Legend of a Warrior

Legend of a Warrior follows Corey Lee's efforts to reconnect with his father, martial arts legend Frank Lee. For his many students and fans, Frank is martial arts-a high-kicking dynamo whose style of full contact fighting has propelled him into the upper echelons of his profession. Frank is happy to play the role he's cultivated, but his son, filmmaker Corey Lee, wants to look beneath the superhero mask. To do this Corey must enter Frank's world, a world where fighting rules.

kbat69@kbat69

May 30, 2023

I think most young men with an absent Father will really relate to the story and Corey's heart felt attempt to get to know, if not reconcile with, his Father. The production is slick, the tone thoughtful, the animation inspired. But at certain points you can tangibly feel the lack of engagement from Frank (the absentee Father), which leaves you cringing as Corey seems to run into brick wall after brick wall. It also is a hard watch at times as Frank tends to lap up the adulation and attention of his "public" and students, he seems well past his prime physically and seems almost to be in competition with his fitter younger son. There are some great moments, where the vulnerability of the father son relationship is explored, but it fails to reach the heights it could of and has the feel of a son still trying to win the attention of his, at times, totally dis-interested Father. A more balanced approach would certainly have strengthened the story perhaps an exploration of the wife and daughter he also left behind that was only referred to in passing it seems or an interview with the much vaunted "replacement son" Tommy. A good movie that could have been a great movie.

Review copied from outside source by tuari_san.