The Death of Brandon Lee: One of Films Most Tragic Moments

March 31st 1993 will forever remain one of the saddest days in modern film history. 52 days into a 60 day shoot, Brandon Lee, son of the late martial arts expert Bruce Lee, was tragically shot and killed during the filming of the supernatural action film, The Crow.

As did his father (Enter the Dragon 1973), Lee never lived to see the release of his most successful work. However, also like his father, mystery and suspicion surrounding the actor’s death will forever immortalise Brandon Lee in movie folklore.

Young Brandon Lee with father Bruce. image via es.wikipedia.org

Young Brandon Lee with father Bruce.
image via es.wikipedia.org

On April 1st 1993, the Los Angeles Times reported “Actor Brandon Lee, the 28-year-old son of the late Kung Fu star Bruce Lee, was killed Wednesday after a small explosive charge used to simulate gunfire went off inside a grocery bag during filming on a movie set in Wilmington, N.C.”

However, the article later states that “it is still unclear whether the projectile came from the gun or the grocery bag or both. “When the other actor fired a shot, the explosive charge went off inside the bag,” said Wilmington police Officer Michael Overton. “After that, we don’t know what happened.”

Although admitting the case was still under investigation, Wilmington Police announced that they were treating the incident as an accident, yet many fans suspected foul play. After suspicion surrounding the cause of Bruce’s death from an apparent reaction to painkillers in 1973, many were sceptical about the causality of Brandon’s fatal last scene.

The unfinished 1973 martial arts film Game of Death, starring Bruce Lee, provides even more spooky coincidences that further fuelled the fire of many conspiracy theorists, as Lee’s character is shot in similar circumstances to his real life son, although he does return to take revenge.

So how did this tragic event really occur? In the scene, Lee is supposed to have been shot by thugs as he walks into his apartment to find his girlfriend being raped. It is believed that due to increasing time restraints, the decision was made to use dummy cartridges in the prop weaponry, which appear functional, yet contain no gun-powder.

The empties would be made from real cartridges, a responsibility handed to effects technician Bruce Merlin. To do this, Merlin, assisted by prop master Daniel Kuttner, would dismantle the live cartridges by removing the bullets, emptying all contained gun-powder, detonating the primer (a device for igniting the powder charge in a modern cartridge of centerfire ammunition) and then re-assembling the cartridge.

During preparation, Merlin and Kuttner tested the gun that would be used in scene by using a cartridge containing only a primer and a bullet with no gun-powder, which caused the bullet to become lodged into the forcing cone of the gun. When it came to shooting the scene, the live bullet remained in the barrel, which was then propelled out by the explosion from a blank cartridge, fatally injuring Lee in the process, as the cameras rolled.

Lee was pronounced dead at 1.04pm. After being buried next to his father in Washington, footage capturing Lee’s death was destroyed before ever being developed. Released in 1994, The Crow became a box office smash and is now regarded as a cult classic.

5 of the coolest fictional weapons in film

The image shows Billy Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd with their roles in the film, Ghostbusters.

Since cinema first began, filmmakers have been crafting new and intriguing weapons. Even though these weapons aren’t real, we sure wish they could be. Cinema has played host to some fantastic fictional weaponry over the years and I believe that these 5 are the best of the bunch (in no particular order).

1. Identity disc, Tron (1982)

Image shows a character from the movie Tron, holding an identity disc.

Image via: blushots.weebly.com

Whilst it may look like a silly, glowing Frisbee to the untrained eye, the identity disc first featured in the 1982 sc-fi film, Tron holds a lot of power. Used to store all data that individual programs and users possess, the identity disc is mainly used as a deadly throwing weapon, de-rezzing any program in its path. On a side note, if you lose your disc, it’ll be end of the line for you.


2. Death Star, Star Wars (1977)

Image shows a large circular space station, the Death Star from the film, Star Wars

Image via: blogs.esa.int

The largest weapon on this list, the Death Star was (spoiler) the biggest weapon of the imperial fleet. With the power to completely decimate any planet it pointed at thanks to the massive green laser on board, the Rebels knew they had to take it out. Completely flawless in design apart from one tiny little detail, a tiny exhaust port that could potentially blow the whole thing up. “That’s no moon, it’s a space station!”


3. Proton Pack, Ghostbusters (1984)

The image shows Billy Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd with their roles in the film, Ghostbusters.

Image via: hollywood.com

“Don’t cross the streams!” The proton pack, designed by tech expert, Dr. Egon Spengler is designed to lasso ghosts via a proton stream. The device itself however, is rather bulky and requires a rather large batter pack to be taken with you at all times. The proton pack must also be used with caution, crossing the streams may result in some rather unwanted consequences.


4. M41A Pulse Rifle, Aliens (1986)

Image shows protagonist Ellen Ripley brandishes a Pulse Rifle in the movie Aliens.

Image via: lightspeedgaming.blogspot.co.uk

The introduction of the space marines in this Alien sequel brought with it an array of pretty badass weaponry. Most notable of which, is the M41A Pulse Rifle. Protagonist Ellen Ripley brandishes one of these at the end of the film, taking out the queen,
I wanna introduce you to a personal friend of mine. This is an M41A pulse rifle. Ten millimeter with an over-and-under thirty millimeter pump action grenade launcher.” – Corporal Hicks


5. Lightsaber, Star Wars (1977)

Image shows a red glowing lightsaber from the movie Star Wars

Image via: Leviathyn.com

Nothing is more iconic than the weapon of choice of both the Jedi and the Sith in the Star Wars franchise. The distinct hum of the elegant lightsaber is something that everyone is familiar with, and is certainly the most famous of all fictional weapons.
“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” – Ben Kenobi

 

Events, offers and releases 17/03/14

Shailene Woodley and Theo James in a still from Divergent.

 

Shailene Woodley and Theo James in a still from Divergent.

Image via welivefilm.com

Divergent – Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet, Divergent is a continuation of the new cinematic genre such as The Hunger Games and Twilight. Set in a dystopian future, post-apocalyptic version of Chicago where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Woodley plays Beatrice Prior, she is ‘divergent’ and therefore does not fit into any of the factions set out, something that is not accepted by faction leader Jeanine Matthews (Winslet).

In cinemas March 21st, if you like The Hunger Games, you’ll love this.

Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell in a poster for the muppets

Image via hypable.com

Muppets Most Wanted – Modern Family’s Ty Burrell along with funny-people Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey join forces with the Muppets in this second instalment of the fun franchise. great for kids and adults alike, this film will have you laughing out loud.

In cinemas March 21st.

To book tickets visit Odeon.

Last of Us movie WILL be a game adaptation.

The team behind the Last of Us video game have confirmed that the movie adaptation will closely follow the original plot.

Last of Us movie will be a game adaptation. image via relyonhorror.com

Last of Us movie will be a game adaptation.
image via relyonhorror.com

IGN have reported that creator, Niel Druckmann, announced that there will be a film version of the game which is critically acclaimed for its creative story telling.

“It’s an adaptation of the story of The Last of Us, as far as where we go and how we make it fit into a film, how it takes into account the unique properties of film… We’re not sure yet. We’re only just scratching the surface.”Druckmann told IGN, during last nights Bafta Game Awards 2014.

“We’re still trying to figure it out. We’re brainstorming some stuff, so we’ll see where that goes.”

Druckmann also spoke about plans for potential game sequels, which may or may not be incorporated in the film.

 

Leonardo Dicaprio and that elusive Oscar.

Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr, Johnny Depp, and even our Inside Film favourite Bill Murray, are just a few of countless examples of superstar actors who have, surprisingly, never won an Oscar.

However, none ever seemed more surprising than the case of Leonardo DiCaprio, possibly the most “A-list” one of all. In recent years, the capture of “Leo” as your lead or supporting actor almost guaranteed Box Office success.  His four film partnership with master director Martin Scorsese has provided some of the most complete pictures of the last two decades.

The Aviator picked up five Oscars in 2004, whilst the Departed took four in 2007. He was the main event of the $160 million dollar blockbuster Inception, which also won four Oscars. The joint highest academy award winning film in one year, Titanic, which took eleven, co-starred DiCaprio in what once was the highest grossing film of all time, second only to Avatar.

Did DiCaprio ever really stand a chanc of winning an Oscar in 2014? "Absolutely ****ing not. image via www.awardsdaily.com

Did DiCaprio ever really stand a chanc of winning an Oscar in 2014? “Absolutely ****ing not.
image via www.awardsdaily.com

Yet, as we all know, DiCaprio has not managed to pick up an Oscar for himself, and that has slowly become a somewhat begrudgingly, accepted reality. Speaking to Deadline.com before the 89th Academy Awards, DiCaprio said that “As you know my friend, no one knows what is going to happen. Everyone has their predictions about everything. I’ve no expectations whatsoever for anything or anyone. All I am doing at this point is doing my best to showcase a project I love very dearly and am very proud of.”

No one ever really expected Leonardo to win Best Lead when he was nominated in 2014, yet everyone was rooting for him when the award eventually went to Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club.

Despite his countlessly diverse roles, undeniable popularity and an ability to be an absolute box-office smash hit, DiCaprio appears to be no closer to making his acceptance speech to the academy. Moreover, his recent announcements to take a “long, long break” from acting, after filming the Great Gatsby, Django Unchained and the Wolf of Wall Street back to back threatens any opportunity of academy award nominations, of which he has only ever had four, in the near future. His last substantial hiatus lasted over two years and DiCaprio has given very little to indicate when he will return to the screen.

However, with Scorsese remaining precautious over details of a Frank Sinatra biopic, which may or may not be coming sooner than we originally thought, it has become a widespread assumption that DiCaprio will take the lead on a sixth collaboration. Biopics have long since been seen as an actor’s easiest way to win the award, a recent example being Jamie Foxx taking the Best Actor award for Ray in 2004.

So, perhaps it may still be a case of when, rather than if, Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins an Academy Award. DiCaprio said in 2014 that “I don’t feel like I deserve anything but it feels good to just be in the conversation and have your peers say, ‘OK, this is at least worth talking about’. “ Though in hindsight, does Leonardo even need the award in the first place? He may not have been officially recognized by the Academy, but that does not mean DiCaprio still has anything to prove. Not to his fans at least, who to them – the longer Leo goes on without winning an Oscar, the less significant every past Oscar winner becomes.

Keep smiling Leo!

image via kelizaeverson.wordpress.com

image via kelizaeverson.wordpress.com