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Could Rain be playing Bruce Lee in Awaken the Dragon?
There was a rumour circulating that Korean Popstar and Actor Rain (star of the upcoming Ninja Assassin) was in consideration to play the legendary Bruce Lee in a remake of Enter the Dragon.
Well it seems that rumour was true, and right from Rain’s lips, he admits that he has been talked to about it, and has yet to make a decision.
[In] a very brief snippet from my interview with him, in which he confirms that he’s discussed the film with the studio (Warner Bros., the same people distributing Ninja Assassin), but in his words, “I haven’t decided yet.”
Now I am sure there will be a ton of people making a big fuss that he is Korean while Lee was Chinese so Rain has no right to play him in a film. To that I call bullshit. Bruce Lee was a legendary talent in the field of martial arts, and an actor (who is playing someone he is not) who plays him simply must have the physical presence and martial arts ability, which I think Rain has displayed.
I think that as mentioned, they will wait to see how well he is accepted in his first North American staring role to see how well he is received before handing him such a big role. This could elevate Rain to the kind of recognition and popularity he already enjoys in the Asian markets.
Will be interesting to see how this pans out.
I don’t get it. Would he be playing Bruce Lee the actor, or Lee the character in Enter the Dragon.
Im guessing the character, but I sure hope that Bruces mannerisms arent imitated like a bad impersonator and that this actor does his own take. This is more controversial than recasting BA Baracus. Enter the Dragon was so specifically a Bruce Lee vehicle, there isnt much else about the film. Its a little like remaking an Elvis movie (not in the same league as movies of course), the lead actor transcends everything else about the production.
Why? Enter the Dragon was a milestone for Bruce Lee, wasn’t it like his 1st and only full hollywood produced studio movie. and why remake it now? Thats why I for the most part HATE remakes, for one they almost always rape the original product and replace them with mediocre material and stars. I dont watch much martial art movies anymore, I’m pretty Chow-yun-yo-whatever- fat and Li’d out with the same drek they put out time and time again. Now they got the balls to come up with a Remake to one of my favorite Bruce Lee and overall films.
Someone high up should start firing these execs that have no good original ideas for saying “LETS REMAKE” on anything…
You falsely presume that they are making this for lack of any original ideas left. That simply is not true.
They choose to make remakes because they feel they can make money off them. That is all.
There are far more original films in Hollywood than there are remakes.
Chow Yun Fat and Jet Li deserve a little more credit man. Just because the movies they did in the states weren’t that great. Both actors have created some of the best action and martial arts films in history overseas. Especially Yun-fat/john woo’s collaborations. I grew up on those and I feel those action films hold up well and still make modern films pale in comparison.
True, but you cant go to a film site now-a-days without seeing REMAKE somewhere.
I always liked when hollywood wanted more dinero they just released the film back in the theatre insted of spending millions and hoping for a return.
I loved it when JAWS was re-released in the theatre , I was old enough to see it and it blew me away..to this day I love that film.
Now they REMAKE it trying to capture the magic and for the most part cant come close..
Now you got a new generation thinking the movie was “Pretty good” or “SO-SO” or “It sucked”
because they have not seen the original one and never rent it.
Thats why I say that they have run out of Ideas.
They should do more re-releasing thats all I’m saying..
And how many films have seen a theatrical re-release?
Honestly? Can you name 20? I couldnt.
Re-releasing a movie that you can easily rent at the corner hardly makes financial sense. A film has to be EPIC before they consider putting it back in theaters.
People won’t go see an average film, but studios know there is already a built in audience that would be curious to see a new take on an old story. And for those who haven’t seen the original, watching the new version is just a new film as far as they are concerned. You can’t say a remake is bad then say its becuase they never saw the first one.
There is nothing wrong with remakes. If you dont want to see it, you don’t have to. But remaking a movie does nothing to change the original, and doesnt hurt to try.
Are you talking re-release? or 1 night showing type things? Because in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, I’ve seen quite a few older films playing in theaters. Off the top of my head though, the only true re-releases I can think of were The Exorcist and Alien.
Wide Theatrical Rerelease. Promoted by the studio, not indie theater featuring one night of a classic film.
The only Re-releases I can think of were the Star Wars Special Editions, and ET.
“And how many films have seen a theatrical re-release?”
Back in the day, Disney was notorious for theatrically re-releasing their films every several years or so. But, this was back when they weren’t releasing every film that they had in their library on video.
MGM’s biggest money-spinner ever, Gone With The Wind, was re-released like five times this past half-century and made money each and every time. I think especially in ‘64 when they retouched the color or something, not so sure about that…..
However, I agree with you when you say it doesn’t make sense to re-release most movies when you can easily rent ‘em round the corner…..
I also agree with Band, though, remaking Enter The Dragon is blasphemous, seeing how Bruce Lee is GOD…..you just don’t do that. I wouldn’t even wanna see Drunked Master (Jackie Chan’s vehicle) being remade, even though he isn’t in the same league as Lee…..there’re some things which you just don’t touch…..
Enter the Dragon was a kind of Dr.No remake anyway, and I think the last time Enter the Dragon was remade they called it Mortal Kombat. I doubt this remake will carry Bruces martial art philosophy like the original did. I heard a while back that another, more accurate Bruce Lee biopic was in the works, but that might have become the HK TV show.
I can see how Mortal Kombat riffed on the “secret martial arts tournament” angle, but I see NOTHING that compares this to Dr. No.
I would really like to see what stretch you employed to try and tie these two together.
A representative of the British government is sent to infiltrate an impregnable island fortress owned by an asian villian with artificial hand(s). Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan has made this comparison before. Han even strokes a white cat while showing Roper his museum. Im a huge huge fan of both films incidentally.
Yup. Big stretch.
That you found fringe vague common features hardly has anything to say its a remake.
Doctor Claw strokes a white cat with his artificial hand in Inspector Gadget while the agent has to break into his facility and take him down. Guess thats a remake of Enter the Dragon too.
Vague at best.
Fine, surpress my opinion if you want, , as long as you stay correct. Its more than a passing resemblance I think, but me and the Hong Kong Cinema expert are wrong of course. Noticed I said ‘kind of remake’. And no, the Inspector Gadget thing is a reference, as is the cat in Enter the Dragon, because the cat was Blofelds from other Bond films, its an acknowledgement of its influence on the film!
So if you make a vague observation that fails to convince me of your opinion then I am “supressing” it?
You haven’t given me a reason to believe your loosely connected paralell justifies calling it “kind of a remake” in any way. Its not supressing it, its just that you fail to convince me of a connection. Regardless of what some Hong Kong expert might say, you repeating it is not justifying it.
I think my ‘vague fringe’ comparison is in fact the overall premise of the plot of both films, and the fact that Dr.No and Han are so similiar is a deliberate thing. The amount to which Enter the Dragon takes influence from Dr.No is greater than some official remakes have in common with their originals. It is the Kung-Fu Bond movie I think. The word remake is highly contentious around here, I didnt mean it in any official capacity, perhaps ‘inspired by’ or ‘based on’ is my meaning when I say ‘kind of remake’.
That a character is “inspired by” is hardly the basis to say it is a remake either.
Is Austen Powers a remake of Bond? Not at all. But every last bit of the series was inspired by British spy movies (mostly Bond)
Inspiration is one thing. Remake is entirely different. I don’t believe even your touted Hong Kong Film Expert even called it a Remake. Parallels to characters are inspiriation but its not a remake.
thats why I had to rephrase it because your so pedantic. believe what you want.
I can believe what you have told me and it still doesnt’ convince.
Its still not a remake.
Ok this rumor is bullshit. Their is now way the Bruce Lee Estate would let this fly. Why because he is Korean? No, its because Rain might be playing a Chinese character. Sure if they change the story saying he is Korean then no problem. But it the supposed film has ANY relation to Enter the Dragon it would be an insult to the asian community. Whats next? A Japanese guy acting like John McClain in a Die Hard re-make?
So its not Ok for a Korean to play a martial arts expert?
As above. Bullshit. There is no reason a Korean can’t play a character Bruce Lee played.
I dont know what your implying with that but Ill humor you anyway. Its fine if a Korean “ACTOR” is going to play a “KOREAN” character in a martial arts film. However, I feel its insulting to think that one asian looks like every other asian i.e. chinese/japanese. Its the same bullshit hollywood plays with mexicans/native americans. Bruce Lee characters have been Chinese characters so if the writers changed it to a Korean character with Korean culture Im perfectly fine. Pulling the “Ohh he’s asian so he can play any asian role”, is racist plain and simple.
Did I say that every Asian looks the same? You assume too much. Its not racist to assume that an actor can play the part of a martial artist.
It is your racist assumptions that any role once played by Bruce Lee MUST be played by a Chinese man? That’s racist.
That he is an actor that can embody the spirit and role of the character has nothing to do with his homeland. He is an incredible martial artist and that is all it will take to play the role.
He isn’t playing Bruce Lee, he is playing a role once played by Bruce Lee. Hell, even if he is playing Bruce Lee I could care less and I don’t care if all of China gets their head up their ass over it.
To settle this I say, change the title and give the Bruce Lee role to Michael Jai White
Your so full of it Rodney, I never said nor implied that a Bruce Lee character MUST be Chinese. Bruce Lee’s characters have been played by Bruce Lee because the characters are Bruce Lee. His style, his presence, his looks. Sure they could get another person that can look and act similar to him but that wouldn’t be the same cause it’s not him. Just because you did or didnt say something dosent mean im assuming too much. Your right its not racist that an actor could play a part of a martial artist but thats not the case. What is racist is thinking that a Korean can play the role of a Japanese,or Chinese character. If someone offer me a role to play a mexican character I look at them like they were stupid because Im caucasian and not mexican. Now if I was offer a role of a caucasian character acting like a mexican thats diffrent but not the case here. Rain IS Korean, he looks Korean and to tell me he is acting Japanese or Chinese is just as dumb as a white man putting black paint on his face and telling me he is acting like an African American.
Grave, umm, they kinda did that with Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder…..er, you know, just saying…..
Grave seriously man you need to exhale.
Rain can play any martial artist he chooses to. And if china gets their head up their ass over it then its THEIR problem and apparently yours. Its ignorant.
RDJ in Tropic Thunder was spoof, but it was also a statement against the ignorance of race in characters played on screen. Australians can play Americans, Chinese can play Indians, it doesn’t matter.. AT ALL. Its not wrong for a Korean to play a Chinese man. Its ACTING they arey playing things they clearly are not.
Rain is also not a NINJA but thats ok too. Jackie Chan is playing Mr Miagi and Miagi was from Okinawa. GASP! And fucking Jaden Smith is playing a part made famous by a Hispanic American!
Alec Guiness played an Arabian Prince while Yul Brynner was playing a Siamese King.
I can do this all day.
This is your problem and your hangup. Not my problem. I am not so short sighted that I would prejudge someone because of the colour of their skin or where they were born.
I dont need to exhale, you need to inhale more oxygen to your brain. Im not against Rain playing a martial artist. If he is to be acting as a Ninja thats fine. Its only the fact Rain is playing a Japanese Ninja that turns my annoying meter on overdrive because you cant make me believe Rains character is Japanese when he is obviously Korean. You are inforcing the sterotype that all asians look the same. Sure your not saying it but, whats the problem with getting a Chinese actor to play a chinese person or a Native American to play a Native American? As for RDJ in Tropic Thunder, I agree it was a spoof but I feel diffrently about the message it projects. I feel they were making fun of Hollywood for the same issues we are discussing now in that why hire an actor to play a role that call for a person of a certain race. Why get a great actor to play a black guy if he is white? Why not just hire a great black actor if the character roles calls for it. As for the Karate Kid remake that is just soooo much wrong with that on so many levels Im not even going to get into it.
Grave, you need to stop and read what you are writing.
Its not like I am asking for a black person to play a white person. I am talking about a MARTIAL ARTIST PLAYING A MARTIAL ARTIST.
You are hung up on Lee, thinking that no one can replace him, and no one is. Lee is NOT the characters in his films. He was an actor and a martial artist. So is Rain.
You complain that a black man should be hired when the role calls for a black man, but you can’t understand hiring a martial artist when a martial artist is called for?
No issue.
I am not “enforcing a stereotype” that Asians look the same. I am enforcing that they look ALIKE enough that it doesnt matter that much. All those actors I mentioned above were convincing in their roles despite the fact that ethnically they didn’t “qualify” by your standard. Get over it. Rain playing an iconic martial arts role should be based on his martial arts ability, not his race. And that will inevitably be why he does or does not get it.
So what’s wrong with a black kid in the Karate Kid? Please elborate why that is so wrong? Because I would love to hear how your narrow world view and racial hangups can justify complaining about that.
Dude, Grave, you REALLY need to chill, mate. This is getting a bit outta hand.
Firstly, they COULD NOT get a BLACK ACTOR TO PLAY THE BLACK ACTOR IN TROPIC THUNDER–if you’ve seen the film, they spoofed the concept of METHOD ACTORS, those who go SO DEEP into their roles that beyond a point, they look silly…..when I mentioned it, I assumed you’d get it in one go.
Secondly, and this to Rodney, as well, we don’t even know HOW they’re gonna tweak the story up a bit–how d’you guys know the movie isn’t set in Korea now? And even if it isn’t, how d’you know that the main character hasn’t been written in as a Korean? Can you say FOR SURE that he’s gonna remain Chinese? No, you can’t, you haven’t written the script and I don’t care who your sources are. Accusing someone of racial stereotyping is a HUGE deal–I study in Singapore and I see enough “Oriental looking” people everyday to figure that there’s no way in hell anybody would allow a Korean to play a Chinese guy without paying off nearly all of the 3 billion Orientals who inhabit the Earth.
As for getting a martial artist to play a martial artist, and a black guy to play a black guy, they did that with Kareem Abdul Jaffar and Bruce Lee in Game of Death, I think (can’t remember, saw it way too long ago). That might sound outta context, but think about it, Grave–they fought against and successfully disambiguated the stereotype that only “them Chinese guys” are Kung Fu Kings…..if they managed to that convincingly, and Bruce Lee fans all over the world didn’t rise up in uproar, then I think it’s safe enough to conclude that they have a good enough reason to cast Rain as BRUCE LEE’S CHARACTER AND NOT BRUCE LEE…..
I feel you as well need to stop and read your own writing. “I am not “enforcing a stereotype” that Asians look the same. I am enforcing that they look ALIKE enough that it doesnt matter that much”. If you think one asian over another looks alike enough you pretty much are enforcing a sterotype. Japanese and Koreans look nothing alike. Their facial features are as diffrent as night and day. They dont look alike enough and if you think they do your biggot. As for Rains rumored role in a Bruce Lee movie say what you will thinking its ok to replace Bruce Lee. You should know that millions around the world wont accept it any more than they did for Game of Death. Lee characters were made for himself. As for the Karate Kid remake? I have no problem with a black kid and more then a hispanic or asian.
Really? And Sir Alec Guiness looks like a middle Eastern Prince? No, but he looked enough like one that he passed in a film. Same as the Swiss Russian Yul Brynner who has no asian bone in his body but is commonly mistaken as Asian.
That you want to make some “they look nothing alike” rant doesn’t mean a thing. YOU are the one enforcing that stereotype insisting that there is NO way that a Korean could play a part that a Chinese man plays because he doesn’t look Chinese? Are chinese SO specific looking that every single one of them is identicle? Because if they don’t all look exactly the same, they you have to admit that its possible that any could have traits more common to Koreans, or Japanese, or Thia? It isn’t possible at all? Well then you are the one saying that Asians all look the same.
And while we are at it, there is a reason the broad identification of Asian is still accurate while you might be from Thialand or China or Korea. Its not that “they all look the same” but it is becuase they come from a common genentic group.
You are the one with the problem and racist limitations. I see no issue with a Korean playing a part once played by a Chinese.
Just because other films did racial mis casting doesnt make it alright. Im not saying that a Korean cant play the same role a chinese can play. Im saying that if a character is called to be of a certain race then they should get an actor that would suit the character. Bruce Lee himself had the same troubles in his time when roles that were written for a chinese character would be played by white men/women. You cant tell me the director couldnt find the right Japanese or Chinese actor better for the same roles in the films that call for a Japanese and Chinese man. When you compair a chinese man to another, sure they dont look the same. However, they have ethnic similarities that define then by there apperance to be chinese.
I see your point sir, But I am a movie fan and really see a picture for it’s artistic value and appreciate a film that can get you excited, make you laugh, cry, get you scared, and make you think.
Screw Re-makes! and I for one dont care about them making money for making monies sake..
create something original , good , interesting, market it correctly then you should make the money it deserves. y’know the old fashioned way, insted of cashing in on someone else’s suscess.
On the Chinese-Korean issue
Doesn’t matter to me if he’s Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese,PuertoRican, or Canadian. Just dont Fuck with Bruce Lee’s films and say it’s a Remake.
call it something else
If you think ANY film in Hollywood is made for any other reason you are lying to yourself.
Remakes CAN be original, but you don’t want that. You cry that remakes are bad because they dont stick to what was original, but if they get creative and offer a new look at an old story you cry that its not the same, then cry that they need original ideas.
So if they call it “this is not a remake” then its ok to remake a Bruce Lee film?
YEAH! Ha Ha
dude, your not on the payroll are you?
I’m not oblivious to that “it’s all for the $$$$”
no shit!, but in light of all the remakes coming out these days like, Haloween 1&2 (really funny that they let that “hack” make 2 films) The day the earth stood still (WTF? Keannu and his blank stare),War of the worlds,etc. whats next Braveheart? My left foot? oh, oh, I know lets remake The Karate Kid! oh no there doing that one too!
maybee it’s a bad idea to bring up a crappy(in a good way)genre of flicks like horror and sci-fi to make an argument but try to understand my dull point here bro.
Comic book movies are cool cause the books always remake even their own origins to keep things new. no complaints here.
Romantic comedies do it all the time but just tell a slight different tale and modernize it..cool.
My beef is when they take a good, great,or even a masterpiece of a film and “Remake” it almost frame by frame (Hack=Zombie again)or just completly destroy a perfectly good version. just for the ol’ mighty dollars sake.
so sir, as a movie fan- not fanatic, and definitly not an employed extention of Hollywood, Bollywood or any kind of wood for that matter. and just a fan of the movies and fan of reading on this site and commenting on such a wonderful enterprise of the Motion Picture
I say, no, I cry NO MORE FUCKIN’ CRAPPY RE-MAKES!
Bruce Lee? is nothing sacred?
No, nothing is sacred. I am glad you finally realized that. Some films will not be remade because of their cultural significance, fanbase or relative time between the proposed remake and its origins.
That you have deep feelings for a 36 year old film is hardly proof against remaking it.
ANYTHING has its price. In order to remake it, they have to have the approval/permission/payoff to the holder of the rights and they make a film.
The remake of Halloween might not meet your approval but there were lots out there who did like it (however the remake’s sequel is not as well recieved) but that doesn’t mean that remakes are a bad idea. Any film can be bad.
I have yet to see a remake that is a frame by frame replica. Rob Zombie did NOT do that with Halloween, and was sometimes criticized for his vision because it was different.
And even your high and noble art films are done FOR THE DOLLARS SAKE.
Remakes dont make the film bad. A bad film makes a film bad. You can cry “no more crappy remakes” all you want, but why not cry “no more crappy films”?
Because I am certain that no matter who makes a film they always do so thinking they have something special. How well its received is altogether a different animal.
It is MUCH harder to make a remake, and while you can cry mercy all you want pleasing someone with an original idea is not as great a task as overcoming the prejudices of those who already write of remakes because they are all bad.
NOW WE ALL KNOW WHO’S SUCKING ON THE CORPORATE TEET.
Yes, because they pay me money? Sorry. I am no different than you short of having a job at this blog. My opinions are unfettered by corporate payouts because I haven’t seen one dime from their pockets buddy.
What makes this site popular is that we are NOT paid by some corporate teet.
Your absolutley right , remakes dont make a film crappy, remaking them crappy makes them crappy!
And there a lot of crappy examples out there…
so if I’m bitching about remakes it’s about the crappy ones.
there are I would think, waaaaaay more shity remakes then there are good ones..
hence the crying……….waaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Agree to disagree! Thats what makes the world go round dude, BTW like your site and no offense on the “teet”.
Say it with me, NO MAS eh-Crappie RE-MAKES!
Hey guys… whats… OMG!… what the hell did i just get into here?
Remakes are awesome… old 70’s movies have there place but remakes add a whooolleee new spin on things… keep making remakes holly and I will be at everyone… Fun fact for you… I saw planet of the apes remake, and then saw the original, just to see the connections… saw I am legend, then saw omega man.. I am legend was better. I usually see the remakes before I see the originals… Guess I’ll have to wait to see enter the dragon now til after the remake comes. I’ll also keep practicing my Jute Keen do so I’m ready to bring my nunchaku to the theater… Although I’d probably wouldn’t be let in. hmmm
why remake enter the dragon in the first place? if anything they should remake the game of death & use lee’s actual story
I like that idea, Game of Death was a mess of a film but at least the last 15mins were good.
hell no! if rain plays lee, there’ll be uproar in china. just because rain is korean? exactly. that’s in no way a bullshit reason. lee is a legend and a national figure, he is well expected among all chinese people. it would not be right for a dancing foreign pop star to get the role. he doesn’t have the skills or even in any way resembles bruce lee. i would say donnie yen should get the role but he already played bruce lee’s master.
Let them get bent. It wont matter.
The role isn’t for Rain to play Bruce Lee. The Role is to play a part once played by Bruce Lee.
Rain is not just a dancing popstar. He is a capable martial artist. His training for various action roles and natural talent for choreography makes him a perfect choice. Rain can copy or play out any physical act that Bruce Lee did.
Lee was unique in that his martial arts were proven long before he became a film star while many other action stars improve their skills over their careers.
Rain is more than capable, and it doesn’t matter one bit that he is Korean. It only matters that he is a convincing martial artist.
he’s not a convincing martial artist, he’s not one, period. and no, being korean is not ok. a korean actor can pass as a chinese character, i’m not against that. but not a national figure. this involves the pride of the country and its people
I hope this doesnt happen. Bruce Lee movies should never be remade.
They should also never cast a professional wrestler in an acting role.
But there is nothing wrong with Bruce Lee movies being remade. They are good stories with great action. Why can’t they be retold?
Because it wont be better.
I can guarantee that Let Me In won’t be better or close to being as good as Let The Right One In.
Why dont they just kinda… fuck off?
Look- remakes are shit because weve seen these movies, we know how they end, the actors are never as good as the original ones, and the movie 90% of the time WILL fall short of the original.
The only way a remake can be successful is if they can make it better by CGI, like Clash of the Titans. THAT can be easily improved.
But to make the story better, theyll have to change it. Which will fuck it up. They either change it and make it worse or keep it the same.
They already went ahead and changed the name to Awaken The Dragon. Jesus.
If its going to be better theyll have to tell the story differently, and it pisses me off because i LOVE every Bruce Lee movie ever made (They better not remake Fist of Fury) so its like going to Lees grave and pissing on it.
Just my opinion though, I know a lot of people welcome this, and sure- it may be a good or great movie but not as good as the original.
I guess the general tide of anti-remakes stems from the Nostalgia bug–and whatever you say, Rodney, nostalgia warps people’s minds in unthinkable ways.
I agree with most people in the sense that they shouldn’t be touching a Bruce Lee product. Calling it something else is stupid.
But what people have to understand is that Rain is NOT gonna play BRUCE LEE. He’s going to play the main character in a movie that was made 34 years ago, which Bruce Lee just happened to essay before him.
It’s going to be Rain’s version of Enter the Dragon…..it’s not gonna be a field trip to Lee’s grave, James; if anything, it’s homage, the money angle be damned.
i have no problem with remakes but i hope they dont try to capture bruce lee’s essence…some people should not be emulated…bruce lee wasnt shatner he was a modern philosapher that pioneered what MMA is today. but with all that the premise was cool and i can see why this would be remade…like i said dont bite on lee’s style just go with your own flow
I would not call Bruce Lee a pioneer of MMA. I go so far to say that Bruce wouldn’t like MMA the way it is today.
And you are clearly the leading expert on Bruce Lee, so you know best.
Bruce Lee threw off conforming of martial arts styles mixing in many styles in his own style.
He was the original Mixed Martial Art.
i’d say if they want to cast someone right for this movie it should be Donnie Yen. Rain should come as a second choice
Donnie Yen is 46 years old. I dont agree with this at all.
Donnie Yen can still out fight and out act Rain any day of the week.
Liam Neeson can kick both their asses. I still don’t want to see an old man in a martial arts film.
Watch Ip Man, and then tell me an Old Man like Donnie Yen isn’t watchable in martial arts film, you make it sound like he looks like 100 years old.
you are trying to compare Donnie Yen with Liam Neeson? seriously?
I’m Chinese but I’m fine with Rain taking on a Bruce Lee character in a remake. But to play Lee himself? Would be weird due to Lee’s place in Chinese pride.
I don’t buy the argument that it doesn’t matter if an actor of one nationality/ethnic group can play a real person of a different group. Its easy for Caucasians to say so in trying to be politically correct. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Forrest Whittaker playing Idi Amin was OK, not because he was black, but because Amin’s bloodthirsty spirit counted more than his skin color – and that, Whittaker captured to perfection. But Lee is a symbol of Chinese pride, so that might be a problem.
Doesn’t help that Koreans are getting pretty arrogant these days when dealing with other East Asians.
If your last sentence isn’t racist, nothing is…..you’re embalming North and South Koreans in the same body, don’t do that.
O.K. O.K.
This Rain guy is not my problem, nor is the cultural dispute. and I know if this gets remade it’s on basis of the story and not Bruce Lee. but still to me it’s like remaking The Godfather and not getting Pacino to play Micheal. Hows that for a remake argument.
and didn’t Charleston Heston play a mexican once in that great Orson Welles picture?
hell even an Italian played a Cuban in Scarface and when he spoke spanish he sounded horribly Italian. so that shit is neither here nor there.
It’s not Rain playin’ Bruce anyway.
But that said this is pretty sad news for Bruce Lee fans.