Jing wu ying xiong (1994)

In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.

Director:

Gordon Chan

Writers:

Gordon Chan (screenplay), Kwong Kim Yip (screenplay) (as Ip Kwong Kim)

Stars:

Jet Li, Shinobu Nakayama, Siu-Ho Chin

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jet Li	...	Chen Zhen
Shinobu Nakayama	...	Mitsuko Yamada
Siu-Ho Chin	...	Hou Ting-En
Billy Chow	...	General Fujita (Supreme Killer) (as Billy Chau)
Yasuaki Kurata	...	Fuimo Funakoshi
Paul Chun	...	Uncle Noh (as Paul Chiang)
Ada Choi	...	Rose
Cheung-Yan Yuen	...	Captain Jie
Toshimichi Takahashi	...	Japanese Ambassador
Suk-Mui Tam	...	Wei
Jackson Lou	...	Ryuichi Akutagawa (as Lou Hsueh Hsien)
Sun Wong	...	Cook
Man Biu Lee	...	Biu
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
E.E. Bell	...	(voice)
Shaun Britton	...	English Gentleman at Dock

Storyline

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 kungfu 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.

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Plot Keywords:

imperial japan | japanese flag | katana sword | katana | japanese army | 

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Taglines:

To avenge his masters death, He'll fight like never before!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong martial arts violence

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin Japanese English

Release Date:

22 December 1994 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Fist of Legend

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eastern Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jet Li plays Chen Zhen in this movie, a student of master Huo Yuanjia. Jet Li would then go on to play Master Huo Yuanjia in Fearless (2006)

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Goofs

When Chen Zen is about to flip Gen. Fujita on the birds, Fujita throws his head backwards before he is flipped, making it clear that he already knew he was about to be flipped.

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Quotes

Fumio Funakoshi: Why don't you show me what you've learned
Chen Zhen: [Picks up rock and breaks it into pieces] It's about the energy. About focusing on a single point in time.
Fumio Funakoshi: So, it's about energy. But tell me something, does a rock have as much energy as an opponent would?
[Slices a leaf floating in air with hand]
Fumio Funakoshi: You need a more powerful stroke when you're fighting a human being.
Chen Zhen: Let's see how I can put it into action.

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Connections

Referenced in Making 'The Matrix' (1999)

User Reviews

Must see film for any Martial Arts movie fan.

Fist of Legend, IMHO, is the best Jet Li movie to date, and among the best martial arts movies ever made. A darker, more serious film than the bulk of Li's work, it shines in both story and action. Reminiscent of OOIC in tempo and, to a lesser degree, tone, Fist of Legend surpasses its better known predecessor in intensity and elegance.

Using minimal wires, the fight scenes are absolutely breathtaking. What they lack in wire-fu acrobatics and superhuman theatrics, they more than make up for in precision, creativity, believability and plotline relevance. Three of my all time favorite kung fu fight scenes are in this single movie. While still a well told story, there is more than enough kung fu for even the most die hard. We simply don't get to see Jet Li fight like this anymore.

Jet Li, as always, is phenomenal, and his opponents are both skilled and artfully characterized. His serious portrayal of Chen Zhen far surpasses his Jackie Chan-esque comedic roles, yet retains a vulnerability not found in Wong Fei Hung. While originated by Bruce Lee, Chen Zhen was a role made for Jet Li.

The plot (as I'm sure you know) is derived from the classic Fists of Fury, but the depth and characterization of this rendition far surpasses the original. The political and racial turmoil surrounding the characters is more capably written and tastefully portrayed, never subtracting from the action.

All in all, a top notch effort, and the best blend of storytelling and kung fu I've encountered.