Fist of Legend
Fist of Legend is a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Gordon Chan from a screenplay by Chan, Lam Kee-to, and Kim Yip. It features action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping and was produced by Jet Li, who also starred in the lead role of Chen Zhen. It is a remake of the 1972 martial arts film Fist of Fury starring Bruce Lee.
Set in Shanghai in 1914, Fist of Legend follows Chen as he investigates his master Huo Yuanjia's death at the hands of the Imperial Japanese occupation forces. The film co-starred Chin Siu-ho, Yasuaki Kurata, Shinobu Nakayama, Billy Chow, and Paul Chun. It was released by Golden Harvest on 22 December 1994. The film is considered one of Jet Li's best films, and one of the best martial arts films of all time.
Synopsis
In 1937, Chinese martial artist Chen Zhen studies at Kyoto University, where he faces harassment from Japanese ultranationalists but earns the respect of karate master Fumio Funakoshi. Chen learns that his master, Huo Yuanjia, has died after losing a match to Japanese fighter Akutagawa, so he returns to Shanghai. Suspecting foul play, Chen challenges and easily defeats Akutagawa, then has his master's body exhumed for an autopsy, which reveals that Huo Yuanjia was poisoned before the match.Chen's victory makes him a hero at the Jingwu School, but that leads to tensions between him and his master's son, Huo Ting'en. Meanwhile, Japanese general Fujita kills Akutagawa for questioning the match's integrity, and frames Chen for the murder. Chen is arrested but acquitted when Mitsuko, a Japanese woman with whom he is romantically involved, provides an alibi. Although he is cleared, Chen is criticized by his fellow Jingwu School members for his relationship with Mitsuko, so he leaves Jingwu School after defeating Huo Ting'en in a challenge.
As Japanese hostility escalates, Funakoshi fights and defeats Chen but spares him, advising him to adapt his technique. Huo Ting'en later reconciles with Chen and teaches him the Huo family's Mizong Fist. Mitsuko leaves for Japan, hoping Chen will follow.
Chen and Huo Ting'en confront Fujita, who is revealed to be responsible for Huo Yuanjia's death. After a brutal fight, Chen kills Fujita in self-defense. To prevent the incident from being used to justify war, Chen agrees to take responsibility, but the Japanese ambassador secretly fakes Chen's execution. Jingwu School survives and expands across China, while Chen leaves Shanghai, intending to reunite with Mitsuko.
Cast
Reception
Box office
Though Fist of Legend is widely considered one of Li's best films, during the downturn period of the Hong Kong film industry, 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 II grossed HK$23 million, but its overall box office from other countries was good.In South Korea, the film sold 181,760 tickets in Seoul City.
Critical response
The film holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Television
In the United Kingdom, the film was watched by viewers on television in 2004, making it the year's seventh most-watched foreign-language film on television.Alternate versions
Miramax
The English-dubbed U.S. release by Miramax and Buena Vista Distribution contains four specific mistranslations that drastically alter the meaning of the film as a whole.- Before Chen leaves Japan, Mitsuko asks him if he hates the Japanese. In the U.S. version he replies, "I don't hate". In the Hong Kong version he replies, "I don't know".
- In the U.S. version of the scene where Chen fights Fumio, Fumio asks him what the most effective way to defeat an enemy is. Chen replies that the most effective way is to focus one's energy and strike, and Fumio agrees with him. In the Hong Kong version, they begin by discussing their match. Chen says that the purpose of martial arts is to defeat an enemy. Fumio says, "No, you're wrong. The best way to defeat your enemy is to use a gun. Martial arts is about personal development". The original line was a nod to Bruce Lee, who was quoted during the production of Enter the Dragon as "Nowadays you don't go around on the street kicking people, punching people — because if you do, well that's it — I don't care how good you are".
- Prior to the final fight sequence in the U.S. version, Chen and Huo face Fujita who holds up a sign reading Dongya Bingfu and he tells them that the sign says, "Jingwu is closed". The Chinese characters are commonly translated to "Sick men of the East" and is used as a famous reference to Fist of Fury. The subtitles in the Hong Kong version translate the sign correctly.
- At the end in the U.S. version, Chen's driver asks him if he will go to be with Mitsuko. Chen responds, "If I no longer have a country, at least I can still be with the woman I love". His response in the Hong Kong version is, "Where is war with Japan most likely to break out?" The driver says, "Manchuria" and he says, "We'll go to Manchuria then".
Taiwan
Compared to the Hong Kong version, the 106-minute Mandarin-dubbed Taiwanese version contains the following footage:- An extension to the scene where Fujita gives a harsh lecture to several men, prior to his order to spy on certain Japanese individuals.
- An extension of the scene with Chen after bowing to his master's shrine where Liu Zhensheng then hands over a suitcase to Chen and the latter proceeds to leave. Prior to following him, Mitsuko also respectfully bows.
- An entire scene where Hill Hung is looking for Huo Ting'en at a brothel, only to find him smoking opium with a prostitute.
- An entire scene where Hill Hung brings tea to Huo Ting'en, the night prior to the final match.
- An extension of Fumio talking with the ambassador, prior to the former winning the Renju game.
- After the final fight ends, a very small extension sees the Japanese soldiers pause for a moment prior to entering the Dojo.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong version in return, has the following unique footage:- A reaction shot of the cook in the kitchen after Uncle Nong dispatches students to search for Huo Ting'en.
- A few seconds of Chen Zhen feigning death to Fujita.
- After the credits finish, we see the crew waving to the camera.
Home media
DVD
Ritek
In 1997, the first DVD was released by Ritek in Taiwan, which fans later reported to be an "uncut" version. This has been a widely held misconception - whilst this version does carry some more footage, it is in turn missing a few moments that the Hong Kong version has.Miramax
On 15 February 2000, Miramax issued a DVD of this film in the U.S.. Whilst it featured better visual quality than any other release, it immediately caused an uproar with the Hong Kong Cinema fan community because it contained only a new English dub/score with alterations to the original dialogue and no original Cantonese option, a defect shared with many of their Hong Kong-acquired titles.HKVideo
On 20 March 2002, the first official DVD of the Hong Kong version with a Cantonese soundtrack was issued by HKVideo in France, but it contained no English subtitles. One notable difference to other versions carrying a Chinese/Taiwanese version is that it doesn't contain the ending text describing the aftermath of Jingwu School, but is otherwise the same and, bar a few missing frames, uncut.Maxam
A lesser-known DVD was issued on 25 March 2005 by Japanese distributor Maxam which contains the Hong Kong version in complete form, but no English subtitles.Dragon Dynasty
A R1 2-DVD "Ultimate Edition" was released on 9 September 2008 from The Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label in America, which features many extras and the original Cantonese soundtrack with English subtitles, marking the first official DVD release to do so. This version was also released in Australia, in single disk. However, this is still visually the previous US version with the Cantonese soundtrack edited to fit its visuals. The subtitles revert to dubtitles towards the end - relying on the previous incorrectly transcribed "Sick Men Of Asia" sign and story-changing ending from Miramax's English dub.New Age 21/HMH
-issued DVDs from distributor 'New Age 21' and 'HMH' were released in November 2008 in an uncut state and contain a Cantonese soundtrack with English subtitles.Other releases
Other uncut English-subtitled releases of the Hong Kong Cantonese-language versions include the US Tai Seng VHS, the Australian Chinatown Video VHS, the U.K. Made in Hong Kong VHS, and the Mei Ah VCD, VHS and LD.The Malaysian Speedy VCD also contains a similar version, but enforces cuts to some scenes for violence:
- Fujita kneeing Ryōichi Akutagawa's back.
- Huo Ting'en hitting his head on a window during the finale.
- Chen Zhen hitting his head on a window during the finale.