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Posts Tagged ‘Martial Arts’

Budding martial artist, Chen Zen (Jet Li) returns to Shanghai after hearing the news that his teacher died. His teacher died in a challenge match against a Japanese Solider, Akutagawa Ryuichi. After returning to the Jing Wu School (which was ran by his teacher) and finding out the whole story from Hou (Chin Siu-Ho), Chen goes to challenge Akutagawa himself.

Upon his arrival at the Japanese School, Chen starts brawling with the students training after they refuse him to see Akutagawa. After single handedly defeating the students, Chen is confronted by Akutagawa and Chen soon defeats him easily. Chen couldn’t believe that his Master would have lost to someone obviously weaker than him, Chen questions that he could have been poisoned.

Chen digs up the body of his master has a doctor perform an autopsy on him. The tests soon show that his master was poisoned. Now Chen must find out who poisoned his master and why…

Chen is also dating a women in this film, to make things worse she is Japanese and Chens family at Jing Wu aren’t happy to see her. His girlfriend, Mitsuko Yamada (Shinobu Nakayama) is the niece of Funakochi Fumio (Yasuaki Kurata). Funakochi is friends with the twisted general Fujita, although he highly against the believes of the general.

Now to the facts, most of you should know this is a remake of Lo Wei’s Fist Of Fury, which starred the fighting legend, Bruce Lee. This time Jet Li has taken the role from Bruce. So who’s better? Bruce or Jet? for some reason I felt that Jet Li’s character had more impact although Bruce created ‘Chen Zen’. Plus adding Yaksuaki Kurata to the movie was a great idea, I really enjoyed his performance, his battle with Jet was fabulous and memorably.

The Action was very hard hitting making use of one feature which isn’t used very often, dislocation. In Jets opening scenes he is fighting off a group of unruly Japanese students. He manages to dislocate, ankles, jaws, shoulders, arms etc. This is very new, I still haven’t seen such films where this is used regularly. Now the battles are great, Jet Li vs. Chin Siu Ho, Jet Li vs. Yaksuaki Kurata & Jet Li vs. Billy Chow!!

Final thoughts. A ground breaking Jet Li flick, although Miramax have been known to for changes the film, with extensive change in the dialogue, the music and I think five minutes have been cut out too. So all I want to see now is the actual Hong Kong Release of Fist of Legend!!!

Plot: Scottish Businessman Richard Nordon was known to have a small piece of microfilm, with criminating evidence against crime lord Tin (James Tien). Richard attempts to bargain with Tin’s henchman, Dick (Dick Wei). Dick is in no mood to bargain, so he kills Richard on the spot and then goes for the microfilm. Although his plan doesn’t work when a Bellboy comes in the room. This mysterious Bellboy ends up stealing from Richard (To Whom he thinks is sleeping) and ends up taking the microfilm as well without known it. Dick has to escape when the police hit the scene.

The police officer in charge is Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh), she was a personal friend of Richard and is more than happy to arrest the crooks. She believes that is was the Bellboy who murdered him, as she say him leaving the room. Ng’s boss, Chief Inspector Wong (Melvin Wong) decides to bring in one of Richards colleagues from Scotland Yard to help with the investigation.

Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) is a tough cookie and believes in using her fists before her brain. She apprehends a thug who is attempting to leave the country and he was also using Richard Nordons passport.

It turns out that he had bought this passport from a guy who sells fake goods, mainly passports and weapons. Everyone knows this person as Panadol (Tsui Hark). Panadol is a real slippery fish with a workshop that has more tricks and trapdoors than you can imagine. He is accompanied by two dim sidekicks, Strepsil (John Shum) and Aspirin (Mang Hoi). Both Strepsil and Aspirin were the Bellboys stealing from the hotel rooms the night Richard died.

The trio soon find the microfilm and they find out what its worth, but they are mixed with the decision of either handing it over to the police or handing it over to Mr. Tin… Read the rest of this entry »

Hey another really old Stoo Review, bare with me.

The Plot: Donnie Yen plays Man Hin, He suffered from amnesia that he contracted while fighting with a group of bandits through the opening sequences. With only glimpses of his past as his guide, he seeks out a woman he once knew and must defend her and the local villagers from bandits with the help of local youth ‘Wai’.

Personal Thought: When I first received this movie through the post, I quickly put it in my DVD player and waited in anticipation to see Donnie Yen. Just after the opening fight sequences I was hit, I knew this film was great. I was then stunned with a good battle between Dayo Wong and two local farmers, yet it turned into an amazing fight sequence with Donnie Yen and a group of Ben Lam’s Bandits. The film soon develops into a tale of Man Hin looking for his lost love, Wu Yee played by Carman Lee. Also with the amazing battle royal with the villagers fighting against the bandits, led by Ben Lam. This film has taken Donnie Yen to higher level, but the film has a terrific twist in the end to do with Carman and Ben. He he he. And I must say no one else could the role of the bandit leader apart from Ben Lam!