Legend of the fist - Review

Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen

This is the new Donny Yen movie, and yes, it is with fast punches, parkour, and of course... Super Heroes.

Seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after discovering who was responsible for his teacher's death (Huo Yuanjia) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A mysterious stranger arrives from overseas and befriends a local mafia boss. That man is a disguised Chen Zhen, who intends to infiltrate the mob when they form an alliance with the Japanese. Disguising himself as a caped fighter by night, Chen intends to take out everyone involved as well as get his hands on an assassination list prepared by the Japanese.

Not to be confused with the Fist of Legend, this new Gordon Chan movie is about Chen Zhen, after he returns from France, being a "war labour" and somehow also a hero, and he is indeed a Superhero.

This is the sequel to the Fist of Fury, made popular by Bruce Lee, and is set in Shanghai before the Second Sino-Japanese War, seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after avenging his teacher (Huo Yuanjia).

In the spirit of the good old Bruce Lee movies, it brings out the incompetence of White people, and the arrogance of the Japanese, and how all of them should be killed with the fist!

To make things more interesting and Superhero like, Donny Yen puts on a ridiculous fake mustache or a black mask (like the Green Hornet), and the action in the movie is also making Chen Zhen look like just another invincible Superhero.

I must admit, the action is quite interesting, however, it fails to deliver much message like Ip Man, and the characters are indeed pretty flat. There are a few characters(Shawn Yue) in the movie that does not do much, and are simply a distraction.

Many of the action scene are simply over the top -- like Crank, and simply too hilarious. It is a good action flick, and should be just taken as that if you intend to go catch it.

I've watched it a few days ago, but decided to review it only after a few requests.

I would give it a 7.5/10 for action and 3/10 for story.

The last villian fight is indeed fast like any other Donny Yen movie, and I feel like when you watch Ip Man, you probably recognize some of the similar scenes. I`d say LEGEND OF THE FIST is a damn solid Donnie Yen movie(If you are a fan), and a kung-fu extravaganza to please all fans of the genre. While I prefer both IP MAN films, as well as SPL, and FLASHPOINT, it would be a great way to de-stress and watch Donny beat the Japanese to a pulp...

If you love Gore, you will love this movie! (It needs lightly more blood... to qualify as a B-movie)

-- Robin Low