From the first minutes of the film, the viewer is constantly treated to amazing choreography by the master, Yuen Wo-Ping. Every fight gives us scintillating displays of raw skill. The likes of this choreography have rarely been matched and so this film will always remain a spectacular display of the actors' skills as martial artists.

Gone are Jet Li's flowery wu-shu forms and here we get to see him in some truly brutal fight scenes. From Chen Zhen's initial confrontation with a group of Japanese dojo students, where he dislocates and breaks bones, to his sole confrontation against Ryuichi's dojo, this then leads to several one-on-one battles (Jet Li vs. Chin Siu-Ho, Jet Li vs. Yasuaki Kurata, Jet Li vs. Billy Chow Bei-Lei) that are usually only reserved for epic final fight confrontations. To reiterate, the likes of this choreography really serve to spoil and delight lovers of Hong Kong films.

Seeing a film like this reminds us all of what we love so much about Hong Kong kung fu films: stoic characters, evil villains, classic revenge stories, and all of this is driven by furious combat.

With the Hong Kong film industry waning, I for one am glad that classics such as "Fist Of Legend" still stand the test of time, which will always serve to remind us of the golden age of kung fu films.

Jet is a much better actor and infinitely better martial artist than Bruce Lee. ...ducks under desk to avoid rabid Bruce Lee fans throwing flying guillotine handkerchief thingies... If the cast and crew had tried to perfectly recreate Bruce Lee it would never have succeeded. Bruce and Jet could hardly be more opposite. Jet with some "soft" Wushu and supposedly Jeet Kune(?)

[Hmmm... I wonder what all those people are going to do with that pile of wood around that stake?] was Bruce's own style. Bruce was a straight on kind of fighter. Jet creates a circle and draws you in. So can we agree to respect each others opinion in discussing this highly charged issue? (these people are so full of sh&t they actually think I would care what they said! Respect? As If!) but it is important to treat everyone the same, no one is better or worse...(Oh I can't stand it!)

Honestly I don't think either of them can be put in a box. Jet uses acrobatic moves and is very fluid. Bruce was very much the one punch kills three people and rock hard in his attacks. You just can't compare them. So to those who disagree with me that's cool. (Idiots!)

Those who are hard core fans of Bruce can tell you all you want to know about Bruce, and you will find plenty of experts. I simply cannot see the appeal. I do not enjoy the sounds of cats being skinned alive either.

And now for something completely different we go now to the masterful martial arts.

"Fist Of Legend" is based partially on a real person living in the late 20's to 30's. He was Chinese and his name was Chen Zhen. He was studying at university in Japan when the tensions between local Japanese and Chinese who were in the country was very tense. Chen Zhen is in class when the Black Dragon Japanese gang storms into the classroom. One of the Japanese students tries to intervene and is assaulted. Jet very calmly and deliberately walks to one of the thirty guys and then completely beats up and breaks up every one, the resounding "crack" of bones snapping filling the air.

Chen Zhen suddenly finds out that his Master from his School has been killed by a Sensei of a local Black Dragon school in China. The Sensei of the Black Dragons informs Chen Zhen and Chen Zhen even reads about it in a Japanese newspaper. When Chen Zhen arrives at home the new Master, his father dead, is about to answer a challenge. Chin Sui Ho (Tai Chi Master, Crazy Shaolin Disciples, [terrible film btw]) easily defeats his opponent who behaves very impolitely. Chen Zhen is impressing the school's students with his newly learned techniques he was taught in Japan. The Master however is beginning to feel he is losing his students to Chen Zhen. The House is still in mourning and the new Master welcomes Chen Zhen home and after he pays respects to his dead Master he insists on challenging the Japanese Sensei that killed the Master. But this is more than just a standard you killed my...whatever, and now I will fight you for the sake of honor, maybe train a bit too. When Chen Zhen reaches the Dojo he encounters rude Japanese students who attack him. Bad idea. When he asks to see the Sensei the students end up scattered about with serious injuries.

The Sensei agrees to a match with Chen Zhen to settle the matter of school and somewhat racial matters as well. It's not long before Chen Zhen realizes his opponent could never have won an honest contest with his deceased Master, and without consulting the family he discovers his Master was poisoned. Then Chen Zahn is set up as having killed the local Sensei. With no one to testify knowing his whereabouts the trial is not going well until his Japanese girlfriend (the beautiful and talented Nackayama Shinobu), Mitsuko arrives in China to keep him from going to jail. Fortunately the characters become ones we care about, and not just two dimensional people walking through the film. That is one difference between the "Bruce Version" which is really another movie, and "Fist Of Legend". Chiun Siu Ho is another example. He is an excellent actor and martial artist, so why did he not rise higher in film? It's not for lack of talent, that's for certain! He plays Jet's Shaolin brother in Tai Chi Master and he is wonderful both in acting, martial arts/swordplay. Tsui Hark suggests he is too attractive, not ruggedly handsome - too cute to think he could be taken seriously. Well they were wrong! I think he could do just about any role given to him. Unfortunately he faded away as have others that should have been in more movies and deserved respect for their skills. But you have the pleasure of seeing him fight and act in this movie.

The Japanese Sensei (in real life as well) is played by Yasuaki Kurata. To say he is excellent is an understatement! This Master is skilled in the very real martial arts as well as how to look like a martial artist. He is sent from Japan to fight with Chen Zhen, and what an amazing fight it is! If you want a brief idea of this man's talent look no further than "Fist Of Legend"!

One person who has spent his life on screen getting beat up and beating up others, finally gets a chance to be a real person in a film. That man is Billy Chow. Billy has always been relegated to the "big bad guy" usually seen at the end of a movie and no matter how much bad ass he throws around he usually gets killed before he says two connected words. (Grunting doesn't count) Billy plays a tough talking and even more tough fighting Japanese general who is supposed to keep things in order as far as the Japanese possession of Shanghai. Of course that means he will be dealing with Chen Zhen and the school sooner or later. As the general he shows more depth than just a brute following orders. He believes in what he is doing in scheming and shows a love of his country, in his own way. The pre - war tensions between Japan and China are treated with tact in the movie. It focuses more on the characters experiences as opposed to the WAR. I think it makes a better and more realistic view than simply good or bad. Chow is totally believable as the general and as a major bad ass who is tough as nails, literally. Chow was injured in the last fight scene and is so humble he didn't want people to know on the set he had some wood in his leg, but the blood gave it away. This guy is amazing!

"Fist Of Legend" succeeds not only because of Jet, but because it is a story not just an excuse to watch mostly wire fu - less top of the art magnificent Jet Li!!! Jet has made many great films but "Fist Of Legend" is at least in the top three! His power, agility, speed, finesse...the man is a true Master.

Finally seeing a crisp re-mastered presentation was well worth the wait. In terms of story, action, and a moral lesson in courage, this film has it all; and I liked Jet Li's version of the story far better than Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury".

Jet Li's Chen Zhen is lot less impulsive than the character played by Bruce Lee, and unlike "Fist of Fury" where all the Japanese are villains, there are honorable Japanese characters in "Fist of Legend", such as Chen's girlfriend Mitsuko, the elderly grandmaster of the Black Dragon Clan (played by Yasuki Kurata), and even the Japanese Ambassador.

The bad guys in Li's movie are clearly identified as the ambitious militarists who seek total dominion over China. While these imperialistic officers have the advantage of a powerful, modern army over the Chinese masses, as a matter of pride, they also seek to defeat the Chinese "Fist of Legend," to overcome in hand to hand combat the reputation of China's ancient martial arts tradition by hook or crook.

Thus Chen Zhen must fight for honor and country in a gruelling, exciting showdown with a frighteningly tall and tough Japanese general named Fujita.

This is a solid movie all the way around and the Dragon Dynasty 2-Disc Set provides us with both the English language version and the original language version which I happen to like more. Again what makes this film great besides the awsome fighting, is the quality performances by Jet and his supporting cast! This movie is a must have for any martial arts fan!

A lot of folks seem to think that this is one of the greatest kung fu movies of all time. Those folks know what they are talking about. This ball of thunder laced lightning hits rougher and heavier than a Kimbo Slice uppercut. We all know the deal and we all know who's in it. The real eternal question is: which match-up is sicker? Jet vs. Yasuaki Kurata, or Jet vs. Billy Chow? There's a stumper for you. They both rock so hard that if you bring up this question among your friends who are into fu flicks it will usually spark a pretty wild debate. I personally lean slightly toward the Jet/Yasuaki showdown. Something about wind and blindfolds--it just gets me going, dude.

"Fist Of Legend" is possibly the closest thing to perfect fight choreography around (perfect is relative, but honestly it might be perfect) and incorporates many martial art styles, such as Longfist, Ditang Chuan, Tong Bei, Chin Na, Aikido, Karate, boxing, Judo, Jujitsu, and quite a few more that I am probably forgetting. I know some cats say that the general was using Muay Thai. They have either poor eyesight or just improper schooling. Billy's just busting out with hardcore Karate.

This movie is the dope shit and every last one of you know it. If you haven't seen it, you better head for the hills, son, because we will hunt you down and staple you to something so we can force you to see this awesome piece of kung fu cinema history. You'll probably thank us afterwords and maybe even offer us a beer. And we'll accept. 'Cause we like beer. Keep kicking for the stars, folks. I'll be around.

This was an odd entry at the time, since Jet Li was turning out one crazy wire fu movie after another. Then, in 1994, this thing comes along. The fight choreography is good, but most of it doesn't have enough flair and intricate choreography, since it's a remake of a Bruce Lee film.

The power and skill of Jet Li is evident and it is one of his better flicks, but I enjoyed Jet's work in "Shaolin Temple 3" and "Once Upon a Time in China 2" better.

I can't give it a better rating since it comes down to the choreography, which becomes lackluster, especially during the final fight scene. I'm sure I'll get a lot of people disagreeing with this, but forget the hype and give it an honest look.

Everyone wanted this to be the greatest Jet Li film. I feel unsatisfied after viewing it in the same way that I'm unsatisfied with "Fearless". There's something about the camera angles and the staging of fights that I can't get over.

And in truth, FIST OF LEGEND doesn't have much to do with FIST OF FURY, other than than the basic plot (a martial artist avenging his master's murder) and the Chinese vs Japanese element, so no, I don't consider this a remake of FIST OF FURY, but even if you do, I promise you FIST OF LEGEND is by far the better film.

The movie begins in 1937, during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Chen Zhen (Jet Li) is attending college in Japan when he learns that his master, or as Chinese call them, Sifu, was killed in a match with the Sensei of Shanghai's Japanese school. Though Chen Zhen does not hate the Japanese (his girlfriend Mitsuko, played by the lovely Nakayama Shinobu, is Japanese), he returns to Shanghai, and challenges the Sensei who beat his Sifu to a match. Chen Zhen easily wins, and therefore deduces that since he won, his Sifu should have as well. Chen Zhen has an autopsy performed which reveals that shortly before the match, his Sifu was poisoned.

The poisoning is the work of the evil Japanese Genral Fujita, who wants to lead Japan into conquering China. Fujita had the Sifu poisoned because he was the leader of a Chinese resistance movement against the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Now Chen Zhen is out for one thing: revenge.

Yes, vengence is a typical, almost traditional element of kung fu movies, but FIST OF LEGEND also focuses on the romance between Chen Zhen and Mitsuko, such as the disapproval of Chen Zhen's fellow Chinese towards him romancing a Japanese. When she arrives in Shanghai, she is immediately cast out as being an evil, almost less than human, person simply for her nationality. But Chean Zhen comes to her defense.The message appears to be racial tolerance must always prevail, even in times where one race mistreats another.

But martial arts action is still what audiences are looking for here, and those not wanting wire-fu will be pleased. Two drawn-out confrontations stand out in this film. One is a match between Chen Zhen and Funokoshi Fumio, Mitsuko's uncle. The other is the final battle between Chen Zhen and Fujita, in which you can almost literally feel it as both men punch and kick the hell out of each other.

So the next time your in the mood for a real action-packed kung fu film, FIST OF LEGEND should come to mind.