Fist of Legend

Original title: Jing wu ying xiong

1994
R
1h 43m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

25K

YOUR RATING

In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.

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Kung Fu Martial Arts Action Drama

In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

25K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Uncle Noh
(as Paul Chiang)

Ada Choi

Rose

Cheung-Yan Yuen

Captain Jie

Toshimichi Takahashi

Japanese Ambassador

Suk-Mui Tam

Jackson Lou

Ryuichi Akutagawa
(as Lou Hsueh Hsien)

Sun Wong

Cook

Man Biu Lee

John DeMita

Chen Zhen
(English version)
(voice)

Director
- Gordon Chan
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Jet Li plays Chen Zhen in this movie, a student of master Huo Yuanjia. Jet Li would then go on to play Master Huo Yuanjia in Fearless (2006)

Goofs
Although set in 1914, one of the cars seen on the street in Shanghai is a 1947 Chevrolet, and another is a 1948 Buick.

Quotes
Chen Zhen: The object of matching is to beat down the opponent.
Fumio Funakoshi: Wrong kid, the best way to beat the opponent is to use a gun.

Alternate versions
The Dimension version makes some changes to the original, including a new score by Stephen Edwards, new sound effects, new opening/closing credits, a slightly shortened ending, and to the script.

Connections
Featured in Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002)

User reviews133

Review

Featured review

9/10

One of the best martial arts movies

Up until this movie I had always been let down by Jet Li's flicks except for the "Once Upon a Time in China" series. I bought "Fist of Legend" because it was one of Jet Li's highest rated movies on the IMDb (but it was behind "Hero", which I didn't like so much). I would say I had high but not unrealistic hopes for it. But this movie *needed* to be good or I would have started to consider Jet Li over-rated.

All I can say is that "Fist of Legend" delivers! The opening fight scene was surprisingly brutal and I was instantly hooked. The action doesn't take too long a break in this movie but also found the story compelling and interesting -- something unusual in a martial arts flick. Most of the protagonists are fully developed and the viewer likes and feels for them. The villains aren't nearly so fleshed out and come off as one-dimensional but oh well. Everything else from the costumes to the acting and the settings were decent. The sum package is one of the best martial arts movies I've ever seen and I've seen more than my share. "Fist of Legend" is to Jet Li as "Drunken Master" is to Jackie Chan.

I saw the dubbed Dimension US release. Although I hate dubbing and any editing of a foreign release (are you listening Dimension?), I found the dubbing here mostly okay except for the General's insanely over-the-top "evil" voice. I also felt that some of the dialog seemed to have lost meaning in the translation but it's forgivable.