Fist Of Fury (Platinum Edition) (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Satisfactory
Special Effects	Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Bruce Lee, silly little aspects,fight scenes, Bobby Baker, first ever nunchaku use on film
Disadvantages:	nothing really except the direction .  .  .  .  very static

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This film is a fictional story based on a real event. A famous Chinese kung fu fighter was poisoned by the Japanese in turn of the century China. This much is true (as shown in the later film 'Legend').

Bruce Lee plays his top student who has moved away to another part of China. When he hears of his instructors death he races to be at the funeral disbelieving his death.

Bruce's character then seeks to find his master's killers and revenge his death. A simple storyline but one which showcases Bruce extraordinary talent. His acting is never going to win an Oscar but bear in mind that this was made for the Chinese audiences not Western ones. The culture gap and acting expectations differ beyond what we consider good but one thing communicates itself wonderfully regardless of whether it is seen in the West, in Asia, in the Middle East or in any part of this world, his fighting ability.

Lee uses this film to fully showcase his scope of fighting and much of the fight choreography was his own although the personality clash with the director ended with supposed death threats between the two.

Here you get to see a popular Chinese message, the Chinese overcoming their oppressors. This is typified by a scene where Bruce is not allowed in a public park. A sign (with a guard) state 'No Chinese '. A Japanese comes along and tells him he will let him in with him if her pretends to be a dog. Lee explodes by throwing the sign in the air and smashing it into pieces with a flying kick. The Chinese were considered weak and easily dominated and Bruce retaliates "We are not the sick men of Asia".

Bruce eventually finds the culprits responsible for his instructors death and, after fighting his way through their martial arts school, is confronted with a famous Russian fighter. This part had been earmarked for Bruce's great friend and assistant instructor, James Yimm Lee however he was too ill (he died shortly afterwards) to take part so the part was given to their senior student (and my instructor) Robert Baker. I have to admit a personal interest here. Bobby was my instructor and a great friend (he died in the early 1990's) and taught me much about life and Bruce's fighting art. I cannot watch this film without shedding a tear and remembering his stories of this film and his instructor and friend Bruce Lee.

After dispensing with Petrov, Lee has his final fight with the headmaster of the Japanese school. The result is never in doubt and Bruce kills his opponent after a vicious fight between samurai sword and nunchakus - this film was the first film that ever showed nunchakus being used.

Most films would end with such a victory but Bruce intended for the story to have a message, revenge comes a price. Bruce has killed many people and although his fellow students want to protect him and help him escape, he makes the decision that his dignity and the welfare of his friends are worth more than his own life. Lee goes out in a blaze of glory. Running towards a group of armed policemen, he jumps into the air with his famous yell..... the screen goes black and you simply hear a volley of shots. No death scene, no body. Just the blackness.

One of the biggest reasons to get this and any other of the platinum series is that the films have been remastered to take advantage of the HD generation. What you get as a result is superb quality compared to the older VHS collections that we all had.

The DVD comes with some great little extra's such as the production stills and some mini-documentaries which add greatly to the value. One of the most interesting additions for the Lee fan is the commentary by Hong Kong film historian Bey Logan. He presents some great insights into the background and nuances of the film and of Lee himself.

There are also interviews with cast members and students which together give you some more little snippets into the film and its star. Perhaps one of the more forgettable inclusions was a mini-documentary walk around the Shaw Brothers set where the film was shot. Although this could have been an interesting feature, the way it was done makes it more cringe-worthy than 'must see'. Other appealing inclusions in this super-duper platinum edition are a seminar with Lee's assistant instructor (and stick wielding villain in Game of Death) Dan Inosanto with Hollywood stunt legend Jeff Imada and a tour around the real Jing Woo school. The extra's in the platinum series really make the whole lot totally collectable. I'd really suggest buying them all as a collection.

Don't watch this for the acting; although Lee's characterizations can give you a smile especially his telephone engineer (don't ask you have to see it), some of the staged stunts or not-so-special effects (the rickshaw for example) all make light hearted viewing, but watch this for the poetry that was Bruce Lee.