A Fistful of Fist of Fury Films

Share on Facebook posted 09-10-09 by Julina Tatlock

If you’re a fan of Hong Kong films then you already know about Fist of Fury and the many subsequent remakes and sequels. This is a short salute to three of the most famous Fists: Fist of Fury (Bruce Lee), New Fist of Fury (Jackie Chan), and Fist of Legend (Jet Li). Bruce Lee starred in the original Fist of Fury in 1972, and its huge success propelled him to superstardom. Four years later came the sequel New Fist of Fury, starring Jackie Chan, and I guess the idea there was to pass the torch from Bruce to Jackie (hmmm, more on that later). And lastly, in 1994 the world was given Fist of Legend, starring Jet Li. If you’re a relative newbie to Hong Kong action films, these three movies provide an extraordinarily entertaining lesson.

Bruce Lee: Fist of Fury, a.k.a. The Chinese Connection

If you haven’t seen Fist of Fury, you are missing out big time. Put it on your Netflix queue. Now. In the words of our friend Sanjoro over at lovehkfilm.com, “If you’re itching to see the raw, unrestrained cinematic prowess of a true master, look no further than Fist of Fury.” This Fist really packs more fury than any of the other films. Bruce is a vengeful and scary hero who is wonderful to watch kick ass but is also a believable love interest and comedian. For example, there’s a priceless scene in which Chen (Lee) infiltrates the rival Japanese school dressed as a clownish telephone repairman. This clip features the confrontation in the dojo when Bruce takes on the entire rival school. There is something a little shocking about Bruce in this movie, something reminiscent of Dirty Harry or Death Wish. But for Bruce Lee, his ferocity is all in defense of his nation’s honor.

Jackie Chan: New Fist of Fury

I love Jackie Chan. In fact, there’s nothing that cheers me up more than a Jackie Chan film (yes, I even enjoy Rush Hour). But this film is a real downer. It feels like they didn’t want Jackie Chan; they wanted Bruce Lee, and Jackie was trying to be a good sport. What can I say about a film in which the protagonist doesn’t learn how to fight until one hour and twenty minutes into the film, except to say, it’s slow. Take a look at this clip, and if you’ve nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon check out the film, but believe me, there are probably better things to do with your time.

If you want to see some fabulous Chan fighting that is a true tribute to Bruce Lee, the film to check out is Police Story. This is a fan tribute to all three films but the sequence to look for is at the end of the final fight scene, in a mall, from the original Police Story, when Jackie rips into the villain with a series of punches that would make Lee cheer from his grave.

By the way, did you know that Jackie Chan reportedly had cosmetic surgery to widen his eyes early on in his career? Apparently, he was told by Lo Wei that he wasn’t handsome enough to be a leading man.

Jet Li: Fist of Legend

There is great fighting in this movie, pure and simple. Jet Li delivers kicks and punches in a variety of fighting styles that is just huge fun to watch. This remake is much friendlier than Lee’s original. Jet Li just doesn’t convey the anger or emotion that Bruce can, plus the script is much more balanced and nuanced in its portrayal of the Japanese/Chinese conflict, which gives it a more rational feeling. This is what my friend Tony Cheong has to say about Jet Li vs. Bruce Lee:

Bruce was on a mission to change the perception of the Chinese man, bringing to mind the whole Network moment of “I’m mad as hell.” The film is the unleashing of anger at the portrayals of Chinese men as subservient and weak in the face of other nationalities, particularly the Japanese. That rage is viscerally evident onscreen during the fight scenes in the dojo. Hence, the whole notion of hitting back, which struck a chord with the HK audience when it opened to the public, making Bruce an even bigger icon in the adoring public’s eye.

The version with Jet sought to tamp down the virulent anti-Japanese sentiment by incorporating the Japanese “love” interest and the respectful Japanese sensei who duels with Jet. (Something I think Bruce would have objected to if he had still been alive.) Jet has a huge Japanese fan base, and so for obvious reasons they couldn’t go that route again. The fight sequences in Fist of Legend go back to the mano a mano styles that Bruce made popular in his films. Strip away the effects and the stylization and get back to two people duking it out.