So I saw FINISHING THE GAME last night in New York City at the IFC and when Justin Lin asked how many people actually saw THE GAME OF DEATH...I was kind of surprised that not that many people did. I'm in my mid 20s and saw it as a kid.
How many of you guys have actually seen it?
I've seen it, several times.
And to be honest, I'm a bit confused as to why you'd go see Finishing The Game if you haven't even watched The Game Of Death. (Bit annoyed too, considering how much I want to see it even though I have no way of doing so.)
That's why I asked, because I saw it SEVERAL TIMES as a kid and I actually have THE GAME OF DEATH II which was actually pretty good (no it wasn't with Bruce). SO was bewildered why so many "Asian Americans" showed up not even having seen the ORIGINAL Game of Death or even knowing anything about it.
It just seemed like this false way of supporting something just because you're Asian American. You go see Justin Lin's movies because he had one breakthrough film yet don't know anything else about him.
Yeah, I completely agree with you.
I like Game Of Death II as well, although I always feel creeped out by the death scene (with the actual footage from Bruce Lee's funeral and all).
Yeah man that was pretty creepy.
I was also wondering how many of the Asian Americans there were actually into Asian FILM rather than just being there to "support" an Asian American director.
Well, one at least. I was a big fan Hong Kong Action movies and Samurai flicks way before I had any concept of Asian American Films. To be honest, I'm not really a fan of AA Film for the most part. The best thing I've seen so far has probably been Shanghai Kiss. Obviously, I'm down for supporting the scene but there's no real specific genre much outside the "identity" picture (culture clash, white love interest plot point, over-traditional parents, etc...) I'm glad that's starting to change, hopefully, someone will start making kickass movies that transcend the group without totally ignoring culture (Talking to you, Ang Lee). You'd be an ass to say that Spike Lee makes good black films or Woody Allen makes good Jewish flicks. Finishing the Game works on quite a few levels as a funny flick with some good satire, but let's be honest, it's simply nowhere near approaches the same level of hilarity of the top 2% of mainstream Hollywood comedies.
As for the original post, haven't seen GoD II but proudly own the Bruce Lee box set with the rediculously campy GoD but don't think it really matters much. Aside from the famous costume, the movie doesn't make much reference to GoD at all.
You're making me conflicted because I sort of see both sides of the coin here.
Like, how many Koreans saw Lady Vengeance or The Host just because they were Korean movies? My mom does that crap all the time, then comes back and complains about not being good movies! (Because she never realized what the content was about... she only saw it because it was Korean).
But this film specifically... it's Bruce Lee! It's not like The Host... Bruce Lee is known all around the world and it would be hard to find many people who don't know who he is. I don't think its necessary to go out and watch Game of Death to 'get' this movie, or that you're doing an disservice to Justin Lin by not seeing Game of Death first. That's just silly man, c'mon.
Anyhow... speaking of Game of Death... I can never forget the scene of 'Bruce' sitting in front of the mirror and they just pasted a picture of the real Lee onto the mirror... notice he never moves or blinks!! LMFAO.
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You can see all of the original footage in the John Little documentary about his life called Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey. And to the original poster, just because some of the audience you had seen the film with weren't familiar with Bruce Lee's body of work doesn't mean that they were any less valid in their support of Justin Lin and Asian Americans in film, and this is coming from an avid Bruce Lee fan himself.
shareGame of Death was a terribly made movie. Period.
But because it's a Bruce Lee movie I'd watch it 10 millions times, every time it would be on tv.
Why?
Because it's entertaining.
and because I watched it as a kid.
the fake Bruce Lee's in Game of Death were comical but that's what we'd watch it for anyway.
I would recommend all of you to check out the video titled "A warrior's Journey"
It shows the footage in its entirety (with new soundtrack and all).
It's absolutely nothing unusual NOT to have seen 'The Game of Death' before watching this!
If your a Bruce Lee fan, you may have sworn never to watch 'The Game Of Death' since it totally rips apart Bruce Lees original concept. If you really want to see the true 'Game of Death' and understand Lee's original vision for the film, just watch 'Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey' as many have you have mentioned already.
The real question is 'Why the hell would anyone WANT to see The Game of Death?" I sure as hell wouldn't recommend it to anyone. And honestly (even as a Bruce Lee fan), I'm not too sure it would've been that great a film even if Bruce got to finish it.
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