The scene was put in to show the unknown hero had fighting skills (so he can be believable for the finale)

This is why having QT as a independent director with power is a great thing.

This scene would have been whitewashed by the 'studio committee' if it were purposed by a normal director/writer.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

I am not talking about being invincible. I am talking about a stunt man never trained to fight but can hold at least on equal ground with a highly trained martial artist. That is just unrealistic.

Unless of course you think martial arts are all just a load of crap.

Tarantino did not have to use Bruce Lee's name, he could have used a fictional actor, but he did not. He did it on purpose, that is kind of low. I have no respect for him as an director or as a person now.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 5 years ago

Cliff Booth, as stated by Rick in the film, is a war hero. I saw an interview with Tarantino where he said “cliff had killed people in the war with his bare hands.”

It sounds like he did have training and had ACTUAL experiences using that training in REAL combat.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Maybe Cliff was in special forces, or he was a CIA assassin, or maybe he was a secret ninja, but none of that was in the movie, so we take it at face value. How many years has it been since he was a soldier? Have you seen him training at all in the entire movie? But suddenly he can fight a martial artist who trains day in and day out?

And that did not change the fact Tarantino used Bruce Lee's name for personal profit, likely without anyone's permission. That is a classless act.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 5 years ago

The entire film we are seeing Cliff compared to other characters constantly. Rick plays a tough guy in his movies and Cliff is an actual tough guy. Polanski is a girlie man who dislikes dogs and later in life has relations with an underaged girl. Cliff is a man’s man who loves his dog and turns down an underaged girl. Bruce Lee is an actor who trains in martial arts but may not have been in that many real life fights. Cliff is a war hero who has killed people with his bare hands.

All of this sets up the end where the hippies pick the wrong house. They mess with the wrong man. Not only do they mess with the wrong man, they mess with the wrong man on LSD.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

I am not talking about his character as a tough guy. That alone does not mean he can walk in a UFC cage and fight a real martial artist. Do you really think any retired soldier can just waltz in a UFC championship fight and take the price without any training at all?

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 5 years ago

Do you think Bruce Lee could walk into a MODERN UFC championship and win? He would be grappled and choked out.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

We don't know that. But I have seen a video of his fight in a Japanese national karate tournament, his moves were so fast his opponent could not react as all. But he was more of a guest so he did not hit his opponent, his fist was basically less than an inch away from his opponent's face before he withdraw. The difference in skill level was so obvious it was like he was playing with a child.

He was a top martial artist, that is for sure.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 5 years ago

You may want to also remember that in the movie Bruce and Cliff were at an even score in their friendly contest, which was a striking contest.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

My entire point is that what is shown in the movie was very unrealistic.

It is either a mockery of martial arts or Bruce Lee. To be honest I think it is quite clear it was the latter. That is why I lost all respect for Tarantino.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Bruce Lee could make a high ranking karate martial artist look like a child and you really think he will have a tough fight beating an retired soldier?

[–] kuku (3510) 5 years ago

Do you think Bruce Lee could walk into a MODERN UFC championship and win?

He wouldn't have any chance. Most modern UFC fighters would destroy him... the same they would destroy any martial artist from the 70s. The same that, within a similar weight, they would destroy any fighter from the 70s.

But this is not supposed to be a time travel movie. He was not facing a modern fighter. He was facing a guy from this time.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 5 years ago

You see Bruce Lee as tough... if he is, then surely he would not be that thinned skinned to take a little ribbing by a movie director.

Maybe someone will come up with a farce comedy where faux QT is beaten up by Bruce Lee's water boy.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Bruce Lee passed away like 20 years ago. If Tarantino were doing self degradation we would probably all laugh it off, but trying to degrade others publicly especially someone already died and especially for personal profit, that is what a low life would do.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 5 years ago

Degrade is a harsh term to use. I would say that it revitalized interest in B Lee!

B Lee CAN come across as arrogant, this is not new.

As for the fight, it ended up a draw.

As for personal profit...this movie has brought more attention to B Lee and I am confident that his estate has seen a recent uptick in interest all things B Lee. I would be weird to think that his estate LOST value.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

What a shameless low life, yes, I am talking about you.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 5 years ago

Namecalling = lost argument.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Or just ordinary repulsion of a disgusting person. I have no interest of continuing a conversion with a low life.

I am putting on ignore after this.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 5 years ago

When a pitcher strikes you out, you don't go to the bench and say 'Im not playing when he throws'

You up your game and try to hit a home run next time.

I have never ignored someone I lost a argument to.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

I was wrong. He passed away 1973, that was almost 50 years away.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 5 years ago

Cliff didn't "beat him" in hand-to-hand combat, they got one fall apiece. After Lee and Cliff agreed to no head shots, so Cliff wouldn't die. Cliff was an experienced stuntman and soldier who knew how to fight. Anyone with some skills can surprise a superior fighter if he underestimates them. You don't think Cliff would have won the third fall, after Lee knew he was no joke, do you?

[–] Knish (1721) 5 years ago

Bruce lee was a cocky little man.

Talking about how he could kick Mohammed Ali's ass. Ha! His wife even said he said that.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Any martial artist can say that. Boxing is a sport, not real martial art. Have you seen anyone winning UFC using boxing?

[–] ATG6 (3000) 5 years ago

do you think Ali couldn't have beaten any of those UFC guys in about a minute?

[–] kuku (3510) 5 years ago

Talking about how he could kick Mohammed Ali's ass. Ha! His wife even said he said that.

That's a lie Tarantino said to justify himself.

What her wife said was that a critic said that. Lee said the opposite, that he was too small to have any chance against Ali.

[–] Kowalski (79051) 5 years ago

"Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali’s image from the screen. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali.
Bruce’s right hand followed Ali’s right hand, Ali’s left foot followed Bruce’s left foot. Bruce was fighting in Ali’s shoes. “Everybody says I must fight Ali some day.” Bruce said, “I’m studying every move he makes. I’m getting to know how he thinks and moves.” Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. “Look at my hand,” he said. “That’s a little Chinese hand. He’d kill me."

LOVE THE FILM...ITS A GREAT SWIRL OF HISTORY AND FICTION.AS COCKY AS BRUCE WAS,HE WASNT STUPID.

[–] fc31 (6118) 5 years ago

Depends on what rules are used. There has been an experiment on that subject between a Japanese karate master and an American boxer. First half, mix martial art rules were used. The boxer ended up falling a lot, one time even get hurled in the air and took a big fall. The second half boxing rules were used, the Japanese karate got into a boxing stance almost instantly, the boxer looked at him angrily, well you beat me long enough with your footwork, now it is my turn, and you can't use any boxing moves, only karate moves without any footwork. Then the karate master also took a good beating.

Boxing is not good enough in a real fight, but if boxing rules were used then nobody could beat Ali at the time.

[–] Moonglum9 (11340) 5 years ago

I always imagined that he kicked its ass over and over until those stubborn damn anti-Asian cinemas were changed!

[–] liscarkat (19398) 5 years ago

There's a gap about a million miles wide between martial arts choreography and real fighting. A guy like Pitt's character could probably take Bruce Lee apart without too much trouble. Lee was in great shape and could hop around and squeal like a champ, but he wouldn't last long in a real bout with an experienced street fighter.