Fist of Legend (Jing wu ying xiong) was filmed in 1994, 22 years after the famous "Fist of Fury" also known as "The Chinese Connection" were the legendary Bruce Lee was staring as Chen Zhen. After 22 years you could expect a better movie than the original and you would be right at least it is as good as Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and to my opinion even better. The plot in "Fist of Legend" is very much the same as it's predecessor but Woo Ping Yuen added more fights: the movie tells the story of Chen Zhen (Jet Li) who is a student in Japan at a troubled time when Japan is trying to take control over China. While being in Japan Chen finds out that his old Kun Fu Master has been killed in a fight with a rivaling Karate School. Willing to find out the truth about his master's death Chen returns to China. The movie is build and (well) directed over two dynamics: the first one is the dynamic of hatred and racism in both ways (Chinese vs. Japanese and vice versa) the second one is the revenge/action dynamic which is a proved formula in those type of movie. Woo Ping Yuen manages these two dynamics with talent, he shows us that the country you come from is less important than the person you are and the goal you pursue. He also demonstrates that a Kun Fu movie is all about terrific actors, and very well designed choreography. Jet Li is of course amazing but Yasuaki Kurata (Fumio Funakoshi) and Billy Chow (Go Fujita) are equally very very talented. In this movie at least two of the fights (Yasuaki Kurata challenging Jet Li and Jet Li confronting Billy Chow) enter my top 10 favorite fights ever in the Kun Fu scene. Overall all the fights are truly amazing and Woo Ping Yuen (as well as Gordon Chan) shows us how gifted he is as a director and a choreographer. Don't forget that he is the director of the 1979 "Drunken Master", as well as the 1993 "Tai Chi Master". He has also directed the famous "Iron Monkey" in 1993 (Cult movie for the fan, according to me not that good). Remember that Woo Ping Yuen was the choreographer of the very famous and blockbuster "The Matrix" where he succeed in making us believe that Keenue Reeve is the one (true performance!!!). Fist of Legend is one of this very few very good Kun Fu movie. I personally consider this movie as one of the best Kun Fu movie ever made and definitely the best Jet Li movie. It is a must see/have along with Drunken Master (Jackie Chan), Legend of the Drunken Master (Jackie Chan), Enter the Dragon (Bruce Lee).
Review of Fist of Legend
Fist of Legend
(1994)
Impressive Choreography - One of the best Martial Art movie Ever
20 February 2001