Fist of Legend (1994)

"The simplest attack is the most effective"

Jet Li starred in Fist of Legend, a remake of Bruce Lee’s 1972 Fist of Fury. While no one could top Bruce’s lightning-fast moves or charisma, I quite enjoyed this film. Jet Li, Kurata Yasuaki, Chin Siu Ho, and Billy Chow were accomplished fighters in their own styles adding a level of realism to their battles aided by Yuen Woo Ping’s compelling fight choreography.

In 1937, Chen Zhen is studying engineering in Japan when he hears his sifu died during a duel. He leaves his Japanese girlfriend, Mitsuko, behind and catches the first ship out of town. After visiting his master’s memorial, he heads straight to the killer’s dojo and challenges him to a duel, after he defeats all of the students first, of course. He quickly determines that Akutagawa could never have beaten Master Hua Yuen Jia. In the process of clearing his master’s reputation, he runs afoul of General Fujita, a ruthless killing machine that has no use for the Chinese.

I almost rated this a 10 right off the bat for one reason, when Chen Zhen lived in Japan and was confronted during class by students from a nearby dojo, he dispatched them quickly and efficiently. No hitting someone 10 times with them barely feeling it. Chen Zhen went after their weak spots-shoulders, elbow joints, and knees. I cannot tell you how many martial arts films I’ve watched frustrated that the hero never hits his opponents in key anatomical places, but instead hits people dozens of times with ineffectual strikes. What also improved this scene was Kurata Yasuaki who played the students’ master, Fumio. He scolded them and told them to be thankful for the mercy their beater showed.

Yuen Woo Ping along with a couple of other Yuens choreographed the fights. The story may have been thin, but it provided plenty of opportunities for fists and kicks. There wasn’t a weak fight in the lot. Whether fighting a dojo full of offended students or one-on-one, the fights were fast, targeted, and entertaining to watch. A match between Chen Zhen and Fumio in an open field showcased different styles and a desire for understanding. The inevitable deadly brawl with Fujita was brutal and inventive. Jet Li was an accomplished fighter as were David Kurata and Billy Chow (Fujita). There was very little wire work and these guys put on a show. Nowadays, anyone can look like a fighter with wires, close-ups, editing, CGI, and slo-mo. This film was filled with people who knew what they were doing, adding authenticity with their speed and agility. The intricate choreography had me wondering how many hours were required to rehearse the complicated fights.

This story versus the original showed a more even-handed approach to both groups of people. As in Fist of Fury there was no sugar coating of the Japanese presence in China. Fujita was thoroughly evil as most Japanese characters were portrayed in these films. Instead of all of the Japanese being prejudiced and violent against the Chinese, there was Fumio who disapproved of Japan’s militaristic actions. Just a quick note to say, I loved that Kurata who was often relegated to villain roles was allowed to play a wise, old master here. Chen’s love interest was Japanese and though she was a good person she was rejected by both the Chinese and the Japanese. Master Huo had been betrayed by Chinese characters showing the universal flawed nature of people. The Japanese were absolutely demonstrated as being in the wrong for occupying Shanghai, but this time the approach had more nuance.

Fist of Legend was a thrilling martial arts film and packed with quality fights. For a 1994 kung fu film, the production values were high and the acting was not a letdown. Watching Jet Li in his prime without the overuse of wires was a treat. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a martial arts film this much. If you like these old films, you definitely should seek this one out to give a try. (As a reminder, my rating is based on comparisons to other martial arts films, not major studio productions.)

1 March 2025

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I see why this movie is a classic! The fighting scenes are simply amazing and would make the movie worth it alone. If anyone liked Ip Man 1, this is the movie for them. I thought the plot was interesting, and more nuanced than other movies: we see Japanese characters opposed to the war against China, and of course, the forbidden romance between a Chinese and a Japanese. I also found it interesting that Jet Li’s character, who studied in Japan, incorporates techniques from boxing and other martial arts. He embodies both innovation and respect for tradition. A real treat for kung fu fans!

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