Fist of Legend
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| Fist of Legend | |
|---|---|
 The cover for the 1997 Hong Kong release by Ritek, dubbed in Mandarin but with English subtitles. |
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| Directed by | Gordon Chan Yuen Woo-ping (Martial arts) |
| Produced by | Chui Yin Lam Jet Li |
| Written by | Gordon Chan Lan Kay Toa Kwong Kim Yip |
| Starring | Jet Li |
| Music by | Stephen Edwards Joseph Koo |
| Cinematography | Derek Wan |
| Editing by | Ki-hop Chan |
| Distributed by | Eastern Productions |
| Release date(s) |  December 22, 1994 |
| Running time | 103 min. (US) |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese Japanese English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Fist of Legend (Chinese: 《精武英雄》; pinyin: Jīng Wǔ Yīngxióng; literally "Hero of Jing Wu") is a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts film starring the martial artist Jet Li. It is directed by Gordon Chan and features action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping. It is a remake of Bruce Lee's 1972 film Fist of Fury. The film takes place in Shanghai in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War as the city is occupied by Japanese forces. It is regarded as one of the best martial arts films of all time, and almost universally viewed as Jet Li's best.
The film follows Chen Zhen (Chinese: 陈真) (Jet Li), in his quest to bring the killers of his master, Huo Yuanjia (Chinese: 霍元甲) , to justice.
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[edit] Plot
The movie begins with Chen Zhen, played by Jet Li, attending college in Japan. Chen and other students are busy in class when suddenly the schoolroom is flooded by some anti-Chinese Japanese martial arts students, who try to force Chen to leave. When Mitsuko, a female classmate, and the teacher defend his right to be there, the thugs assault the professor and threaten the girl. Chen engages the Japanese fighters, defeating them with a variety of painful but controlled locks and throws. Mitsuko's uncle, the legendary Funakochi Fumio, played by Yasuaki Kurata, arrives soon afterward and apologizes for the behavior of his students, reminding them that violence is never the answer.
Fumio, extremely impressed by Chen's skills, engages him in conversation, and Chen learns his master, Huo Yuanjia, has been killed by a Japanese fighter in a challenge match. Chen, immediately distraught, leaves on a boat for Shanghai. At the harbor, Mitsuko tells Chen she will wait for him.
Chen arrives in a different place than the one he left: his old school, Jin Woo, formerly of master Huo Yuanjia's, is now a laughingstock, with the master dead. His childhood friend, Huo Ting-An, played by Siu-hou Chin, is now the new master, and as Chen enters the training grounds, he witnesses Ting-An defending the school's honor by defeating a rival martial arts master. Chen is welcomed back with honors, and taken into the school.
The next day, Chen travels to Akutagawa Ryoichi's dojo, the Japanese master that defeated Huo Yuanjia. Chen demands to see the Japanese master, and when the school's students try to force him out of the dojo, he defeats them all in short order. The fight is brought to an end when Akutagawa enters, and honorably accepts Chen's challenge. The Chen easily defeats him in a short fight and Chen realizes there is no way Akutagawa could have defeated Huo, as the Japanese martial arts master is simply not that capable.
Chen realizes that the only way Huo could have lost to Akutagawa was if Huo was not fighting at full power, and suspecting foul play, has his teacher's corpse exhumed for an autopsy. Although the other Jin Woo members criticize his decision, they are further dismayed when it is quickly shown that Huo was indeed poisoned. Further analysis shows that the poison exacerbated Huo's asthma, attacking his lungs and making them susceptible to easy damage. This is why Huo was unable to generate power and withstand blows during his match and died vomiting blood.
Over the next few days, word of Chen's victories at Akutagawa's school spreads, and Chen becomes a star in Jin Woo and a celebrity in Shanghai. The other students begin to look to Chen for leadership even though Huo Ting-An is the school's chief instructor. Chen demonstrates some of the effective training methods he learned abroad -- some of which contradict Ting-An's instruction. Ting-An becomes increasingly distraught, taking refuge at a local brothel, where he has been secretly become romantically involved with a prostitute.
Meanwhile, Akutagawa, realizing that his match with Huo had been fixed and sabotaged, confronts the occupying Japanese general, General Fujita, played by Billy Chau. Fujita replies that he did not trust Akutagawa's ability to defeat Yuanjia fairly, so he decided to do it himself. Furious at this dishonorable act, Akutagawa attacks Fujita. It is revealed that Fujita is a highly dangerous fighter in his own right. Explaining his view of what it is to be a warrior, Fujita explains that victory should be sought at any cost, even if it means sacrificing honor and becoming despised by humanity. Demonstrating his brute power, Fujita easily kills Akutagawa, crushing his spinal cord.
Fujita then frames Chen Zhen for the killing, which enrages Akutagawa's students and causes them to storm Jin Woo. Akutagawa's and Jin Woo students have a bloody battle at the school before the Chinese police arrive, arresting Chen for questioning. The trial is going terribly for Chen, as several obviously lying witnesses are brought up, offering conflicting but false accounts of Akutagawa's killing. The court refuses to accept testimony from any defense witnesses on the grounds that, being Chinese, they would all be biased and lying. However, Mitsuko then arrives, claiming that Chen is innocent because he had spent the entire night with her. As a Japanese, her testimony is falsely accepted as truthful--and while it exonerates Chen, it also ruins his reputation in the city and among his fellow Jin Woo students. The close-minded Chinese view Chen's friendship with Mitsuko as a traitorious act.
For Ting-An and some of the other elder Jin Woo members, this is the last straw, and they demand for Chen to either abandon Mitsuko or leave Jin Woo. Ting-An, grievously offended and in a jealous rage, challenges Chen to a battle. While Chen begins the match by holding back, having no desire to hurt his childhood friend, Ting-An clearly has no such compunctions, and while Chen is at first able to hold his own using traditional Jin Woo techniques, Ting-An's increasing aggressiveness begin to push him back. With no choice but to go all out, Chen begins fighting for real, switching to a more unorthodox, innovative style of his own invention that Ting-An proves unable to deal with. A shamed and defeated Ting-An hands over the mantle of Jin Woo master to Chen, telling the latter that he is now the head of the school. Chen replies that he will not take the title away from his friend, but neither will he abandon his Japanese girlfriend. Instead, Chen will leave Jingwu by his own choice, and live with Mitsuko. As both men leave, Jing Wu is left without an instructor.
Chen and Mitsuko attempt to get housing, but Chinese racist attitudes prevent them from doing so, and the pair are forced to live at an abandoned shrine outside the city. Meanwhile, the other Jin Woo members confront Ting-An about his alcoholism and relationship with a prostitute. Mitsuko's uncle, Funakochi Fumio, finally arrives at China, following his niece. Fumio arrives at Chen's new home and challenges him to a fight. The resulting battle showcases Chen's talent, power, and energy, but when Fumio adapts Chen's style and combines it with his experience, he is able to win the match. As he departs, Fumio warns Chen that the most dangerous Japanese fighter is actually General Fujita. Mitsuko questions this claim, as it is generally acknowledged that Fumio is Japan's greatest martial artist--but Chen understands. Fujita is Japan's most dangerous combatant--a killing machine--but Fumio is acknowledged as the superior martial artist because he has reached the highest levels of cultivation, refinement and understanding.
A few days later, Ting-An arrives at Chen's home, apologizing to his old friend, and telling him he accepts him and Mitsuko's relationship, and the pair is welcome to stay at Jin Woo if they wish. He also informs Chen that Fujita has sent a challenge to Jin Woo, and if the school wishes to remain open, they will have to accept Fujita's challenge. That night, while Ting-An is showing Chen his family's secret Huo style of fighting by the light of the campfire, Mitsuko leaves for Japan, leaving behind a letter stating that although she loves Chen, she knows that as long as she is there and he has to take care of her, he will never be able to accomplish the great things he is meant to achieve. She tells him that she will be waiting for him in Japan when there is peace between their two countries and he has finished doing what he has to do.
The next day Chen and Ting-An arrive at Akutagawa's dojo, where Fujita is waiting. Fujita exposes a member of Huo Yuanjia's school, who convinced the old cook to poison Yuanjia, and shoots him, stating that he has now officially apologized for the dishonorable killing of the master. However, he will still close the school, unless Ting-An, proves to Fujita his skills. Ting-An attempts to fight Fujita, but the incredibly strong and resilient Fujita effortlessly beats down Ting-An.
Fujita then attempts to kill Ting-An, but is stopped by Chen. Chen and Fujita then have an extended fight, and Chen proves that he was correct that a great fighter must be able to absorb punishment as well as deliver crushing attacks. Chen finally defeats Fujita, but as Chen and Ting-An are walking away, the enraged general comes at them with a katana, and Chen is forced to kill him. Japanese soldiers storm the school, about to kill Chen and Ting-An before the Japanese ambassador orders them to stand down. Though the ambassador realizes the General was a madman and agrees with Chen's actions, he also tells them that the Japanese government will use the killing of a general as an excuse for full scale war, unless a scapegoat can be found. Chen expresses his willingness to accept the blame and sacrifice himself, earning the ambassador's further admiration. But instead, the ambassador fakes an execution, substituting the dead Jin Wu traitor's body for Chen's.
Having faked his death, Chen is forced to go into hiding, and with some of his fellow students, he leaves Shanghai to be with Mitsuko in Japan.
[edit] Differences in the US release
The US release by Miramax and Buena Vista Distribution contains three specific mistranslations that drastically alter the meaning of the film as a whole. The lines below are not exact quotes by any means, but they capture the gist of the two versions. These three changes altered major themes in the movie.
- When Chen is about to leave Japan at the beginning of the film, Mitsuko asks him if he hates the Japanese. In the US version he says, "I don't hate." But in the Hong Kong subtitled version he says, "I don't know."
- In the US version of the scene where Chen Zhen is fighting Funakochi Fumio, the Japanese Karate master who is also his girlfriend's uncle (played by Yasuaki Kurata), Fumio asks him the most effective way to defeat an enemy. Chen Zhen says that it is most effective to focus your energy and strike, and Fumio agrees with him. In the Hong Kong subtitled version, the two begin by discussing their match. Chen Zhen says that the purpose of kung fu is to defeat your enemy. Fumio says no, if you wish to defeat your enemy, use a gun. Kung fu is about personal development.
- At the end of the US version, as Chen Zhen is driving off in the car, his driver asks him if he will go to be with Mitsuko. He agrees and responds: "If I no longer have a country, at least I can be with the woman I love." At the same point in the Hong Kong subtitled version, his response is: "We'll go to wherever the fighting is the fiercest. That's where we belong."
[edit] Fist of Fury vs Fist of Legend
Fist of Legend pays tribute to the original, Fist of Fury. During the fight scene between Chen Zhen and Akutagawa's students, the choreography and camera angles used clearly resemble those of Fist of Fury. Jet Li's switching between the traditional Jin Woo/wushu style of fighting and the more modern, eclectic, boxing-influenced style that he uses to defeat Ting-An and ultimately, Fujita, are also a nod to Bruce Lee, who--in addition to being the star of the original film--was a martial arts pioneer credited as being the first to combine elements of Western-style boxing, fencing and wrestling with Asian martial techniques and championed the continued modernization and evolution of the martial arts.
Chen Zhen's training methods--rope skipping, one-handed pushups and pullups, and running (roadwork)--also echo Bruce Lee's belief in the value of Western style strength, conditioning and cardiovascular training methods. Lee was one of the first traditional martial artists to advocate such training for traditional martial artists.
The two differ significantly in their treatment of the Japanese. Fist of Fury, made when memories of World War II were fresher, invariable portrays all Japanese as depraved, cunning, racist brutes who use underhanded tactics. Fist of Legend presents a more balanced, even-handed, and realistic portrayal--there are admirable and despicable characters of both races.
[edit] Cast
- Jet Li - Chen Zhen, an extremely talented and honorable student of Huo Yuanjia's
- Siu-hou Chin - Hou Ting-An, an old childhood friend of Chen and the new master of Jin Woo
- Yasuaki Kurata - Funakochi Fumio, an old and legendary Japanese martial arts master
- Shinobu Nakayama - Mitsuko, a Japanese student and Chen's girlfriend
- Billy Chau - General Fujita, a notoriously dangerous and frighteningly skilled Japanese martial arts master
- Jackson Liu - Akutagawa Ryoichi, an honorable Japanese martial arts master who defeated Huo Yuanjia
- Paul Chun - Uncle Noh, a leading member of Jin Woo who acts as a father figure for both Chen and Ting-An
- Toshimichi Takahashi - The Japanese ambassador, a man who abhors violence but is too afraid to challenge Fujita
- Cheung Yan Yuen - Captain Jie, the leader of the local Chinese police
[edit] Influence on other films
Fist of Legend inspired the Wachowski Brothers to hire choreographer Yuen Woo-ping for the fight scenes in The Matrix. The style of fighting in both films also bear some resemblance.
Jet Li's later films have also been influenced by Fist of Legend. Hitman also has a scene involving him using a belt as a weapon as seen previously. The more realistic and less wire-driven fight choreography seen in Kiss of the Dragon was a result of fan criticism to Corey Yuen's choreography in Romeo Must Die and preference for the style seen in Fist of Legend.
[edit] Inaccuracies
- Huo Yuanjia's death is depicted in the film to be around pre-WWII circa 1937, but in reality his death was recorded to be around 1910. This, of course, is a pretty major inaccuracy and may have been made deliberately for the purpose of a more dramatic setting.
- During some scenes, the Japanese troops are seen armed with Lee-Enfield rifles (which is odd, considering that they are British manufactured weapons) instead of Arisaka rifles.
- Also, although Huo Yuan Jia was a real person, and the Jin Woo school exists to this day, Chen Zhen is not fully a fictional character.
[edit] Box Office
Though Fist of Legend is widely considered one of Li's best films, its HK $14,785,382 box office gross was considered a disappointment. By comparison, Li's Fong Sai Yuk grossed over HK $30 million, and Fong Sai Yuk 2 grossed HK $23 million.
