New Fist of Fury


One of two competing sequels to Bruce Lee’s 1972 Hong Kong classic, New Fist of Fury (1976) has a bit more legitimacy by bringing back the same director (Lo Wei) and several supporting characters.  But it’s biggest claim to fame today is the casting of Jackie Chan in his first major role in a widely released motion picture.  Of course, this was during the thick of the Clones of Bruce Lee era in which Jackie was only one of many being groomed to take over the martial arts crown.  Which means the tone of the film is a far cry from what he’d later be known for.

 

Forced to flee to Taiwan, members of the Jingwu martial arts school find the Japanese occupation is just as insufferable as it was in Shanghai.  The local community is either too scared or corrupt to put up much of a fight, until the death of a respected kung-fu master rallies the rebels to form a new school.  Ah Lung (Chan), a petty thief, is inspired to join up and defend his honor against the cocky Japanese students one fight at a time.

 

In the martial arts movie scorecard, New Fist of Fury is more memorable for what it doesn’t do than anything it does particularly well. Despite casting Chan in the same quick-tempered martyr role as Bruce Lee in the original, director Lo Wei rarely forces him to imitate Lee’s signature style.  In fact, for most of the film Chan plays the same bumbling, accident-prone character he’d develop into an international brand.  But when the chips are down and the plot hits its third act, things get serious.  Chan is all business as he takes on his overconfident Japanese foes including the merciless daughter of the reigning dojo champion.

 

Speaking of supposed weaker sex, Wei’s film gives its female characters a much higher profile.  It’s a nice change of pace from their roles in the original, which dropped them into the story simply to be defended.  The theatrical release runs a full two-hours and incorporates the same anti-colonial theme that resonated so strongly the first time around.  But truth be told, it’s a bit “been there done that.”  The 1980 re-release excises a full quarter of this material, coming in at a brisk hour and 22 minutes.  Depending on one’s mood, it’s a toss-up which is better. 

 

Arrow Video’s Limited-Edition Blu-ray comes from a new 2K restoration and includes both versions accompanied by two commentary tracks, a video essay comparing the film with Fist of Fury Part 2, multiple audio options, collector’s booklets and double-sided fold out poster.

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