Search - How Bruce Lee Changed the World on DVD

Be like water, my friend

C. Sawin | TX | 07/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bruce Lee is referred to as "the king of martial arts" for a good reason. He was a man who was ahead of his time. Some would say a revolutionary. Having only four completed films under his belt (only one being a Hollywood film), Bruce Lee not only became an inspiration but still is one to this day. Many of his techniques (whether it's his physical training, dieting, filmography, directing, or philosophy) are still as influential and are being utilized everywhere from the east to the west and everywhere in between. There will never be another Bruce Lee, but the impact he left on the world is still being felt 35 years after his death. His popularity doesn't seem to be dwindling at all, but his methods certainly left a long lasting impression. How Bruce Lee Changed the World is a 90-minute documentary chronicling Bruce's amazing life, how his legacy is still in full swing today, and the influence he made on many people all over the globe.

This is a pretty incredible documentary that is almost every bit as good as A Warrior's Journey (AWJ has a slight edge since it has the remastered and original footage from Game of Death) that is a worthy watch for any Bruce Lee fan. Seeing how he influenced not only actors and directors, but musicians, boxing, MMA, and bodybuilders is pretty interesting. The film does a good job of putting into perspective of how big Bruce Lee really was. A man whose teachings seem more relevant today than they did 30-40 years ago deserves to be as big as he is even if he's no longer here to witness it. Bruce Lee jump started martial arts filmmaking and broke the stereotypes set in Hollywood for Chinese and Asian actors during the seventies. How Bruce Lee Changed the World is a great film to pop in to show that friend who doesn't understand why everyone has such a thing for Bruce Lee or is just a great watch to give Bruce Lee fans a better insight into the legacy he left behind and the phenomenon that continues to grow everyday."

Very Good Addition to the Bruce Lee Biographies

Alain B. Burrese | Missoula, MT | 04/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""How Bruce Lee Changed The World" is a very interesting and entertaining biography produced by the History Channel. Rather than just focusing on Bruce Lee's life, this program's focus is on how Bruce Lee influenced many areas of popular culture and society. Martial Artists and Bruce Lee fans will definitely enjoy this biography, but I think fans of action movies will also enjoy seeing Bruce Lee's impact on action cinema. However, what some viewers may be surprised to learn is that Bruce Lee influenced more than just martial arts and movies. For Bruce Lee fans, this DVD will be a must for their collections, for others it will be an interesting look at a man who had tremendous influence on different arts even though he died much too young in 1973.

The biography has chapters on Philosophy, Breaking Stereotypes, Martial Arts, Physical Fitness, Attitudes in China, Action Movies, Music, Branding, and a short bit at the end about where he is buried and about future plans for things regarding Bruce Lee.

The chapters of the DVD contain interesting segments on freerunning, mixed martial arts, and bodybuilding with several freerunners, mixed martial artists, and bodybuilders stating that Lee's philosophy, ideas, and training helped shaped these popular sports and training. I also really liked the segments with Shannon Lee in Hong Kong and China where a memorial park and museum are being created. They are also planning a museum in Hong Kong in Lee's old home. I also found the other chapters interesting as well.

It's a very well done biography, which one would expect from the History Channel, with footage from Bruce Lee films and private video of Bruce Lee as well as many other interesting scenes and interviews. It's fast paced and keeps your attention throughout. Near the end of the DVD there is a short segment regarding a celebration about Bruce Lee in Seattle where Lee is buried beside his son, Brandon, who also died much too young. There are plans for a museum to be created in Seattle as well. That's a place I look forward to visiting one day.

Here is a list of the people interviewed in this biography:

Rapper/Actor LL Cool J, Director Brett Ratner, Actor/Comedian Eddie Griffin, Comedian Margaret Cho, Former World Champion Boxer "Sugar" Ray Leonard, VP of The Weinstein Company, Asia Bey Logan, Bruce Lee's Wife Linda Lee Cadwell, Author/Collector David Tadman, Shaolin Monk Sifu Shi Yang Ming, Musician RZA, Actor/Choeographer Donnie Yen, Film Critic Grady Hendrix, Film Director Rob Cohen, Actor John Saxon, Hong Kong JKD Association's Lewis Luk, Bruce Lee's Former Student Taky Kimura, Author David West, JKD Instructor Tommy Carruthers, UFC President Dana White, Bruce Lee's Daughter Shannon Lee, UFC Fighter Ben Saunders, UFC Trainer Joey Varner, Former Bodybuilding Champion Flex Wheeler, Muscle & Fitness Magazine's Mike Carlson, Actor & Stuntman Yuen Wah, Film Producer Raymond Chow, Film Director John Woo, Director of the Shunde Memorial Park Huang Dechao, Stunt Coordinator Thomas Sinn, Actor Jackie Chan, Basketball Legend/Actor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gorillaz's Damon Albarn, Marvel Comics' Stan Lee, and Creative Director of Toy Advertising Agency Ari Merkin.

Besides the excellent hour and a half biography, there is another short biography, just over four minutes, on Bruce Lee in the special features. This has more scenes of Bruce Lee and a couple of interviews with others. This short piece focuses on a chronological account of a couple of high lights of Bruce Lee's life, not his effect on the rest of the world like the main biography. Nice little addition, but I wish it would have been longer. There is also a selected filmography that includes his movies and television shows.

For anyone who is a fan of Bruce Lee, or who is interested in the martial art/movie legend, this DVD will be highly enjoyable. Even after all these years after his death, Bruce Lee is still a remarkable influence and this program shows a small part of it. Highly recommended for all Bruce Lee fans, and recommended for others who want to know more about Lee and his influence around the world.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice."