Happy 48th Birthday To The Late Brandon Lee!

This blog was originally published on Xanga February 1, 2013. 

Brandon Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993)

 

Today, had Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee's son lived, he would've turned 48 years old. It would not surprise me, if Brandon was spinning in his grave right now, while asking, "Has it already been 20 years, since the time I was killed?" 

Technically, the end of March will officially make it 20 years, since the time Brandon Lee died making The Crow.

According to The Crow's comic book author, James O'Barr, the production was low budget. Both the comic book and the movie were set in Detroit, MI. However, the movie production was shot in North Carolina. I assume that North Carolina was the only convenient state, that they could shoot The Crow 1.

At his own comic book panel filled with fans, the author also said that he read Brandon's autopsy report. There were no licensed gun professionals working on the set and the crew consisted of electricians handling the props on The Crow set. He referred to them as being "hill billies."

Supposedly, when everyone would go home for the night, the electricians would sneak out the guns (which were supposed to stay on the set) to go shooting with them. Then, the electricians would sneak the guns back onto The Crow set.

The moment Michael Massee (who played the character, "Funboy") was in the middle of filming his scene with Brandon Lee, Massee shot his gun not knowing that it was loaded with REAL bullets and ACCIDENTALLY killed Lee. No one expected the guns to be loaded with real bullets.

Let's all thank those hill billy electricians for feeling the sudden urge to sneak in and out guns, that were supposed to stay on The Crow set. Thanks to them, Brandon lost his life. 

Everyone including James O'Barr, Michael Massee, Ernie Hudson, etc. had to cope with trauma and survivor's guilt. 

Those "hill billy electricians" not only killed an actor before he could reach his pinnacle, but also damaged and traumatized other actors to the extent that they quit acting for years.

Luckily, I managed to watch some of Brandon Lee's other movies. They were released, before The Crow. Even though I was only 10 1/2 years old, when Brandon Lee died, I did manage to watch some of his older movies, after I became a teenager.

I already watched him in Legacy Of Rage, Showdown In Little Tokyo, Rapid Fire, and The Crow. People may argue that his acting skills were "mediocre." However, I loved Brandon because he was a Martial Artist with intelligence and sarcastic humor.

In addition, the Chinese American actor was an Aquarius. Therefore, Brandon was bound to be sarcastically humorous and intelligent.

If we were to speak in Anime Otaku/Fangirl terms, Brandon Lee would be my so-called "dead husbando."

I don't know what it is about my sister sign, Aquarius (I'm an Aquarian Gemini, which makes me a double air sign). There's just something about Aquarian men that usually make me want to sit and listen to them talk for HOURS. 

Listening to extremely talented, cultured, intelligent, and hilarious Aquarian men makes me scream in the back of my mind, "OOH, BRAINS! MORE FUCKING BRAINS!!!"

Please forgive me for my ghoulish, impure thoughts. You're probably imagining me as a mad scientist or a ghoul feasting on an Aquarian man's brains, as you read this blog. I can't help it. Aquarian men tend to fascinate me.

As I was saying... The Crow was and still is Brandon Lee's best movie, years later. Lee playing a brutally attacked and murdered protagonist, while literally dying during the making of The Crow, added extreme impact to the film and its sales. His tragic death imitated art.

I believe that Bruce and Brandon Lee somewhat helped pave the way for other Asian American Actors today. If we look back 10-20 years ago, there weren't as many Asian American Actors on American TV as there are now.

I believe society has become a little more diversified, cultured, and accepting towards Asians. There will always be ignorami, who are racist towards them.

At the same time, I believe more Americans, including those in Hollywood, have come a long way compared to decades ago. 

The following is a video of Brandon Lee's interview with former Late Night Host, Jay Leno discussing Rapid Fire:

Brandon Lee's Interview With Jay Leno (1992)

RIP Brandon Lee!