Fist of Legend
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Movie Reviews of Fist of Legend
Movie Review: The Sequel to Fearless?
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm sure some people have made the connection already but I think I'd just point it out now and say that Fist of Legend is pretty much a fictitious sequel to the turn of events that occur in Fearless, the story about Huo Yuanjia and how his death turned up as a explosive dilemma in Chinese culture during that time and this movie runs about the same era... if not the SAME story.
Where I'm getting at is that the story of Fist of Legend is that a martial arts student, Chen Zen, of the Jingwu Federation finds out their master has been killed in a comptetition... Jingwu was founded by Huo Yuanjia himself and when Chen Zen fights the Japanese man who fought supposedly fought Chen's master, he even says he'll fight the Sensei with the Huo fist, his master's fist. HUO YUANJIA's style.
There are some strange connections that lead up by connecting the two movies but if you make the distinctions clear enough to understand, they do match up, which was pretty neat. Other evidence that follows up that Fist of Legend is a presumable sequel is when Chen Zen goes to pay respects to his dead master, there at the temple is the picture of Huo Yuanjia. Seriously.
Alright aside from tid-bitting self-produced facts and such, Fist of Legend is a movie that's timeless to Jet-Li's other performances. I only wish I could find an english subtitled version of this movie or something because the dubbing does NOT serve it justice! I won't knock its rating down just for dubbing, that'd be a shame to do because everything else about the movie is fantastic. Action sequencing is profoundly neat, that mediocre type of filming chinese movies seem to use for a broad majority of their films is actually quite good in this one, not quality, but by execution and performances really get you in to know each character and who they stand as.
I can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't get this movie if they're a big kung fu movie buff, action movie lover or Jet-Li fanatic, or someone who just wants some unique exposure to these realms. Fist of Legend is definitely a reamarkable piece of work and entertainment.
Movie Review: Li's Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Jet Li is an accomplished martial artist, having won 5 consecutive all-China tournaments earlier in his career. In addition, he has top-quality style and an impressive screen presence. Fortunately, these qualities are being recognized by the film industry -- and this is a major breakthrough for the martial arts genre. The last martial arts hero on the screen was Bruce Lee, who, though admired universally for his exceptional talent, his skills in acting and fight-scene choreography, and his screen presence, was never taken too seriously by Western film-makers (his only break in the industry was Enter The Dragon -- certainly a fantastic movie, but not enough to open the doors for him as they should have been). It looks like the doors may open wide for Jet Li. He may well be the new Bruce Lee, now with all the recognition and glory that his predecessor had been denied.Li's martial arts skills are showcased nicely in Fist of Legend. Li is thrilling to watch -- he's a master of many forms and has great aptitude with a variety of weapons. The plot is a little bit thinner--and the dialog a little cornier--than typical Western action-thrillers (though it does have more subtlety than typical martial arts flicks).
The basic storyline of the movie is that Chen Zhen (played by Li) during his stay in Japan as a student, learns of his master's murder. He returns to a Japanese-occupied Shanghai, discovers that the guy who supposedly defeated his master in battle is really a wimp, and tracks down the real plot behind his master's death -- all the while inflaming the Japanese authorities who are determined to bury the investigation. Many awesome brawls must be fought along the way.
This movie is probably does the best among all of Li's films in showing Li's martial arts prowess. His recent movie Romeo Must Die is a much more polished Western movie -- better plot, better dialog -- but the martial arts in Romeo Must Die always border on the peculiar (though very entertaining). By contrast, Fist of Legend gives the martial arts fan what he/she is looking for in a martial arts film.
Movie Review: You Won't Believe What You Are Watching
Summary: 5 Stars
Fist of Legend is a true powerhouse of a Kung-Fu movie, where 2 minute dialog scenes only serve to bridge the most amazing martial arts fights you will ever watch. This movie is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection", which is appropriate, because Jet Li deservingly surpasses the Master in skill and talent with his performance in this movie. Forget dialog and acting, the fighting absolutely rules this movie, and the story is told thru the fighting, like any good action movie should do. I consider this film to be the Best Matrial Arts movie ever made.Jet Li plays a star kung-fu student returning from afar to avenge his master's death. Along the way, he fights just about everyone he sees. While there are a couple of large-scale gang wars, most action scenes are 2 man duels. These duels advance the plot and develop the characters while they dish out the action, just like the kung-fu in the Matrix, or the lightduels in the Star Wars films. These fighters dig deep into themselves, get out old grudges they have with old friends, and learn about the mysterious ways of the universe as they watch it flow through their bodies. Everything is present in the punches and kicks of this film - power, grace, spiritual peace, comedy, raging emotion, revenge, personal courage. Wire-work is subtle and restrained, and takes a backseat to Li's amazing speed and precision. If you are reminded of The Matrix you have a sharp eye, because the same choreographer worked on this film, and it shows. Many of the little touches in the Matrix were lifted from this movie, in homage to its genius. One unbelievable moment has Jet Li fighting a Japanese master while both are blindfolded. The finale is a gruelly 40 minute duel between Li and an absolute evil bad-guy, two towering masters giving their absolute 100%. In the end, you are just as exhausted as the fighters are, but you certainly had more fun.
"Fist of Legend" is definitely a must-buy, as you'll get many, many viewings out of this film.
Movie Review: Definitely the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, there's nothing more i can say about this movie that everyone else hasn't already said. Yes,the dub and translation is horrible, but this is honestly the best version you're gonna get picture and sound wise unfortunately. I own both the US and the uncut HK version, and I personally prefer the uncut version which is in the original chinese language with english subs. Dubs dont cut it for me anymore. What you're missing from the uncut version is an opium smoking scene and it's not that big of a deal. The US version, however, has a much better sound in every category (effects, score, etc) and the picture is better as well. I couldn't choose one, so I own both. This is the remake of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury (Chinese Connection in US), and it has the honor of being called a great one at that. Jet plays Chen who returns from studying in Japan after discovering the death of his master...he's convinced that he was murdered and sought out to discover the truth. He discovers a Japanese general was involved, and Jet must fight to avenge his master. Let's get to the point, Fists of Legend is by far the best work of martial arts caught on film. There is no disrespect to Bruce Lee here for Bruce was great in his own genre of fighting, which was more hardcore and real. Not all the fighting scenes in Fist of Legend are physically possible if one really thinks about it, but damn, the choreography (Woo Ping once again) makes it look so real and awesome. No other film has so many classic fights and this has major replay value.I'm a major fan of Jet, and in my opinion this is his best film "fighting-wise" period.Don't get me wrong,Tai Chi Master(Twin Warriors),Fong Sai Yuk(The Legend series),Once Upon a Time series, and Swordsman II were all awesome, but a lot of them have a lot of unrealistic stuff(like flying).This is a must watch for anybody.If you want to watch a great Jet Li film,this is the best start.It does't get any better than this.Movie Review: jet li's best
Summary: 5 Stars
Fist of Legend is an absolute best for the martial arts fan. This movie is right up there with Enter The Dragon and The Legend of Drunken Master. Fist of Legend has one of the best fight scenes ever in movie history.
Fist of Legend is considered by many to be Jet Li's best film. There are a lot of fights from the beginning to the end, with each one becoming better than the first. Some of the scenes are awesome one on one's, one on many, or group fights. In addition to the large amount of action, the movie has a good story, focusing on the era with the Japan and China conflicts. The movie begins with info regarding the death of Chen Zen's (Jet Li) master. Jet Li sets out to find out who commited the crime, but the story evolves much deeper than the average avenge story. There is even a bit of Romeo Juliet tied in, as Chen Zen's girlfriend is Japaneese, and he is Chineese.
The fights though, are what make this movie an action powerhouse. Every fight is beautifully choregraphed and most of the fights are several minutes in length. Jet Li has 2 great, lengthy one on one fights near the end of the film. The final fight is against Billy Chou, tall and quite physical actor. The nearly 10 minute fight scene is more than just kicking and punching, but involves lots of objects breaking. Ultimate Fights called this fight one of the best ever in movie history.
You cannot go wrong with this film at all. Fist of Legend is a must have and a great beginner's movie for the world of martial arts or Jet Li...you can even enjoy the English dubbed version, its not too annoying.