Verdict
Summary
Fist of Legend is a must-see for martial arts fans with neck-breaking fight scenes and an emotionally engaging story. A classic.
Plot: Chinese martial arts student Chen Zhen (Jet Li) is studying in Kyoto, Japan, when he learns his mentor has died in a match against Ryuichi Akutagawa (Jackson Liu). Returning home to the Japanese-occupied Shanghai of 1937, Chen challenges Ryuichi to a fight and easily defeats him. Concluding his master was set up, Chen has an autopsy performed. Meanwhile, word of his martial arts skill entices new students hoping to study with him, making his teacher’s son, Huo Ting-An (Chin Siu Ho), jealous.
Review: Jet Li stars in this classic martial arts movie which just might be his finest hour; the fight scenes are incredible and Li was just unbelievably fast when he was in his prime.
He plays the legendary Chen Zhen and despite the movie having fight scenes every few minutes, it also has an engaging story with characters you care about. When Chen returns to mourn his murdered master, he discovers that his people are being harassed by the Japanese. His relationship with his brother is on shaky ground because when the students see Chen fight they want him to be their head master.
Things go from bad to worse when Chen is framed for murder which leads to a climactic showdown with an evil Japanese General.
The pacing of this move is unrelenting with the fight choreography from the legendary Yuen Woo Ping so you know you’re in for something special.
Jet Li portrays Chen as calm and restrained at all times but when he fights he certainly doesn’t play around. The dojo fight when Chen takes on multiple opponents has been copied many times since but this is one of the greatest fight scenes in martial arts movie history.
I literally can’t think of any flaws as I loved every second of it.
Overall, Fist of Legend is a must-see for martial arts fans with neck-breaking fight scenes and an emotionally engaging story. A classic.
