Story: Cheng (Bruce Lee) has just arrived in his new home, a rural town that is unlike the urban landscape he is used to, but he is already starting to feel at home. After all, he has a lot of family in the area and he even has a job, working alongside his cousins in an ice factory. While he is happy to be with his family and have this fresh start, he makes it clear his martial arts skills are off the table, he wants to live a lifestyle free from violence, so he took a vow of peace. This vow will prove to be tested when the factory’s owner starts to rule with an iron fist and strike down anyone who opposes his management style. While he has promised not to use his fighting skills, when his cousins begin to disappear, will Cheng have to break the vow to protect his family?

Entertainment Value: The Big Boss is a well crafted, super fun to watch martial arts movie with Bruce Lee in fine form and overflowing with screen presence. The story is competent and while it mostly serves to hang the action set pieces on, the narrative is solid and enjoyable. I think it all makes sense and sets the stage for Lee’s martial arts showcase, so I think the story does all it needs to here. There is even some humor at times, which is well placed and quite effective. The most memorable element here has to be the fights however, which are plentiful, well executed, and so much fun to watch. I appreciated the sheer volume of martial arts action, as there are frequent fights and they unfold at a brisk pace, so speed is of the essence here. Lee owns the screen of course, but his costars more than pull their weight however, so the scenes all work well and provide massive entertainment. As a fan of martial arts cinema and Bruce Lee himself, I had an absolute blast revisiting The Big Boss and give it a high recommendation, such a fun, rewatchable picture.

Bruce Lee is a legend for a reason and it is simple to see here in The Big Boss why he became such an enduring cinematic presence. He handles all the needs of the material well, especially the martial arts aspects of course, but also the drama and even humor. I’ve always found Lee’s sense of humor on screen to be fun to watch and while it is infrequent, it is usually used to effective ends. I appreciate the flashes of personality those moments showcase, as it shows there is so much more to Lee than his strikes. The movie doesn’t ask much in terms of dramatic effort, but Lee covers the bases and is always believable here. He absolutely shines in the fight scenes however, where he comes to life and commands the screen, taking on martial arts masters, crowds of henchmen, and even a group of German Shepherds, always impossible to take your eyes off of. The cast also includes Maria Yi, James Tien, Marilyn Bautista, and Tony Liu.

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