(6/29/2002) "The Chinese Connection", "Fist of Fury", "The Iron Hand"--call it whatever you want, it's a classic. It's the best of Bruce Lee's movies, and the production values were above average for its era. Even though Lo Wei was the director in name, and Han Ying-Chien was the credited fight choreographer, Bruce Lee was the guiding force of this movie, because he handled all of his action scenes. And since this movie is all about Bruce Lee going into action, you might say he was the sole reason for its success. Admittedly, the set-up is kind of weak, since most of the characters are cardboard cutout portrayals of right and wrong. But the basic plot theme is very powerful: Chinese nationals fighting to protect their rights and avenge wrongs perpetrated by the Japanese and other foreigners.
Bruce's acting was overwraught, if only to get to a rise out of the Hong Kong audiences, who were notoriously staid at the time of the film's release. And even if a person believed that his acting abilities were sub-par (and I'm not such a person), nobody could deny that he had charisma out the wazoo.
Nothing much more that I can say about the action that hasn't been said a thousand times already. With the exception of the in-school fight (which Bruce didn't choreograph), the action is at turns fluid and graceful, powerful and vicious.
No offense to 20th Century Fox, because the American version was the one I grew up on, but I recommend getting the HK DVD release. It has two commentary tracks, trailers and all other kinds of cool stuff.
I find it's best to watch this movie bookended by the Donnie Yen 1991 miniseries (which provides character background and more setup) and the 1994 Jet Li milestone, "Fist of Legend" (for better story treatment, better rounded characters, and, well, Jet Li). "The Big Boss" may have been the movie that got Bruce Lee into the limelight, but "Fist of Fury" is the movie that ushered in a new era of not just Hong Kong action cinema with its groundbreaking choreography, but worldwide filmmaking in general. 5 stars for the one that started it all.

P.S. Watch closely for Jackie Chan practicing with one of the girls at Jing Wu Men, and again as the stuntman flying through the air at the end.

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Created May 05, 2009 at 11:53pm • Submit your own review...