Independent Films, Film Profiles

Fist of Legend

Fist Of Legend (Chinese: 《精武英雄》; pinyin: Jīng Wǔ Yīngxióng; literally "Hero Of Jing Wu") is a 1994 martial arts film starring Martial Artist Jet Li. It was 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 Jun (Chinese: 陈真) (Jet Li), in his quest to bring the killers of his master, Fok Yun Gap (Chinese: 霍元甲) , to justice.The movie begins with Chen Jun (Jet Li) attending college in Japan. Chen and other students are busy in class when suddenly the lecture room is flooded by some anti-Chinese Japanese martial arts students, who try to force Chen to leave. When Mitsuko (Shinobu Nakayama), a female classmate who had a crush on Chen, the professor and other students defend his right to be there, the thugs assault the professor and another student, and threaten Mitsuko. Chen engages the Japanese fighters, defeating them with a variety of painful but controlled locks and throws. Mitsuko's uncle, the legendary Master Funakochi Fumio (Yasuaki Kurata) arrives soon 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, Fok Yun Gap, 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, Jing Mo, formerly of master Fok Yun Gap's, is now a laughing stock with the master dead. His childhood friend, Fok Ting Yan (Chin Siu Ho) is now the new master. As Chen enters the training grounds, he witnesses Ting Yan 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 the dojo of Akutagawa Ryoichi, 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. Chen easily defeats him in a short fight and realizes there is no way Akutagawa could have defeated Fok, as the Japanese Martial Arts master is simply not that capable.Chen realizes that the only way his master could have lost to Akutagawa was if he was not fighting at full power, and suspecting foul play, has his teacher's corpse exhumed for an autopsy. Although the other Jing Mo members criticize his decision, they are further dismayed when it is quickly shown that Fok was indeed poisoned. Further analysis shows that the poison exacerbated Fok's asthma, attacking his lungs and making them susceptible to easy damage. This is why Fok 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 Jing Mo and a celebrity in Shanghai. The other students begin to look to Chen for leadership even though Fok Ting Yan is the school's Chief Instructor. Chen demonstrates some of the effective training methods he learned abroad — some of which contradict Ting Yan's instruction. Ting-An becomes increasingly distraught, seeking refuge at a local brothel, where he has been secretly become romantically involved with a prostitute.Meanwhile, Akutagawa, realizing that his match with Fok had been fixed and sabotaged, confronts the occupying Japanese general, General Fujita (Billy Chow). Fujita replies that he did not trust Akutagawa's ability to defeat Yun Gap 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 by crushing his back.Fujita then frames Chen Jun for the killing, which enrages Akutagawa's students and causes them to storm Jing Mo. Akutagawa's and Jing Mo 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 Jing Mo students. The Chinese view Chen's relationship with Mitsuko as a treacherous act.For Ting Yan and some of the other elder Jing Mo members, this is the last straw, and they demand for Chen to either abandon Mitsuko or leave Jing Mo. Ting Yan, 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 Yan clearly has no such compunctions. At first, Chen is able to hold his own using traditional Jing Mo techniques, but Ting Yan's increasing aggressiveness begins 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 Yan proves unable to deal with. A shamed and defeated Ting Yan hands over the mantle of Jing Mo 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 Mitsuko. Instead, Chen will leave Jing Mo by his own choice, and live with Mitsuko. As both men leave, Jing Mo is left without an instructor.Chen and Mitsuko attempt to get housing, but everywhere they go the local Chinese drive them out, and the pair are forced to live at an abandoned shrine outside the city beside his master's grave. Meanwhile, the other Jing Mo members confront Ting Yan about his alcoholism and relationship with a prostitute.Mitsuko's uncle, Funakochi Fumio, finally arrives at China, requested by Fujita to dispose of Chen. 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 fight to a draw. As he departs, Fumio warns Chen that the most dangerous Japanese fighter is not him, but 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; Fumio is acknowledged as the superior martial artist not because of his killing ability, but that he has reached reached higher levels of cultivation and refinement.A few days later, Ting Yan 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 Jing Mo 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 Yan is showing Chen Mízōngquán 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 Yan arrive at Akutagawa's dojo, where Fujita is waiting. Fujita exposes a member of Fok Yun Gap's school, who convinced the old cook to poison him. Fujita then execute the traitor, stating that he has now officially apologized for the dishonorable killing of the master. However, he will still close the school, unless Ting Yan, proves to Fujita his skills. Ting Yan attempts to fight Fujita, but the incredibly strong and resilient Fujita effortlessly beats down Ting Yan.Fujita then attempts to kill Ting Yan, 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 Yan 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 Yan 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 Jing Mo 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. In a car, a student asks where they're going, Chen responds with "Which area is most affected by Japanese invasion?" He is told "Tungshan" and Chen says "We'll go to Tungshan then." The movie ends with Ting Yan leading his students on a run.