Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Tweekums 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.

ivo-cobra8 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

inroad23 Jet Li's take on the story we all know as 'Fist of Fury' or 'The Chinese Connection' if you're American or 'Jing wu men' if you are Chinese. Ah Chen or Chen Zen (Jet Li) returns from his studies, to find his school has suffered at the hands of the Japanese Imperialists. Jet sets out to teach the local Japanese school a lesson & to find out who was behind his Martial Arts Academy's recent loss. This film made a lot of people really take notice of Jet Li, as Li displays excellent martial arts choreography throughout, courtesy of Yuen Woo Ping (Hong Kong Legend), there is very little (if any) 'wire-fu' in fact some of it is bone-crunchingly realistic, brilliant! There is one very important point I need to draw attention to, as it fundamentally, drastically alters the movie & that is the version of the film with the 'alternate' film-score, I think it's just the English dubbed version. The film-score used in the eng dub version is an absolute travesty, it completely dulls the impact of the original version. The film-score or lack thereof is a profoundly important part of any production. This film should only be watched in original with subtitles (if needed), at least until they ditch the score of the English dubbed one.

r-c-s this movie might have had what Bruce Lee's Chinese CONNECTION (FIST OF FURY) hadn't, namely 30 years of time, better SFX etc, but fails on more than one level. Sure, cinematography is much better ( CC was clearly shot in some second-rate studio ); you get more extras, outdoor scenes, etc, BUT it isn't enough to cut it. While CC failed on the acting level, this remake fails trying to add too many subplots: you get the "interracial/ethnic" love story subplot ( daughter of Japanese minister falls in love with poor Chinese immigrant ); the divided heritage subplot ( the carnal & adopted son of the deceased master cross paths & clash over who's in charge of the school ); the torn friendship subplot; the anti-war subplot; the conspiracy subplot; the denial of the "other" subplot; the "there are good ones & bad ones" subplot...short too many subplots for a martial arts movie, especially a B movie. In his movie, although cheesy & over-head at times, Lee could convey tension and make a point. This movie struggles with making any point, and with trying to add so many angles it loses focus quickly. Fight scenes are very good; acting better than CC. While I have watched Lee's movie 57 times, I wouldn't bother twice with this one, that is after all a very loose remake: only a small segment of the story overlaps with CC. The overlapping segment is handled in almost comical manner, while it was more carefully built-up in CC. Rumor has it both movies are inspired by real events, so who knows.