Review: Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
Fantastic Fest 2010 selection Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) is back in Austin on Friday night at Alamo Drafthouse Village. The movie brings together history with amazing action sequences and stunning sets of Japanese-occupied Shanghai during the First World War to re-invent the tale of a cultural hero, played by action star Donnie Yen (Ip Man). Director Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs) attempts to serve up more than the usual martial arts action porn with a complex storyline featuring nationalism, brotherhood, espionage, romance and superheroes.
Yen portrays the legendary Chen Zhen, a character created by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury and later portrayed by Jet Li in Gordon Chan's acclaimed 1994 remake Fist of Legend. Yen himself has played the character in a 1995 TV series. For Legend of the Fist, Yen teamed with writer/producer Gordon Chan and director Lau to continue the story of Chen Zhen as a World War I veteran, resistance fighter and masked superhero.
Zhen's heroism precedes the war, when as a member of the Jing Wu Athletic Association he defeated a formidable Japanese opponent at the Hongkou Dojo. In France in 1917, he and his fellow laborers carry ammunition to French soldiers in trenches, and during a climactic retreat, Zhen rescues both his fellow patriots and French soldiers as well. When a comrade is killed, he assumes his identity in order to gain anonymity.
Zhen and his comrades return home with the intent of fighting a war in China -- as resistance fighters to unify China against the Japanese who want to expand their empire. Zhen manages to win the trust of Mr. Liu (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang), a powerful business tycoon and owner of the glamorous club Casablanca . Liu's clout with the Triad could potentially aid the resistance -- which includes the day laborers and students -- in motivating every Chinese citizen to join their cause, as they've already successfully infiltrated the municipal police and local newspapers.
At the Casablanca, Zhen meets the lovely and engaging singer/hostess Kiki (Qi Shu) -- quickly revealed as an undercover officer under the direction of the ruthless Colonel Takeshi Chikaraishi. Chikaraishi is intent on pitting the Chinese generals of the Northeast against each other, but the interference of a masked warrior -- guess who? -- delays his intended results. When a death list is delivered from Tokyo, it is intentionally leaked by Colonel Chikaraishi. The Masked Warrior thwarts his efforts by saving intended targets by either encouraging them to leave or interrupting assassinations, becoming an icon of resistance in the process.
The strengths of Legend of the Fist come from the cinematography and action choreography as well as its design. As an acclaimed cinematographer, director Lau has the chops for creating a visually stunning piece. The opening sequence seamlessly blends historical footage with snapshots and quick shots of Zhen and his comrades and ends with a jaw-dropping montage that weaves intense action scenes together. Yen personally choreographed the fight scenes as the film’s action director.
Shanghai through Lau's camera lens is awash with lavish and vibrant color and opulence, due in part to the exquisite set and costume design. From the uniforms of the resistance fighters to the exquisite dresses of the Casablanca hostesses, the attention to detail is admirable including that of jeweled adornments.
Although several of the characters could have benefited from more development -- especially regarding their motivations and alignments -- the casting evokes strong performances from both leads and supporting actors alike. The usually frenetic Qi Shu takes a more subdued and convincing approach to portraying a reluctant Japanese spy who would rather live her life as a famous hostess and singer at the Casablanca Club. Lau's directorial and cinematographical skills on at least ten films with Shu is evident in how well-framed and directed her performance is in Legend of the Fist.
Bo Huang as Inspector Huang is engaging as he provides bumbling comic relief throughout most of the movie, but his strongest moment is in a climactic stand off against the Brit who extorts money from the locals. The standout of the cast was by far that of Anthony Wong Chau-Sang as Liu, for the subtle nuances of his performance.
Sadly for the magnificent effort put into the acting and cinematography of Legend of the Fist, the lack of attention to tidying up the numerous subplots is disappointing. As much as I enjoyed this film during Fantastic Fest, it took multiple viewings for me to understand portions of the storyline -- even those not really fleshed out such as the romance between Kiki and Zhen. Fans of Donnie Yen's martial arts skills may feel that this movie comes up short in that aspect, but Yen does demonstrate that he has both the charisma and ability to take on a more dramatic role as well.
Legend of the Fist contains enough stylized action and historical intrigue for the general public despite falling a bit short of tighter stories and style of more memorable films such as Ip Man or Kung Fu Hustle. Be prepared to pay close attention or plan on a second viewing before passing judgment on on a semi-decent attempt at adding complexity to the action genre.