Bruce Lee was a martial arts legend. Lee’s in-depth knowledge of martial arts allowed him to create a hybrid style, Jeet Kun Do. It combines the elements of various disciplines. However, he also had a unique philosophy that still inspires many. Among them is Hollywood’s iconic leading man, Academy award winner Brad Pitt.
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Bard has said Bruce lee was one of his icons. Renowned director Quentin Tarantino wanted to film a fight scene for his 2019 film?“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”?However, Brad didn’t approve of the outcome of the fight between his character and his childhood icon. Neither did everyone involved with the scene. Stunt co-ordinator Robert Alfonso once explained how things unraveled.
Bruce Lee vs. Cliff Booth
In Quentin Tarantino’s?“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, Brad Pitt’s character, stuntman Cliff Booth, and Bruce Lee get into a disagreement on the set of?“The Green Hornet”. In the scene, Bruce Lee, portrayed by Mike Moh, defeats Pitt’s Cliff in the first round. After Cliff wins the second round, the pair fight each other to a stalemate.
However, during an interview with The Huffington Post, Robert Alonso explained everything didn’t go according to Tarantino’s plan.?“I know that Brad had expressed his concerns, and we all had concerns about Bruce losing,”?Tarantino envisioned Bruce losing to Cliff after the stuntman hits Bruce with a?“cheap shot,”?said Alonso.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) pic.twitter.com/g9LVKtjlPZ
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The director couldn’t move forward because Pitt didn’t want to do it.?“?It?s Bruce Lee, man!?”?Brad?told?Tarantino. Alonso also explained how he also felt uncomfortable choreographing a scene where Bruce would be outsmarted and lose. Alonso sees Bruce Lee, “As an icon, not only in the martial-arts realm but in the way, he approached philosophy and life,”
Besides Brad Pitt and Alonso being against the scene, the entire crew involved in filming the scene became uneasy.?“How is this going to go over?”?is what everyone thought, said Alonso.
Tarantino voiced his opinion
After the release of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Tarantino appeared in “The Joe Rogan Experience”. The veteran filmmaker told Joe he intended not to show Bruce as weak but to show Booth’s skills.?“He just tricked him, and Bruce realized he got tricked,”?said Tarantino. He also said Bruce?“tagged(strike)”?stuntmen while filming scenes.
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However, another martial arts icon, Jackie Chan, once revealed how Bruce didn’t intentionally tag stuntmen and always ensured they were ok after accidentally hitting them.
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What do you think about Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce?