Fist of Fury (1972)

Written & directed by Wei Lo (who also plays the role of The Inspector), "The Chinese Connection" is simply a classic Bruce Lee martial arts film. It of course serves its purpose of dishing out lots of great combat (complete with hilarious over use of "impact" sounds). But there's more here going on than that. This also features some funny comedy, and some particularly potent drama. It's a tale of bigotry, as the Japanese in Shanghai treat their Chinese counterparts with contempt, and demean them.Taking place at the turn of the 20th century, it stars Bruce as Chen Zhen, a student who returns to his school to learn that the beloved "Master" has died. Not only that, but he just might have been murdered, to boot. Naturally, Chen swears to solve the crime and get some revenge. He takes on all comers, while the carnage mounts.There's some pretty delicious gore in this lively affair, which goes on a bit long at one hour and 47 minutes, but it still has much to recommend it. Lo and Bruce get your attention and keep it with their many intense fight sequences. It also offers a little dose of romance, as Chen hopes to marry the girl whom he loves (Nora Miao). The villains are wonderfully despicable; you love to hate them, and eagerly anticipate the inevitable showdown between Bruce and characters such as Petrov (Robert Baker), a massive Russian who shows off his superhuman strength in one amusing segment.The acting is just fine from everybody concerned. Bruce is indeed at his best, proving his physical prowess at every turn and displaying that memorable screen presence.Good, solid action entertainment, a must for martial arts fans.Eight out of 10.

Bruce Lee's second major martial arts picture after The Big Boss, Fist Of Fury confirms him as one of the defining kung fu stars - especially as he choreographed his own fight scenes. Here, he's Chen Zhen, who fights to avenge his master's death while defending the honour of the Chinese against a ruling Japanese government who will do anything to crush the Chinese people's morale. I have to agree this movie is very anti Japanese though then again this movie was made at least 30 years after the Japanese had committed appalling war crimes through out china during the second world war. the fight scenes are superb especially when Chen Zhen takes on the bushido school resulting in him showing his nunchuku skills. overall this movie is a classic possibly the best Bruce Lee film next to enter the dragon.

in my opinion enter the dragon is a good kung fu movie but I have to say it is overrated. why because its often picked best kung fu movie because its in English and most of the people who rate it the best kung fu movie of all time have not seen any other kung fu movie like the golden harvest or Shaw brother movies. Fist of Fury is better because it is original and focuses full on lees character unlike enter the dragon which has cheesy American characters. Fist of fury also has a iconic story set during the foreign occupation of china when china was humiliated and scene as the week country of the east by many imperia pompous nations like the British, the Japanese and the French. as a result of his master death Bruce Lee swears to take revenge against the Japanese. don't get me wrong Enter the dragon is a good kung fu movie in the top ten but it certainly isn't the best kung fu movie, I would probably put this or the 36th chamber shaolin as the best kung fu movie.

I always swap between this film and Enter the dragon being my favourite Bruce Lee Film. ETD is slicker but the few fight scenes that there are in this film are among Bruce Lee's best in my opinion. The reason is that he is acting while fighting. He is supposed to be this crazy guy who is driven mad by his masters murder and this sure comes through in the fight scenes. Two in particular are when he kills the guy involved in poisoning his master ( acted by the same guy who was the Big Boss in the first Chinese Martial Arts Film Lee did ) 'Why did you kill my teacher then?' and then at the Japanese school when he says ' I will allow you to leave, Scram, Scram, Scraaaam!' Pure magic. Also the fight against the Russian allows Bruce to show off some excellent Kung fu skills ( apart from the silly hand waving scene,what was that supposed to be about? ) When Bruce switches styles from Kung Fu, Karate and Western Boxing to confuse the Russian it is Bruce showing Jeet Kune Do at it's best. The film has it's silly comic elements, like the rickshaw throwing scene, but this was probably Lo Wei's (Director) idea. And the love scenes with Nora Mao are too long and unnecessary. All the other fighters in the film look really amateurish compared to Bruce with one or two exceptions. The scene where the Japanese boss flies through the wall after Bruce kicks him is actually a young Jackie Chan as a stunt man. Jackie mentions in his biography that he was the only stunt man willing to do that scene as it involved landing on his back. Jackie is also the stunt man who has his neck broken by Bruce in Enter the Dragon. All in all I still enjoy this film having watched it probably over 30 times.