Fists of Fury (The Hong Kong Legends Collection)

Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment
Certificate: M15+ | Region 4 Pal Format

Available to buy
Extras: Yes

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

Bruce Lee

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

In 1966 Bruce Lee was signed to co-star with Van Williams in a new TV series " The Green Hornet" playing Kato the karate kicking/punching valet/driver of the "Hornet". The producers of the "Hornet" were hoping to cash in on the popularity of the TV series " Batman", unfortunately after only 26 episodes the show was cancelled. Williams a Warner Bros stock actor continued to appear in television series. Lee however received only scant parts, after several other disappointments he decided to quit Hollywood and go back to Hong Kong.

Imagine his surprise on arriving in Hong Kong to find "The Green Hornet" is a top rating show and he a major star. He received many movie offers there but finally decided to accept Raymond Chow's offer to make "The Big Boss" a film with a run of the mill story line and dynamic sometimes spectacular action scenes. The film was a huge hit with audiences Lee followed this with : Fist of Fury" which was even more of a success. When the films were released in America they played to packed houses, it didn't take long before American producers realized that this was something special, " Enter the Dragon was his biggest European breakthrough, a slick polished film but for the more brutal intense action film the Hong Kong ones stand apart.

so.... to "fist of Fury:

In Hong Kong there are two martial arts academies in one ( the one Bruce Lee attends) the teacher dies mysteriously dies so the other academy decides to take over both and it doesn't matter who stands in their way, unfortunately for them Bruce Lee does. So whether it's one two or twenty combatants the story is the same they will be dispatched, not killed just injuring them enough to rethink their plans.

This all changes when Bruce discovers who killed the teacher and sets out on a vendetta to kill everyone involved. So he sets out to track down and kill those responsible, the scene where Lee makes use of an opponent's sword to achieve the mans demise is priceless. The police now want Lee to surrender to them for all the killing but even if he says he will does he have one last trick up his sleeve.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

Forget the bad dubbing, you are not watching this film for the dialogue but for the explosive action. Whilst one is watching Bruce Lee you are constantly reminded just how extraordinary this man was, the almost placid face the mocking eyes are just some of his trade marks, there are many pretenders and contenders but even now he is regarded as the master of the martial arts.

Universal are releasing a whole series of Hong Kong Legends films including Lee's The Big Boss, Armour of God with Jackie Chan Once Upon A Time in China with Jet Li and other films, truly a cornucopia for martial arts movie fans.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

trailer for the Hong Kong Legends series and a wonderful biography on Bruce Lee.