Fist of Legend (1994)

Fist of Legend (1994) is one of the best Jet Li's martial arts ever made! I think this film is a classic martial arts film, it is filled with excitement and action. I love this film to death it is my third favorite Jet Li film ever! Widely regarded as the greatest film of two legendary careers, Fist of Legend teams superstar Jet Li with martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix) for "some" of the best fight sequences that you see. In this tribute to Bruce Lee's classic The Chinese Connection (Fists of Fury). Jet Li radiates sheer power and coolness as a Kung Fu phenom living abroad who returns home to avenge the death of his master and save his martial arts school. Shifting effortlessly among diverse fighting styles. Li even fights blindfolded and wields his belt as a deadly weapon. Fist of Legend is essential viewing for any Jet Li fan and "the promised land for Kung Fu cinema.""The object of matching is to beat down the opponent."Plot: Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in Kyoto, who braves the insults and abuse of his Japanse fellow students for his local love Mitsuko Yamada, daughter of the director, returns in 1937 to his native Shangai, under Japanse protectorate -in fact military occupation- after reading about the death of his Kung-Fu master Huo Yuan Jia in a fight against the Japanese champion Ryuichi Akutagawa. While overcoming suspicion and ambition within the Kung Fu school, Chen exhumes his master to prove Hou's defeat was the result of poisoning. Both nationalities make the case a test of honor, so Chinese and Japanese pride are at stake when it culminates in Chen's final epic duel against the ruthless, undefeated Japanese general Fujita.So the basic plot is more about the First World War as the Japanese forces are on their way to besiege the German port of Tsingtao in China and it is set in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1914. A lot of Jet Li fan's are choosing Once Upon A Time In China I and II as their favorite Jet Li film, I choose Fist of Legend as my favorite Hong Kong movie and I absolutely love. Watching the first time this film, I thought it was way better than Bruce Lee film because, Jet Li's character Chen Zhen was well decent written and he wasn't violent person like was Bruce Lee (I am sorry I am not disrespecting Bruce Lee but his portrait of Chen Zhen was too violent and racist for me.) I love Bruce Lee and Fists of Fury is not my favorite Bruce Lee film and I think Jet Li was way better as Chen Zhen than Bruce Lee that is just my opinion.Director Gordon Chan write and directed this martial arts flick perfectly and made more a human portraying drama in this film which I love it to death. A sequel was made in 2010 Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen in which Gordon Chan was a writer and started Donnie Yen. Fist of Legend inspired the Wachowskis to hire choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping for the fight scenes in The Matrix. The style of fighting in the two films bears some resemblance. This film has also Yuen Woo-Ping who also directed my favorite action martial arts flick In the Line of Duty IV (1989) with Cynthia Khan and Donnie Yen in the lead role and of course Tiger Cage II (1990) with Donnie Yen in the lead role again which both of the films are my favorite Chinese action martial arts films and stunts are performed realistic. Here we have Yasuaki Kurata from Bloodfight (1989) as one of the bad guys who fights against Jet Li. Considered one of Jet Li's finest movie, what sets this version apart from Bruce Lee's original one is the depiction of the Sino-Japanese relationship: while fist of fury's (Chinese connection) Japanese characters were caricaturing villains partaking in numerous immoral activities, the Fist of legend portrays the Japanese in a more humane way. Although the setting lends itself for a revenge plot, Fist of legend is more about justice and honor than killing and revenge. Training scenes: Unlike other martial arts movie, the protagonist here trains to maintain and improve himself, as opposed to acquiring new skills. The training methods brought forward by Chen Zhen are unorthodox by traditional Kung Fu standards. His method of body conditioning include casual western exercise such as jogging, rope jumping, one arm chin-ups and push ups. Despite embracing new methods, it is shown that Chen Zhen still values more traditional training methods such as form practice, target striking and sparring exercises.Fighting scenes: The fights in Fist of legend are realistic enough that wire enhanced movements easily go by unnoticed. As usual, Jet Li's movements quick and are sharp, making the fight scenes a pleasure to watch. The fight choreography, imagined by Yuen Woo-Ping became an inspiration for many subsequent Hollywood productions, including the Matrix and Kiss of the Dragon.Overral: Fist of Legend is my favorite Hong Kong Jet Li Kung Fu film that I love to death. The rating I am giving is 10/10 for a perfect entertaining martial arts flick! Fist of Legend is a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Gordon Chan, featuring action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping, and produced by Jet Li, who also starred in the lead role. The film was released on 22 December 1994. It is a remake of the 1972 Fist of Fury, which starred Bruce Lee as the lead character.10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: Golden Harvest Starring: Jet Li, Chin Siu-ho, Shinobu Nakayama, Billy Chau, Yasuaki Kurata, Paul Chun, Yuen Cheung-Yan Director: Gordon Chan Producers: Jet Li Screenplay: Gordon Chan, Lam Kee-to, Kim Yip Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 43 Mins. Box Office: HK$30,724,330

Good: Almost everything. The fight scenes are incredible. Jet Li oozes skill, speed and presence. Maybe not as much as Bruce Lee but Jet is definitely a worthy actor for this classic kung-fu flick remake. I can't comment on the plot since it is based on the original movie, and the original is based on a folktale anyways.Bad: The end. I just didn't like how he faked out his own death. A real sacrifice would've been much more moving, but they played it out as humour. Also, it is evident that some of the fighting scenes are sped up. You don't need to speed up Jet Li fights! You just don't! What's ironic is that Bruce Lee actually had to slow down his moves on camera, and here, it's opposite.Verdict: 100% recommend.

Jet Li stars as Chen Zhen, a martial artist studying in Japan, who returns home when his old master dies during a challenge against a Karate school. Chen Zhen suspects foul play, and discovers that his master was poisoned before the fight. It seems that the nasty Japanese aren't playing fair, so Chen Zhen sets out to get revenge.This remake of the Bruce Lee classic Fist of Fury is one of Li's best films, chock full of top notch fight scenes in which our hero proceeds to kick seven shades of the proverbial out of his opponents. These fight scenes, by renowned action director Yuen Woo-Ping, show Li at his most brutal; any wire-fu is kept to a minimum, and Li is able to show off his blisteringly fast skills to great effect.Standout fights include Li against a school of Karate students, Li fighting blindfolded against his Japanese girlfriend's uncle (played by Yasuaki Kurata), and the climactic battle against double-hard bastard General Fujita (Billy Chow).If you've only ever seen Li in a US production, then do yourself a favour and watch Fist of Legend to see what he is really capable of.

When a Chinese student in Japan learns that his former kung-fu teacher has been murdered he returns home to find out what happened. Much to his chagrin his school's reputation is on the brink of being nothing and the Japanese army is trying to take over Hong Kong. The movie is set right before World War 2. All history and back story set aside, though it isn't bad and the revenge story is interesting, the star here are the jaw dropping, insane, out-of-this-world, spectacularly choreographed, mind-blowing, intense, and just truly awesome fight scenes.There are many throughout the film and each one has its own rhythm and series of little thrills that add to a truly great martial arts movie. Choreographed by a master of the art of choreography, Cheung-Yan Yuen, and starring one of the world's leading martial arts stars, Jet Li, this in one kung-fu movie that you don't want to miss. 8/10Rated R: intense violence