88 Films 4K UHD Synopsis: A stunning reinvention of Bruce Lee's time 1972 classic, Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend is considered by many to be the greatest Kung Fu movie of all time! In the most electrifying performance of his celebrated career, international superstar, Jet Li, plays Chen Zhen – he matchless student of China's preeminent Kung Fu master, Fok Yun Gap. Upon returning home to Shanghai after a period of study abroad, he discovers that his homeland has been devastated by a brutal Japanese occupation, and that his once proud martial arts academy has fallen into disarray following the untimely demise of his beloved Master – allegedly in a challenge match with a member of the Japanese Black Dragon Clan. Disgusted by the official verdict on his teacher's death, Chen embarks on a heroic and uncompromising one-man quest to uncover the true killer and restore dignity to his fallen people – a journey that will bring him into deadly confrontation with Japan's most formidable fighters. (103 Mins)

 

Cineasia/Dragon Dynasty UK Blu-ray Synopsis: A stunning reinvention of Bruce Lee's time 1972 classic, Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend is considered by many to be the greatest Kung Fu movie of all time! Jet Li plays Chen Zhen – the matchless student of China's preeminent Kung Fu master, Fok Yun Gap. Upon returning home to Japanese-occupied Shanghai after a period of study abroad, Zhen is devastated to discover that his beloved Master has been mysteriously killed – allegedly in a challenge match with a member of the Japanese Black Dragon Clan. Disgusted by the official verdict on his teacher's death, Chen embarks on a heroic one-man quest to uncover the true killer – a journey that will bring him into deadly confrontation with Japan's most formidable fighters. Showcasing exceptional action-choreography from the ace martial arts director of The Matrix Trilogy & Kill Bill, Fist of Legend is a brilliant masterpiece that has been awarded iconic status by fans across the world. (99 Mins)

 

Dragon Dynasty US DVD Synopsis: Widely regarded as the greatest film of two legendary careers, Fist of Legend teams superstar Jet Li with martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping (The Matrix) for “some of the best fight sequences you will ever see” (Dan Mitchell, IGN Movies). In this tribute to Bruce Lee's classic The Chinese Connection (aka Fist Of Fury), 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 kungfu cinema” (HongKongCinema.com). (103 Mins)

 

Made In Hong Kong UK VHS Synopsis: The epic tale of an honorable man's heroic battle against a corrupt nation. Martial arts big screen superstar and world-beating Wing Chun ace Jet Lee (“Once Upon A Time In China”, “Lethal Weapon 4”) rightly inherits Bruce Lee's mantle in this remake of the masters 1972 box-office smash “Fist Of Fury”. Set in Shanghai at the turn-of-the-century, fantastically choreographed and boasting an extraordinary soundtrack, “Fist Of Legend” blasts classic kung fu action into the nineties with a vengeance. (98 Mins)

 

Views: While it has long been considered as one of Jet Li's finest movies and been a favourite of many Western fans since its release back in 1994, Fist Of Legend was considered a box office failure upon its initial release in Hong Kong – taking in only half of what Jet Li's very own Fong Sai Yuk had scored during it's release the previous year. Returning to Shanghai after hearing about his teachers mysterious death, Chen Zhen makes it his duty to find out what really happened as he goes up against the occupying Japanese forces and their wicked General Fujita!

 

Hailed as a reworking of Bruce Lee's groundbreaking Fist of Fury, (aka) The Chinese Connection, Jet Li's Fist Of Legend was only one of a host of remakes and spin-offs that quickly followed the 1972 classic. While Bruce Li starred in unrelated sequels such as Fist Of Fury 2 and Fist Of Fury 3 respectively, original director Lo Wei would deliver his own directed sequel with a young Jackie Chan in New Fist Of Fury; with Chan having previously appeared in the original as a stunt double. But in amongst these, many film-makers would help fuel the Brucesplotation train with countless films and variations that often tried to imitate or pay homage to Lee's work. Some of the most enjoyable would be from Stephen Chow Sing Chi with the hilarious Fist Of Fury 1991 and its sequel which followed just a year later, and the unstoppable Donnie Yen in Andrew Lau's loosely related sequel, Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen, in 2010 – a film that somewhat plays more like a sequel to Fist Of Legend, and saw Yen return to the role of Chen Zhen after starring in as him in the popular Hong Kong television show back in 1995.

 

Fist Of Legend was directed and co-written by Gordon Chan, the man behind hit films such as Fight Back To School 1 & 2, Royal Tramp 1 & 2, King Of Beggars, Thunderbolt, Beast Cops, 2000 AD, The Medallion, Painted Skin, and The Four Trilogy among many others. Here, Chan takes his film in a new direction – avoiding the generic remake tropes while aiming to show both sides of the coin as he veers away from making every Japanese character a villain, and shows that even the Chinese people have badness among them. Interestingly, this would be the only film that would see Gordon direct Jet Li. While the star himself would produce the film as well as take the lead, the production would also benefit from having the legendary Yuen Woo Ping on-board as the action-choreographer...

 

Having just worked with Jet the year before on the incredible Tai Chi Master, and prior to that on Once Upon A Time In China 1 & 2 and Last Hero In China, Woo Ping delivers some of his finest work ever with minimal wire-work and plenty of wonderfully choreographed martial arts action, with its opening fight scene bearing some similarities – or paying homage to – the fight action seen in Akira Kurasawa's classic Red Beard from 1965. Incidentally, Jet himself would pay homage to his own character here by way of fighting with a belt in the entertaining Stephen Tung Wei movie, Hitman, just a few years later, as well as recreating a similar dojo battle in the fantastic Kiss Of The Dragon. While it is said that his work here confirmed Yuen Woo Ping's place in Hollywood for the ground-breaking Matrix movies, the pair would later join forces as star and action-director on films such as Black Mask, Unleashed (aka) Danny The Dog, The Forbidden Kingdom, and Ronny Yu's epic Fearless – a film that would see Jet play the historical folk hero, Huo Yuan Jia, who was Chen Zhen's late teacher here in Fist Of Legend, of course.

 

Starring alongside Jet is the hugely underrated and handsomely talented Chin Siu Ho, brother to Chin Kar Lok and star of films such as House Of Traps, Mr. Vampire, The Seventh Curse, New Kids In Town, Visa To Hell, Rigor Mortis and many more. Here, Chin plays Jet's martial arts school brother and jealous rival, a role he had previously played alongside him in the aforementioned Tai Chi Master under Yuen Woo Ping – although is saved from turning over to the dark side by the efforts of Jet's actions. They are joined by the fantastic and legendary Yasuaki 'Shoji' Kurata, the Japanese martial arts star who has been the highlight of many Hong Kong movies including Four Riders, Heroes Of The East, Legend Of A Fighter, Twinkle Twinkly Lucky Stars, Millionaires Express, Eastern Condors, and so much more. Fan favourite and ultimate Hong Kong cinema bad guy, Billy Chow, impresses once again as the powerhouse Japanese General who gives Jet a run for his money – going onto face off against him again in films such as High Risk and Dr. Wai & The Scriptures With No Words – while actors such as the prolific Paul Chun, Ada Choi, Wong San, Jackson Lau, and highly praised action-choreographer Kenji Tanigaki, also co-star throughout. The always enjoyable Yuen Cheung Yan appears as a police captain, doubling up duties in the action department as he assists his big brother Woo Ping, along with their younger sibling Yuen Shun Yi and protege Dee Dee Ku.

 

While the film has seen several cuts over the years, from the original Hong Kong version to the extended Taiwanese version, and shorter international cut, the fight scenes have always been kept in their entirety for the most part. These are backed by a great score from the late Joseph Koo, the prolific composer who also scored Bruce Lee's original film, and the same man who brought tunes to the likes of Lee's own Way Of The Dragon, Lady Whirlwind, A Man Called Tiger, The Fate Of Lee Khan, The Dead & The Deadly, Kung Fu Cult Master, and many more. Currently hitting its 30th birthday and treated with a wonderfully new 4K restoration courtesy of 88 Films, Jet Li's Fist Of Legend continues to prove its worth as one of Hong Kong cinemas finest martial arts epics, and will forever stay a favourite for many Hong Kong film fans for many years to come!

 

Overall: One of Jet Li's best and packed full of impressive martial arts battles, Fist Of Legend is a modern classic of Hong Kong cinema and definitely worth watching!

 

88 Films 4K UHD Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng, Interviews with Gordon Chan, Chin Siu Ho, Yasuaki Kurata, A Look at Fist of Legend with Brett Ratner & Elvis Mitchell, Karate Seminar with Yasuaki Kurata, Deleted Scenes, Trailer Gallery, Alternative Cantonese Track

 

Cineasia/Dragon Dynasty Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan, Interviews with Gordon Chan, Chin Siu Ho, Yasuaki Kurata, A Look at Fist of Legend with Brett Ratner & Elvis Mitchell, Karate Seminar with Yasuaki Kurata, Deleted Scenes, Trailer Gallery

 

Dragon Dynasty DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan, Interviews with Gordon Chan, Chin Siu Ho, Yasuaki Kurata, A Look at Fist of Legend with Brett Ratner & Elvis Mitchell, Karate Seminar with Yasuaki Kurata, Deleted Scenes, Trailer Gallery