I USE TO BE A ADVID MARTIAL MOVIES EXPERT, FROM ABOUT 86-99, although I've seen alot of the classics, NONE of Bruce Lee movies are even top 25 on my list, he was an overrated actor, hell Van Damme's movies were better

Some of Van Damme movies I have to admit did suck, but he did have some pretty good ones..In Hell, Legionnaire, No Where to Run, Universal Soldier, Kickboxer, Bloodsport, and my all-time fave...Cyborg

What makes you an expert in "MARTIAL MOVIES" exactly, have you written for any newspaper/magazines please do tell.

i dont think it was his acting that attracted people. he was a great martial artist, if not the best ever.
i think his speed and dedication to art is what made him so great and lets not forget. (Be Like the Water), i havent heard philosphy like that from any other martial artist before or since.

As an actor for the them times he was a kick ass actor imo, literally lol!
If you look at what he had at the time/when making those movies (''budget, writers, producers, directors etc''?) i think under the circumstances the man was 'cool' as an actor. Had he lived long enough to develop & tone that acting, he would have been an awesome actor.


Van Damme had Hollow-Wood at his feet with all the 'backing of $$$ and everything else that place had to offer' and yet his acting was only average imo, kind of Steven Segal, Chucky Norris, hell even Arnie Scoarchednuggetts one-liners material, although most of the story lines in his movies were fairly good, i think he/they were just a copy cat of Lee who in my book was an 'Original'.

Just my take on it...

You don't even say why or give examples of what makes a good martial arts movie and what is a bad martial arts movie, your just saying he is a bad actor. News Flash all Martial arts movie actors are below average when it comes to acting (in my opinion Lee was a good actor) but that ain't why we watch them.

And last I checked while Bruce Lee is famous for his movies by most he was critically acclaimed by critics more so for challenging the way martial arts movies were made before Lee most martial arts movies were a bunch of traditional heaven and earth , grandmaster white bearded hermit training a young disciple in hells training kung fu super tiger claw vs fire phoenix claw style crap.

Lee changed it from the way they fought (it was faster, more brutal, and we saw different types of fighting styles other then kung-fu, etc) and bringing a fresh story line. We don't have those old traditional choreographed, slow and cliche kung-fu movies anymore, these days. We actually have faster action scenes, better choreographed fights, and even some new ways movies are made today like Jackie Chan's Gun-Fu. All because of Lee

Some expert you are.

What are you talking about ??

Bruce Lee did the meanest impersonation of an asian martial arts expert, that I've ever seen.....You did know that he was really a British actor from Winchester County called Bruce Smithson, didn't you ??

This thread might as well be closed now because Clover has just posted the only quote concerning Bruce Lee that even makes any since....

...what kind of a person tramples on the grave of Bruce Lee anyway?

But he is talking about the movies and his acting which most people probably associate Lee with. I doubt many people outside of practicing martial arts or a huge Bruce Lee fan can appreciate how great Bruce Lee was as a martial artist

Bruce Lee wasn't ever really an actor, but a matial arts expert. Jackie Chan isn't much of an actor either but both new what they were doing. Was Rambo real? or maybe the Terminater was real, both so called actors were not hired for there acting ability, but because they were commercial. Bruce Lee was famous befor he came to America, because of his talents as a martial artist, not his acting ability. Hell just look at the matrix and what's his pickle emmm keanue or canoe or what ever LOL To even put Van Dame in Bruce Lee's class is very very sad.

Your an overrated poster...

Seriously Bruce Lee was a great..I'm not that big into the old Kung-fu flicks but He is one of the best I have seen.

This is blasphemy! Madness I say!

You sir are a heretic and I believe they burn people at the stake for this sort of thing.

Maybe your delusional...should probably get tested.

Bruce Lee brought an art to a nation that lacked knowledge of a culture other than the stereo-typical asian rice farmers or laundry washers. Even through the hate of asians cause many American soldiers died in WWII to Korean war and Vietnam. The hate is still there which time hasn't fully healed yet.

Many learned a new disiplined culture and a spiritual one that desired peace.

all actors are overrated

You are right, but not when a true talant is brought to the screen. To act is one thing but to perform is another.

Most martial arts movies from the 70's and 80's were complete and utter shyte.

And I agree. The guy couldn't act worth a crap and his fighting ability is seriously over-rated.



So instead of being stereotyped as being rice farmers and laundry washers they're now being stereotyped as karate chopping kung-fu masters. Well, least it's an upgrade.

Not everyone has to like Bruce Lee or his movies.




But this did make me laugh.

Enter The Dragon was as good as it gets for martial arts movies , I'm glad you were striped of your ' ADVID MARTIAL [arts]MOVIES EXPERT' credentials

R.I.P. Bruce Lee

I'm not a kung fu buff in anyway trust me lol!, but sticking to his ''acting'' (topic @ hand) 'not fighting abilities' for the moment, the way i saw/see it he was 'underrated' not 'overrated'. I've sometimes looked back catching one or two of his flicks late @ night, his acting was class by comparison to most of those that came after him (it was them B gradish scripts/movies he was place in that did his acting no justice) all the other actors that 'followed' after him were only ripping off his legendary status (style & charisma) imo. It wasn't until the MASSIVE success of Enter the Dragon that i'm guessing is when Hollow-Wood woke up and 'really' saw the light but of course it was too late....then we all know what happen thereafter....'kung fu movie making mania'...lol!

Wisdom of the Dragon...

As you think, so shall you become. -Bruce Lee

If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of. -Bruce Lee

The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be. -Bruce Lee

All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns. - Bruce Lee

Knowledge will give you power, but character respect. -Bruce Lee

Real living is living for others. -Bruce Lee

Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them. -Bruce Lee

Showing off is the fool's idea of glory. -Bruce Lee

To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities. -Bruce Lee ( lol! )

Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system.

BL Quotes
BL: Think Exit

USE TO BE ??
bruce lee have right to overacted. he's one of the greatest martial art master (not actor)

Overrated fighting ability!?

He kicks you...you die. Thats basically how it goes down.

Excellent post Rebel! Thanks for sharing some of Bruce's insight and wisdom. For those of us who know and understand the human mind...Bruce is a master of not just a martial art...but of life itself!

I have concluded the OP is NOT an expert.

Pfft. PFFT I SAY!

Chuck Norris.

Need more be said?

Chuck Norris could be a topic all by himself... wait he is!!!

If Bruce were alive today there would be NO Chuck 'Norrisisms' (hey I just made that word up and it works... LOL) They would all be Bruce Lee instead... Ya know things like -

Guns don't kill people. Bruce Lee kills People.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Bruce Lee allows to live.
Bruce Lee does not sleep. He waits.
The chief export of Bruce Lee is Pain.
There is no chin under Bruce Lee's Beard. There is only another fist. (that would only work if Bruce Lee had a beard though)
Bruce Lee has two speeds. Walk, and Kill.
The leading causes of death in the United States are: 1. Heart Disease 2. Bruce Lee 3. Cancer
Bruce Lee drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
Bruce Lee is my Homeboy.
Bruce Lee doesn't go hunting.... BRUCE LEE GOES KILLING


Bruce Lee... was awesome and that's I'll I'm gonna say bout' that.


EDIT: Chuck Norris just walked into my office... I retract everything good I had to say about Bruce Lee (hopefully Chuck will let me live now)

I'm not really a fan of Bruce Lee much myself, but I can respect him. He did have skill, but there are many other martial artists that I like tons better. I'm not really a fan of any of his movies. Sammo Hung and Leung Kar Yan (who wasn't really a martial artist to begin with..just beyond amazing at mimicing) are probably my favs.





Also, quoting this because it made me laugh

BLASPHEMER!!!!!

Yes he was a very good martial artist,JEET KUNDO was his fighting style,it came from a few diffrent styles,he was awsome.Just imagine what he could have done by now,he died in1973,so what if his acting was bad because he truly was a master of his own style,there will never be anyone like him again.

ok ur jus crazy...maybe u were a expert on martial arts movies or wateva it was u said but u obviosly havent watched any of lee's movies...even today with cgi and endless funds they produce poor actors and lee didnt have what the movie industry has today...! we all know he was'nt the best actor but for God's sake even paris hiltons making movies these days! u, sir, jus dont knw a legend when u c 1....

Chuck Norris was taught by Bruce Lee and you can ask him if you want"AND THATS THE TRUTH"!

Not Sly Stalone.

I like Bruce Lee, but I think Jet Li is better. Maybe if Bruce Lee lived longer..

No disrespect but...

I am from Vancouver, Canada.... and to say, Mr. Van Damme was at a club downtown and stepped up to someone who he shouldn't have, and got punched out. It was a biker, Hells Angel. Happend about 8 years back now.

I heard he was crying and things.

... no joke.

If BRUCE was alive... watch out mon.

I believe his acting is on par or even better than the acting you will find in any movies of the same type from that time. As a kid and before I knew who Bruce Lee I remember watching Enter the Dragon and kind of knowing that he was something different, something special. I didn't know much of martial arts or anything back then (my knowledge now is debatable) but the way he spoke, moved and fought was something really different. Now that I'm old enough to know some things I can easily understand why I saw the things I did. Because he was different and there was something special there.

Like others have said I think if he had lived longer we might have gotten to see more and better acting from him. He could easily have made movies into the 80s and probably 90s. Perhaps even still today but unfortunately we will never know. I really think action movies as a whole would be different and perhaps all the better should he have lived.

I think if anything, you have an actor that actually did something with their skills. You can find inspiration and wisdom in his words. You can learn something from him that has the chance at making you a better person. I do not think you can say this about many people let alone actors as we know them today.

Kevin A.

Yo, OP! I bet you're not Asian, because you don't realize what Bruce Lee, has contributed to Asian culture, people and heritage. Please remember, Bruce Lee is perhaps the one and only actor that can literally kick anyone's ass across the room on or outside the screen. He went through rigorous training that even leads to his death just to find the meaning of a true martial art and successfully defined it. Heck, there wouldn't be any Jeet Kune Do or Ju Fan Gong Fu if he never existed. And I can assure you, ask any martial art movie actors, Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Jet Lee, Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Yuen Piao, Sonny Chiba or Jackie Chan, or even Daniel Bernhardt. Tell them "Bruce Lee is sh*t and I guaranteed you'll be picking up your teeth!"

how do people know Bruce Lee could fight in REAL LIFE? theirs no proof of that! he was probably just like JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMME, an althetic guy that pretended to be a martial artist. Bruce Lee was from England, he wasn't some kung fu master from china

Um... Do you have any proof to back up this claim?

And what exactly makes you and expert?

There's a huge difference between Van Damme and Bruce Lee. Other than the obvious, Lee would literally rip Jean Claude in half.

Bruce might not have been able to act, but he could fight pretty good. "Havent you guys seen any of his docos", the man worked pretty damn hard to get where he did!

Van Damn is a bit of a loopy one I reckon, "Kick Boxer was okay for its time" "Universal Soldier" rocked hard though, "btw Body Count rules".

Jackie Chan Is my hero, he makes you wanna just pinch his cute lil cheeks!
Funny, and quick.

He was born in the US.

And his real name was Lee Jun-Fan, huh.

^He was born in San Fransisco, went to Hong Kong and China, and then went back to US again. His name was read as Lei Xiao Long, literally means "the little storming dragon".

Bruce Lee

I've seen a documentary called Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey. It shows how he worked real hard not only in Martial Art, but also in movie bussiness. You should've seen the actual footage of The Game Of Death that was recently discovered. It shows how a single shot can be done hundreds of time in a day since Bruce Lee is an extremely perfectionist about it, and just one shot out of all will be used in the movie. Some of you might've seen the ridiculous The Game Of Death, but let me tell you, this missing footage revelas all the true storyline of the movie, and it's very pity that he died earlier, because the actual storyine is seriously great!! Yeah, I'd like to repeat myself again. Never compare Bruce Lee with contemporary martial art movie star like Jean Claude Van Damme or Jet Lee or Jackie Chan, heck, without Bruce Lee, they wouldn't get as far as today! And I dare you to insult Bruce Lee's name in front of them and I'll see which part of your body you'll lose.

I like Bruce Lee. *shrugs*

The OP is hilarious.

Gymkata made all other martial arts movies look ridiculous.

^LoL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn2S1W6Xz-o

Agree here,

Bruce Lee treated the movies he made like moving masterpieces of his art. Unfortunately movies made by American films brought alot of cult-ish B-movies like Gymkata...

and hilarious english dubbing- the mouth moves for 10 seconds for 2 english word 'whats that!" lmao

LEE was like 140, he wouldn't rip anybody apart, his best movie was "solid" at beast.

Bruce Lee was born in the states but raised in Hong Kong by his father. He came back to the states to make a life. He was the first to offer martial arts training to non-asians, a right he literally had to fight for. He trained David Carridin and Chuch Norris as well as a whole slew of hollywood types. He created a new metyhod of fight choreography that changed the whole action movie industry. He invented two unique martial arts fighting styles that are used still today. Comparing him to Van DAmme and others is like comparing Jesus to a local priest, both are in the same game but one is the originator and one is the disciple.

Jeet Kune Do isn't just a fighting style its a way of life the man was great his movies clear the path for others to follow. During the making of his movies there would be hot headed guys who thought bruce was all talk and would challenge him to a fight and bruce never lost.

(One day, while filming Enter the Dragon, an extra taunted Bruce Lee and challenged him to fight. The whole thing went on like this:

"This kid was good. He was no punk. He was strong and fast, and he was really trying to punch Bruce’s brains in. But Bruce just methodically took him apart."

"I mean Bruce kept moving so well, this kid couldn’t touch him…Then all of a sudden, Bruce got him and rammed his ass into the wall and swept him, he proceeded to drop his knee into his opponent’s chest, locked his arm out straight, and nailed him in the face repeatedly."

Typical of Bruce Lee, after the fight he didn’t fire the extra - he actually gave his challenger lesson on how to improve!)

Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own. ~ Bruce Lee

its only sensible

How does weight have anything to do with martial arts OR if someone could rip someone else apart? Have you ever heard the saying that "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"?