Synopsis
In 1925, the Japanese occupied the city of Shanghai. They have the city divided into several settlements. They are preparing a large-scale invasion of China. The Chinese are not only being intimidated by the Japanese, they are also harassed by the Westerners who have come with their influence and have become rich with their businesses.
Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen), a former soldier during World War I, has reappeared as Qi Tianyuan, a businessman in the city of Shanghai. He frequently hangs out at the Casablanca nightclub, where a beautiful singer, Fang Qing (Shu Qi), also known as Kiki, works.
Qi Tianyuan’s best friend, Liu Yu-Tian (Anthony Wong), is the owner of the nightclub. Together they plan to lead a resistance against their Japanese oppressors. The ambitious Japanese army is found to be plotting the assassination of General Zeng (Shawn Yue), the son of a North China army commander by resistance fighters.
They see an opportunity in that to cause internal conflict among the Chinese people. The Japanese will then blame a rival military leader, General Zhuo (Yue Ma). When the Japanese kill Zeng, it will cause a civil war between the two rival military leaders and facilitate the conquest of China.
The plot is thwarted by Qi Tianyuan when he disguises himself as a masked superhero in a black suit. Colonel Takeshi Chikaraishi (Ryu Kohata) is the sadistic leader of the Japanese military faction in Shanghai. He begins killing people from the anti-Japanese resistance on a list sent by his superiors in Tokyo.
Colonel Takeshi also begins to put two and two together to discover that Qi Tianyuan is actually Chen Zhen, the masked hero. On the other hand, Qi Tianyuan / Chen Zhen is falling in love with Fang Qing. He soon discovers that Fang is called Yumi Yamaguchi, a spy for the Japanese army.
Colonel Takeshi Chikaraishi, in a test of Fang / Yamaguchi’s loyalty, orders him to kill General Zeng’s girlfriend, Vivian (Siyan Huo), a friend of hers. The angry General Zeng allies with the Japanese and attacks General Zhuo, whom they blame for the murder of his girlfriend. Chen Zhen is captured shortly after being rounded up by the Japanese.
Chikaraishi Takeshi brutally tortures Chen. Shortly after his friends attack and destroy the building he is being held in. The Japanese decide to release the seriously wounded Chen. Finally, Chen awakens from his coma to face the sadistic Takeshi and 100 of his men in a brutal battle to the death at his Japanese Karate Dojo. The same Dojo Chen Zhen killed the Colonel’s father 10 years ago.
Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen: Review
Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen is an expensive action / martial arts production from Hong Kong. The plot of this movie has been done before in several Hong Kong movies. Several Hong Kong films have a similar aesthetic, such as the Jet Li Movies: Once upon a time in China (1991), Fist of Legend (1994), Fearless (2006) and the Donnie Yen film: IP Man (2008).
The films listed are similar in terms of the themes of oppression shown. The superhero costume worn by Donnie Yen in Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen is very similar to the design of Kato’s Green Hornet costume. Jet Li wore a variation of the costume for his 1996 movie Black Mask. The fantasy-style action scenes for Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen also closely resemble the movie Black Mask. The actors in Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen do a good job. The beautiful and sexy Shu Qi shines in this movie.
She was great with her energetic performance as the Casablanca nightclub singer Fang Qing, also known as Kiki. She is often drunk throughout the movie. Fang Qing shows that she has heart in her final scenes as the spy, Ms. Yamaguchi, which unfortunately leads to her sad demise.
I have seen several of Donnie Yen’s movies from his early days to recent ones. It just keeps getting better. His martial arts skills are more impressive now. His charismatic presence has even more star power now. From his most recent work, the one I enjoyed the most about Flash Point. SPL was also very good.
Donnie Yen is in top shape, as his body is even more chiseled than before in his career. In terms of realism, Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen has a lot of fantasy elements and inconsistencies. When Donnie Yen dresses up as a superhero, he has superhuman strength, speed, and agility.
Donnie Yen’s fighting skills are enhanced by wire work and special effects applied to them. Not that he needs such improvements as Mr. Yen is pretty fast and badass on his own. He often does an excellent job choreographing fights in his movies.
Without any explanation, when not in disguise, as in the final fight, it is normal and can be pushed to the limit. Or when Colonel Takeshi and his thugs corner him and brutally beat him. That just didn’t make sense to me in the Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen movie.
The film’s fight scenes were choreographed by Donnie Yen. He incorporated many elements of mixed martial arts (MMA) into the film, along with the use of Wing Chun. The film is a tribute to Bruce Lee. Donnie Yen added Mr. Lee’s trademark scream at the Dojo battle at the end. He also makes use of Nunchaku just like Bruce Lee in Fists of Fury.
I couldn’t help but laugh when I first saw Donnie’s attempts to do the “Wachoooo” while kicking butt in the Dojo fight. It was a bit cheesy and awkward, but it’s all so much fun. Very talented actor, Anthony Wong always does a job with his acting as a good boy or villain. He often plays the role of a psychotic bad boy like Wong Chi Hang (The Untold Story 1993), Johnny Wong (Hard Boiled 1993), the wicked and sadistic King Kau (Black Mask 1996) and as Sergeant Tung in Beast Cops (1998).
Japanese actor Ryu Kohata also does a great job. The sadistic main villain, Colonel Takeshi Chikaraishi, is a really nasty guy that you won’t like. Ryu Kohata plays creep to perfection. The visuals and cinematography for Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen are impressive. Shanghai, China from the 1920s era looks striking and beautiful.
The best directed action sequence in the film was the opening battle scene of World War I that will get your adrenaline pumping. The spectacular battle sequence explodes on you with the unstoppable and impressive Donnie Yen as a one-man soldier. He just makes quick work of the German forces with his graceful fighting skills.
It’s unfortunate that there were few action scenes that stood out after the opening in Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen. Most of the film was made up of somewhat confusing dramatic scenes. Character development is often told through flashback scenes. I found the lack of explanation of the Chen Zhen character who escaped the death of the Japanese 10 years ago, after finding out who was responsible for the murder of his teacher as a poor script.
The music and instrumental score for Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen are well done. Taiwanese-born actress, Shu Qi sings the songs she performs at the Casablanca nightclub on her own. Shu Qi is not a natural singer, but she is cute in her interpretation of catchy songs.
There is some graphic content in the film, like a lot of blood during violent scenes and a half-naked Donnie Yen while being tortured. The film has some derogatory terms during some heated scenes of discussions between the harassed Chinese, Japanese and Europeans residing in Shanghai.
Both Japanese and Westerners call the Chinese people well-known racial epitaphs in a couple of scenes. Europeans are also given nicknames. The Japanese say a few things about women. A Japanese soldier refers to them as only sexual objects.
The nationalistic themes of Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen have been greatly exaggerated in Hong Kong cinema.
The Japanese on display are made to look really bad in this one too. The intense final fight was well choreographed by Donnie Yen and it is not short. Show your best impression of Bruce Lee and how amazing he is in the finale. He is shot down and returns as the superhero that he is.
Overall, The Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen is an entertaining movie. It could have been better if there were more impressive action scenes that showcased Donnie Yen’s fighting talents. The Blu-ray I have of this movie is a special edition version that comes with a special features disc.
The bonus disc has six behind-the-scenes documentaries. Some interviews with cast members Shu Qi, Anthony Wong, Ryu Kohata, and Donnie Yen.
Each of the actors / actresses discusses their characters and experiences working on the film. Donnie Yen talks about the fight choreography for Legend of the Fist The Return of Chen Zhen. Also added is an interview with director Andrew Lau, who talks a lot about the movie.
