Now playing: Fists of Fury – Jet Li

There is great fighting in this movie. Jet Li delivers kicks and punches in a variety of fighting styles that is just really fun to watch. This remake is much friendlier than Bruce 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 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 the 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 on screen during the fight scenes in the dojo. Hence the whole notion of hitting back with 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 tamper 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 was still alive). Jet, has a huge Japanese fan base, and for obvious reasons they couldn’t go do that route again. The fight sequences in Fist of Legend goes 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.

This video was featured in: Fist of Fury Films

Related posts on 30ninjas.com:

• A Fistful of Fist of Fury Films
• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt and Race Relations
• Ip Man 2 Trailer and Synopsis: Donnie Yen Goodness With a Sprinkle of Cheese
• Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus Blog: Day On Set — Fists and Batons Flew, Stunt Men Were Thrown All Over The Street
• Fist of the North Star Bloodier Than Ever!!!
• Iron Man VS Bruce Lee