Fist of Legend (1994)

recommended

Excellent, a Must See

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Set in 1914 Chinese student Chen Zhen is studying engineering in Kyoto where he is confronted by members of the Black Dragon Clan, a group of Japanese martial arts students who don't want Chinese in their country… he easily defeats them as he is a highly skilled practitioner of Kung-fu. Afterwards the student's master apologises to Chen and also informs him that his master has been killed in challenge match in Shanghai against a Japanese fighter. Chen returns to China and confronts the man he fought. He wins and is convinced that his master was in fact murdered and an autopsy soon reveals that he was poisoned. Meanwhile the Japanese fighter is murdered by General Fujita; Chen is accused of the murder but is cleared when Mitsuko Yamada, a student Chen knew in Kyoto, tells the caught that he was with her the night of the murder. This isn't the end of Chen's problems; when he returns to the Kung-fu school with Mitsuko it is made clear that she will never be welcome as she is Japanese. He leaves with her but inevitably he will fight again and ultimately face General Fujita.There seems to be some confusion about when this film is set; IMDb says it is in 1937 but references to Japan siding with the United Kingdom against Germany suggests it is really 1914. This doesn't affect ones enjoyment of the film though. The story is solid and there is a lot of brilliantly choreographed martial arts action. This doesn't include the wire assisted leaps that feature in so many such films, it is also pretty bone-crunching at times. Jet Li is on great form as protagonist Chen Zhen; both during the numerous fight scenes and the non-action scenes. Shinobu Nakayama does a fine job as Mitsuko and Yasuaki Kurata impresses as her uncle, an honourable Japanese fighter. Billy Chow is suitably unpleasant as the dastardly General Fujita. The production values are very high; if it wasn't for the young looking Jet Li I'd have thought it was made much more recently! Overall I'd certainly recommend this for any fans of martial arts films.These comments are based on watching the film in Cantonese with English subtitles.

In 1937, a Chinese martial artist (Jet Li) returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese. (The film is a remake of the 1972 "Fist of Fury", which starred Bruce Lee as the lead character.) This film is hailed as influential; for example, "Fist of Legend" inspired the Wachowskis to hire choreographer Yuen Woo-ping for the fight scenes in "The Matrix" (1999). The style of fighting in the two films therefore bears some resemblance. Apparently, it was also a model for other American films from the late 1990s onward.Being no expert on martial arts films, I couldn't say why this one had an impact when so many others did not. Maybe it was just brought to the United Sates by Miramax at the right time? If nothing else, the production value is worlds ahead of the classic Shaw Brothers films.

Jet Li at his prime. Jet Li's remake of THE CHINEESE CONNECTION by Bruce Lee not The Fist Of Fury by Bruce Lee is well done and slightly alterted so its not the exact same thing although Jet Li's and Bruce Lee's name is the same in the movie. Anyone who is a fan of Jet Li or old kung fu movies should love this movie and is on my top ten list of greatest kung fu movies. Very good fighting scenes that are realistic and not a lot of other fake things in them like wire fu and other things like that. Its a very pure kung fu movie and is a great homage to Bruce Lee's CHINEESE CONNECTION not Fist of Fury (although that is a great Bruce Lee movie).

Sometimes it's nice to watch a martial arts film, where the fighting feels plausible (if exceptionally elite). This film delivers a remarkable series of fight sequences without needlessly sacrificing the story.The historical setting lends itself to a natural tension that is utilized to create conflicts within the main characters and groups within the story.Whilst I suspect there is plenty of wire work and other techniques used in the film, it never feels entirely unrealistic and is a pleasure to watch and admire these athletes in action.A definite see for martial arts fans.