03-22-2022, 12:54 PM
[Borrowed from library]
Years ago, when we were a gregarious species, I had a face-to-face with DM soon after this came out. I stated I was boycotting it because of its less than positive depiction of Bruce Lee. DM, who had seen the screener, phfffted it off, saying it was an alternate reality version of Hollywood and its denizens and no big deal.
So I finally saw it. And yes, I can see Tarantino's logic, needing a stuntman (Brad Pitt) to clash with someone and get himself fired -- and not expand the cast to do so. Bruce Lee made the perfect foil, already a part of the inner circle of Tate and Polanski and others. So it was a useful fiction, to amplify his arrogance (a bit) and lessen his skills to enable the conflict -- and preserve a tight cast.
So I'm at peace with this, and it is a fun movie. But I remain puzzled at Tarantino's decision in light of who financed this film. It included Bona Film Group, also known as Beijing Polybona Film Distribution Co. Ltd. Upon the film's release, China didn't like Bruce Lee's depiction and wanted changes made, which Tarantino refused to do, leading China to ban it. (Likewise, Shannon Lee and others who had known Bruce remained bitter about his depiction.)
Anyway, from a purely monetary standpoint, Tarantino's decision may not have been fully thought out. But for me, I'm pretty much fine with it.
Recommended.
To fall down an outrageously deep rabbit hole for this movie, check its wikipedia page.
Years ago, when we were a gregarious species, I had a face-to-face with DM soon after this came out. I stated I was boycotting it because of its less than positive depiction of Bruce Lee. DM, who had seen the screener, phfffted it off, saying it was an alternate reality version of Hollywood and its denizens and no big deal.
So I finally saw it. And yes, I can see Tarantino's logic, needing a stuntman (Brad Pitt) to clash with someone and get himself fired -- and not expand the cast to do so. Bruce Lee made the perfect foil, already a part of the inner circle of Tate and Polanski and others. So it was a useful fiction, to amplify his arrogance (a bit) and lessen his skills to enable the conflict -- and preserve a tight cast.
So I'm at peace with this, and it is a fun movie. But I remain puzzled at Tarantino's decision in light of who financed this film. It included Bona Film Group, also known as Beijing Polybona Film Distribution Co. Ltd. Upon the film's release, China didn't like Bruce Lee's depiction and wanted changes made, which Tarantino refused to do, leading China to ban it. (Likewise, Shannon Lee and others who had known Bruce remained bitter about his depiction.)
Anyway, from a purely monetary standpoint, Tarantino's decision may not have been fully thought out. But for me, I'm pretty much fine with it.
Recommended.
To fall down an outrageously deep rabbit hole for this movie, check its wikipedia page.