Story: Chen (Bruce Lee) has just returned to Shanghai with big plans, to visit his friends, marry his true love, and study with his master, but those plans are quickly derailed. His master has died and the circumstances seem quite unusual, so Chen decides to look into the matter. His fellow students agree that the death is mysterious, but it is clear that Chen will have to be the one to uncover the truth. Soon after arriving, Chen recognizes that some racial tensions are present in Shanghai, as some Japanese visitors have targeted the local Chinese, which has led to some violence. But can Chen navigate the dangerous path ahead of him and discover why his master was killed, or has he landed in a situation too difficult for one man to resolve?

Entertainment Value: This martial arts classic revives a time tested genre narrative, but weaves in the kind of magic only Bruce Lee could deliver. The story is one we’ve seen countless times, but there is a reason this premise is seen so often, especially in this genre. The concept of avenging a master is one of the most popular narratives in old school martial arts cinema, one that resonates with audiences and fits the genre like a glove, but also ensures the potential for memorable showdowns is always high. And Fist of Fury delivers on the showdown, including a finale with Bruce in back to back, super fun to watch clashes that entertain and then some. The fight scenes are frequent and well crafted, with Bruce showcased in a number of sequences, from hand to hand combat to his famous nunchaku skills. The story is given room to breathe as well and pacing is usually good, so the movie is never slow and even the non action scenes are enjoyable. I do think a little tightening could have helped in some places, but that is a minor issue at best. Fist of Fury has it all, incredible martial arts battles, villains you can really hate, and a legendary hero at his peak, so this one earns a high recommendation.

As you’d expect, Bruce Lee is the focus of Fist of Fury and with good reason, since he is magnetic here and turns in a terrific performance. This movie has enough narrative to give Lee a chance to show off some of his acting skills and he steps up, covering all the bases here. I think he excels in the action scenes of course, but he also has such a great sense of humor and an ease on screen, as he exudes cinematic star power. Lee is also able to handle the dramatic needs of Fist of Fury, showing a dialed up emotional range and a kind of melodrama that works perfectly with this kind of storyline and overall vibe. Not much else we could ask for, as he commands the screen, performs well, and lights up the movie with his martial arts abilities. The cast also includes Robert Baker, James Tien, Maria Yi, Tony Liu, and Nora Miao.

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