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Such a frustrating disappointment

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Redundant and unnecessary.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a documentary about the legendary icon. It has contribution from a lot of people including his widow Linda and family. Other contributors are actors, filmmakers, dancers, fighters, and the king of UFC Dana White. Bruce's life story gets the highlight treatment. There are little nuggets of information in addition to the iconic water speech. It's great to point out the big difference in two versions of his movie, Fist of Fury. There's a good discussion about him being a pioneer of MMA and about his philosophy of fighting. There is enough to appealing to obsessed Bruce Lee fans. For newcomers, this is a solid introduction. Besides the fighting world, there are plenty of other famous faces like Ed O'Neill, Mickey Rourke, Taboo, and Kobe Bryant. Most of them haven't met the man but they all enthusiastically proclaim their love. Honestly, the most compelling is the family talking about his death. This is able to add a couple of things to the standard Bruce Lee flick and is pretty good for a TV biopic.

Having read some of the commentary in the review section, I completely understand their revulsion to this film, considering I am Asian and have been a long time fan of Bruce Lee myself. However, in a concerted effort to be objective, I will review this film if I've never heard of Bruce Lee and discard with my preconceived judgments. The documentary, does play like a cheesy MTV documentary, or perhaps something the History Channel might have produced. This I believe, is a conscious decision designed to promote Bruce Lee to Millenial audience born on this side of the century, who haven't seen his films or read his works, and why he had such a monumental significance in modern day martial arts. As an aside, Bruce Lee was among the major pioneers of modern martial art, who advocated breaking away from rigid Martial Art traditions, renounced unnecessary flowery movements, and focused efficiency and results. He wasn't the first, but he successfully communicated this idea, and it changed the way the world view martial arts today. Coming back to my earlier point, this new Millennial audience is also the reason why it includes a cascade of non- related celebrities - such as that Pro-Skateboarder, a dancer, some writer, Dana White from UFC, Gina Carrano, Jon Jones, actor Mickey Rourke, Kobe Bryant, Taboo from Black Eyed Peas - offering platitudes and opinions on a man they have never met. The goal isn't to inform new viewers, but to entice their curiosity into wanting to know more. Did it succeed? On the most part, I'd say yes. The strength of the documentary is in part, the way these celebrities communicate their adoration for Bruce Lee towards their fans, by using themes and philosophies they incorporated from Bruce Lee. This is also however, the documentary's biggest flaw. Real Bruce Lee fans understandably, would not and should not care what these posers think or feel about Bruce Lee. And because the documentary is heavily interspersed with these celebrities, real worthwhile information on the man himself is kept at a minimum. While Bruce Lee's main philosophical ideas are well introduced, it doesn't explore the motivations behind his thinking, his reasoning, his decisions, his passions and his commitment. Still, for an MTV doc, it's well made, but it will sure take the urine off of real fans.

This documentary, if one could call it that, I found to be disrespectful and a disservice to Bruce Lee. It must of been hard to juggle all those ego's in those interviews, they even asked expert Martial Artist and renowned philosopher Mickey Rourke to give his wisdom on the matter which was comical to say the least. Then they bring out embittered old man who claims to be the grandfather of MMA, small point, the first 'M' in MMA stands for 'Mixed,' doing one style is not a mixture, end of non-debate. Bruce Lee didn't start Martial Arts until he was 13, and only intensely trained later. He was far more than a mere fighter as this documentary suggests, he studied and wrote philosophy. I just found this mockumentary attempting to undermine Bruce Lee, through claims of plagiarism (even though they're his 'notes' not published works, so how they could claim plagiarism I do not know, equivalent of me being accused of plagiarism when I copy sentences and make notes in University from books I have to study.) They try to undermine he was a great fighter, their MMA fighters, if they think a real fight consists of gloves and a ring they obviously have no idea of the harsh and unfair reality of fighting. Anyhow Bruce Lee wouldn't endorse a commercialized fighting competition that offers people nothing but mindless entertainment through brutality. Please don't compare Bruce Lee to the likes of Tiger Woods and Jay Z, he has more integrity in the tip of his finger than they have in every fibre of their being.Bruce Lee also wrote about philosophy and life, he also studied and wrote poetry, look up 'Bruce Lee poems' you'll be pleasantly surprised. The only person who spoke with grace was his courageous and wonderful wife who I can only admire for her strength of spirit. Just what we should remember Bruce Lee for, his strength of spirit, far more than a mere fighter, he had the spirit of a warrior and was a refined gentlemen, traits we should all strive for. Sorry for the long review, but I felt it needed to be said.

It's always hard to sit through one of these documentaries- emotionally difficult: Bruce Lee was one of the most positive role models I ever had, growing up; as I've pointed out elsewhere in these comments, he was the living embodiment of the promise of unlimited potential. It's THAT, more than anything else, I think, that people respond to. As far as his Real World abilities, no one mentions his in-the-ring boxing experience or his hand speed- which would've been THE determining factor in ANY street fight. Only Dan Inosanto points out that Bruce Lee's cobra quickness would've brought ANY fight to a quick conclusion had he opted for a simple finger jab to the eyes. Show me a fighter who can continue to function when he's been blinded and I'll show you a character from one of the more fanciful martial arts movies. (I've NEVER met a blind man in my life who could hold his own in a street fight...) When Ed O'Neill points out that Bruce Lee wouldn't've stood a chance against Brock "What A Crock" Lesnar, he fails to take this into account. (Nor, apparently, had O'Neill seen Les's last two UFC fights, in both of which he showed that not only does he not have the "stomach" for full-contact fighting, but, like Sonny Liston and Mike Tyson before him, he lacks the true HEART of a champion. Watch the fight with Overeem very closely and you'll see Les looking to the referee to stop the fight even before he goes down.) Bruce Lee will ALWAYS be an inspiration to anyone who aspires to ANYTHING in life; that's a fact.