BIRTH OF THE DRAGON
A mediocre martial arts film best reserved for discerning adults at home.
Should You Watch It?
BIRTH OF THE DRAGON has a promising subject: Bruce Lee, Wong Jack Man, and the legendary fight that affected both men. Its best moments are the beautifully executed martial arts sequences, which are exciting and among the strongest elements of the film.
The problems are substantial. The acting as Bruce Lee is cringe-worthy, and Bruce’s brashness is exaggerated without enough humanity to make him easy to root for. The story also struggles to become cohesive because it carries multiple premises at once. Alongside the action are light foul language and false religious ideas and philosophies, including Buddhist teachings, Eastern philosophies, and prayers to ancestors.
This is mainly for martial arts fans, but its −2 Family Content rating makes it unsuitable for children and young teens. Wait for home, and reserve it for discerning adults.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 1965 San Francisco, Bruce Lee teaches Kung Fu to Asians and Caucasians while trying to break into television and movies. When Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man arrives from China, Bruce believes Wong intends to shut down his school and challenges him to fight.
Bruce’s student Steve McKee becomes interested in Wong’s teaching while trying to help Xiulan, a waitress controlled by Chinese gangsters. As tensions rise, Bruce and Wong move toward a legendary confrontation that will change both men.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means this film’s strengths do not overcome its major weaknesses. The fight sequences are beautifully executed and exciting, offering some of the best martial arts action in recent years.
The acting as Bruce Lee is cringe-worthy. The performance magnifies Bruce’s brashness without adding enough humanity, making him difficult to root for. Wong Jack Man is a much more compelling character. The story also lacks cohesion because it tries to carry multiple premises at once. The writing is poor, even though the action itself is strong.
The Worldview
BIRTH OF THE DRAGON presents Buddhism, Eastern philosophies, finding one’s “Chi,” and prayers to ancestors. These ideas form a strongly pagan worldview that conflicts with biblical Christianity. The film does not entirely side with Wong Jack Man’s perspective, however, and it gives him more moral insight than Bruce Lee.
Wong teaches that fighting is not something to seek for its own sake. He says, “When you find something worth giving your life for, then you fight.” The film also values learning when to fight and when not to fight, standing up for the helpless and weak, and giving one’s life for worthy causes. These are positive moral elements, even though the movie places them within Eastern religious and philosophical ideas.
The film’s central moral question—when is a fight worth entering?—can be considered alongside Scripture’s call to defend the vulnerable: “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter” (Proverbs 24:11).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong, sometimes mixed pagan worldview promoting Buddhist teachings, Eastern philosophies and prayers to ancestors, with some strong moral elements about the importance of learning when to fight and when not to fight, standing up for and protecting the helpless and weak, and being willing to give your life to worthy causes; 20 light obscenities (mostly a**) and one light profanity; moderate violence includes lots of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts fighting (nothing too brutal, but a man’s arm is broken), men are beat to a pulp (little blood shown), and a man’s chest is cut; no sexual scenes, but a reference to women being forced to work in brothels; upper male nudity; light drinking; smoking of cigarettes; and arrogance from main character.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Wong teaches that fighting should serve a worthy purpose rather than personal pride. When should courage lead us to act, and when should wisdom lead us to wait?
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 · Proverbs 15:1Steve wants to protect Xiulan from people who control and exploit her. What does Scripture teach about defending the weak and helpless?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Psalm 82:3–4The film presents Buddhist teachings, Eastern philosophies, and prayers to ancestors. How can we distinguish admirable moral ideas from beliefs that do not honor the true God?
Deuteronomy 6:4 · Acts 17:22–31Bruce’s arrogance makes him eager to fight. What is the difference between humility, weakness, and self-control?
Proverbs 16:18 · Galatians 5:22–23The Final Word
BIRTH OF THE DRAGON offers exciting martial arts action but is weakened by poor writing and cringe-worthy acting. Its strong false religious ideas, moderate violence, and light foul language make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Watch at home only if you are a discerning adult and a martial arts fan: WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For another choice, see.
