When he returns home, Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee) discovers that his Master, Huo Yuanjia, has died. His heart is heavy and filled with sadness; Chen attends the funeral with many fellow students from Jing Wu School to pay his respects. The loss of his former master continues to make Chen suffer internally to the point that he refuses to eat food and barely speaks to others. Rumour has it that Master Huo died from stomach flu, but Chen struggles to accept this.
When Interpreter Wu (Ping-ou Wei) and two students from Hiroshi Suzuki’s school insult Jingwu School, Chen becomes enraged. While Chen and his fellow students were taught to fight by their old master, they were also taught never to start a fight with other people. However, given the situation and the recent death of his master, Chen decides to break the rules and vows vengeance upon those responsible. Chen responds to the recent challenge against him and his fellow students, which soon creates a new war between the two schools.
Fist of Fury is, as you may assume, an action film with incredible sequences from the actor himself, Bruce Lee. There’s also a strong sense of mystery and thriller as Chen fights students from another school and seeks those responsible for the murder. Chen’s running around looking for answers and starting a war between schools only adds exciting drama, as does the fact that his fellow students don’t always agree with Chen’s choices. This is especially evident when he breaks the rules of his master and continues to work his way closer to the villain, Hiroshi Suzuki (Chikara Hashimoto), leading him to a final fight and showdown. Chen also has a romantic interest, and he hopes to marry, settle down with, and start a family.
With a title like Fist of Fury, movie lovers will be pleased to see plenty of action scenes. Bruce Lee shines with stunning kicks and hard-hitting fists. Everything about the action sequences is fantastic and fun, particularly when many people fight in one room. The choreography and fighting style of Bruce Lee is enlightening, and I found myself highly captivated by the action. The biggest distraction comes from the character of Chen, who sometimes can come across as slightly childish. This happens particularly in the first act, where his facial expressions and reactions seem more immature, like a young child. Contrasting with his emotions, Chen’s fighting style is more confident and aggressive. I also found that the subplot of Chen’s romance overstays its welcome at various points.
Overall, Fist of Fury is a fun film! Plenty of great action sequences are highly entertaining and memorable, thanks to actor Bruce Lee bringing his skills and style to the screen. While the character Bruce Lee seems childish in his emotions at various times within the first act, there’s still a strong level of on-screen enjoyment. The entire film also carries elements of drama and thriller, which I loved seeing as we witness one man seek revenge and all the answers for the death of his fallen master.
7.9/10
29th June 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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