RZA wants Bruce Lee out of ‘Last Dragon’

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News | Film News | by Mark Pollard

RZA

Hip-hop artist RZA was recently interviewed by The Onion’s non-satirical offshoot A.V. Club to promote his new self help book “The Tao of Wu” and he dropped precious little new information about his upcoming martial arts films, THE MAN WITH THE IRON FIST and a remake of THE LAST DRAGON.

The interviewer pressed to get at least the premise of THE MAN WITH THE IRON FIST but RZA remained vague in his response.

“I just want to say that we’re striving to do what I did in hip-hop for film. It’s striving to bring the originality and excitement that I brought to hip-hop to the silver screen,” said RZA. “I don’t want to give the movie away. You know, it’s action, it’s a certain genre, but I think I’ve got a certain twist of originality and a certain way of filming, a certain way of seeing scenes, that only a few people in Hollywood see. And definitely only a few people of my generation see.”

When asked about the new version of THE LAST DRAGON which he is co-producing with Samuel L. Jackson, RZA mentioned that a new script has been written but he thought it could be better. “They didn’t nail it, so I sent the writer some books he should read, and I gave him a few pages. I’m not the writer, but I helped him out, gave him five pages of information, sent him some books so he could really make a story that’d resonate with today’s times.”

RZA went out of his way to suggest that it was time to move beyond Bruce Lee, the iconic martial arts star who provided key inspiration for THE LAST DRAGON.

“I want to keep the martial-art integrity, parts that the first one may have lost, because the other guy was in love with Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee is still the master, still the greatest, but maybe his popularity in cinema is not the same as it was in the ’80s, because in the ’80s, you were still getting Bruce Lee releases. THEY CALL ME BRUCE?, BRUCE LEE FIGHTS BACK FROM THE GRAVE, and all these movies. Every year, a Bruce Lee movie would come out. There hasn’t been nothing about Bruce Lee in years. But THE LAST DRAGON lives on as a cult classic, as an urban movie now, so we’ve got to find a way to incorporate martial arts in a way that still has a strong integrity, because THE LAST DRAGON, Bruce Lee brought the integrity to it.”

The interviewer gave RZA a chance to explain comments that could be interpreted as suggesting that Bruce Lee is no longer relevant while THE LAST DRAGON is.

“Bruce Lee is definitely timeless, but at the same time, the integrity of his martial art may not be as widely known now as it was then. Because Bruce Lee wasn’t only a good martial artist, he’s a good actor. Someone might say he’s a good-looking guy as well. He looks good on the screen, he’s great on the screen. So that’s one thing about him. To me, I consider Bruce Lee what the Koran would call a ‘minor prophet.’ I think he’s a prophet, actually, because his wisdom, and the things he said, if you ever hear interviews or read some of his books, you could see that he really was on a special level.”

The remaining interview is much longer and touches on other subjects ranging from RZA’s views on gays to his love of Farrelly brothers comedies and discord among members of the Wu Tang Clan.

Source: The Onion

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  • tglover
    Is it me or did RZA keep digging himself into a deeper hole by trying to allege that Bruce Lee is no longer relevant from a motion picture/movie perspective. He could not be more detached from reality. Ip Man 1 and 2 featuring Lee's Wing Chung Master with part 2 featuring a young Lee. How about "Fearless" a movie about Huo Yuan Jia the real life martial arts master who was the teacher of the fictional Chen Zhen portrayed by Lee in "Fist of Fury." In fact on this very news board there is information related to the continued adventures of Chen Zhen the character as mentioned earlier was made famous by Lee.

    If RZA's point was that he wanted to reference other influence and might want to move away from the Lee story line in his "Last Dragon" remake that is his creative prerogative (although strange because the Lee angle would guarantee a certain level of exposure but I digress). Moreover, if RZA's intent is to update the martial arts genre why not just come up with something completely original instead of doing a remake on "Last Dragon?" As charming as "LD" was I'm not sure how relevant it is at this time. Anyway just my two cents.
  • luvmartialarts
    I loved "The Last Dragon". I have a bad feeling about RZA. He's a good hip hop artists. I know, studios used him alot to bridge hip hop into martial films for urban audience. He never directed a martial arts film in his life. Just to make him director because he put some hip hop in some films is crazy.
  • Doubleh55
    Is Martial Outlaw available on DVD Form anywhere? I've been looking for years.
  • bwildd
    one series 50 episodes The LEGEND of BRUCE LEE RZA, u gotta but, check yur facts b4 u make a statement as thoughtless as that.
  • darrinkemp
    bwildd if you are talking about the Chinese TV series Legend of Bruce Lee I have to tell you that thing is a piece of shit.Granted its slightly,verrrry slightly more acurate that Dragon the Bruce Lee story but it's still crap.Almost all of his friends are presented as enemies(Gene LaBell,Ed Parker,Chuck Norris),the technique of the guy playing Bruce was abismally bad and the music made my diabeties worse.
  • darrinkemp
    All right Proutcast I'll consede your point about Hollywood only because every one knows it's true.Thats not my real beef.My problem is RZA believing his own hype about how deep he is.
  • Proutcast
    Cool. I can see where your comming from on that tip. Let's hold onto the hope that the RZA genuinely wants to make good films, and tell original storysl. I can't deny the deepness of his music. But, let's see if that translates to his films. After it comes out, then I'll call him on his BS.
  • darrinkemp
    Here is a suggestion: If the RZA is so into originality why not do a movie without it being a remake or reimaging of the Last Dragon in the first place?
  • Proutcast
    First of all, his is doing a remake AND an original film, cut him some slack. Look, I totally understand what you are saying, but try to see it from this perspective. RZA is in the same boat as everyone else in Hollywood with great "original" ideas, but no strudio cred. No studio will give him the chance make it happen without first proving himself on whatever they think is a safer project. Hence a "remake" which is very popular for studios in this day and age. If the RZA makes this remake and then turns around and only does 4 sequels, maybe then you can question his ability to make original content. A better person to question is a guy like Michael Bay who could probably make whatever movie he wanted due you his cred with studios, but chooses to do Bad Boys 8. Let's give RZA a fair chance. If The Last Dragon does well, then he will be more free to do original content. But once again, he's doing and remake AND an original.
  • Captain Boosh
    What he's trying to say is to stop trying to copy and make everything feel like it has to be Bruce Lee focused and try and do your own thing. Use him as a inspiration, but stop trying to just conjure him up in every martial arts movie made. Branch out and and pay homage to his greatness, but not every movie has to feel like it was made for Bruce, or that this character acts or sounds like Lee, or dresses and fights like Lee.

    Do your own thang and stop recycling something that hasn't been new in 30 years.
  • That's weird, 'cus I still see peeps wearin' Bruce Lee shirts in L.A.; and I saw a sizable amount of people watching the subbed and uncut version of Fist of Fury at a local screening just last year.
  • hung_kuen
    What the RZA is trying to say is that Bruce lee is great but you can't ignore others because of him, but at the same time remaking a film where Bruce is the driving point of the story is stupid.
  • Joel Schaffer
    RZA is wrong. There is no moving on from or away from Bruce Lee because no martial artist has ever been able to replace him. To this day, every Bruce Lee trademark & copyright is constantly renewed due to his popularity...who does the RZA want to use in his place? Afro Samurai? Certainly not Steven Segal, Jean Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa..or Jet Li....all are miniscule in comparison to Bruce Lee. No other martial artist has ever had the global market penetration that Bruce Lee accomplished prior to 1973 and still maintains to this day. Bruce Lee is the king, hail to the king.
  • LookiLOO
    agreed, I'm glad someone Call'd Lee out on the Fact that today, he is as Revered as MichaeL Jackson, but Legendary Status aside, tis about Relevance in the Modern Era...His Ripples has Influenced these individuaLS, given 'em the Impetus to Grow, continue and prosper, so u can say, that Bruce would Never be SO Shallow as to Compare himself to Jackie, if anything He'd admire and Show Love & Respect for these Modern Day Saints & Sinners, Gymnasts & Stunt Men, cuz he was just a guy, at the end of the day, Expressing his innermost feeLin's only as honestly as he knew how, Remember Bruce as not an antagonist to the future, but as an inspiration to those who are NOW and wiLL Be in the Game...He was first and foremost, a Father then a Philosopher...Let aLL Else fall to where they may...and Remember, we are aLL under the Heavenly Stars, Our Kingdom we shaLL live in Peace
  • KungfuFightingMan
    Making comparison's between Bruce Lee and Van Damme, Seagal, etc, is exactly what RZA is trying to stay away from. There are load of martial artists out there who are great in ability and perform more greater techniques than what Bruce did. So all credit to RZA for what he is trying to do. Remember the dead, but don't forget the living. Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Lee and Tony Jaa have all performed physically greater complexed ability than Bruce and for a much longer time.

    Back in the 70's, people wasn't used to seeing martial arts on the scale that is at now. So when Bruce came on the scene, it was like a refreshed version of martial arts that no one had seen before. If bruce Lee was to have come on the scene today, he would not be looked upon as the greatest martial artist no doubt because so many of them can move just as fast, but also perform there own stunts which Bruce Lee could never do.

    Bruce Lee was a philosopher in the art of kungfu and is always going to be remembered for being the one that brought in into the mainstream and throughout the world. But let's show some love, respect and support to our living martial artist who have kept them flame burning ever since Lee's death and have amazed us all with their outstanding athletic and physical techniques.
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