DVD Extra: Chen Zhen avenges again in 'Legend of the Fist'

By Steve Jones, USA TODAY

The fictional character Chen Zhen has been a folk hero in Hong Kong action cinema ever since a nunchaku-wielding Bruce Lee? in perhaps his most iconic role ? took out a whole dojo of Japanese fighters in the 1971 film Fists of Fury.

  • Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen) prepares to avenge his dojo in 'Legend of the Fist.'

    Media Asia Films

    Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen) prepares to avenge his dojo in 'Legend of the Fist.'

Media Asia Films

Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen) prepares to avenge his dojo in 'Legend of the Fist.'

Chen Zhen lives in Shanghai during Japan's occupation in the 1930s and is part of the resistance movement against the repressive invaders. His story has been retold several times over the past 40 years, with some of Asia's biggest fighting stars taking a turn in the role. Though the plots vary somewhat, the basics remain the same: Chen seeks the killers of his teacher, real-life hero Huo Yuanjia, who defended Chinese honor in public bouts against foreign fighters until he was mysteriously poisoned to death. Chen's vengeful quest leaves a long trail of bodies as bad guys are dispatched in dizzying displays of martial arts skill.

The latest addition to the character's legacy is noirish Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010, Well Go USA Entertainment, not rated, $25; Blu-ray, $33), which had a limited run in U.S. theaters in April. It's directed by Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs) and stars Donnie Yen, whose chain-lightning moves make the action sequences exhilarating.

Yen starred in a 30-episode TV remake of the Bruce Lee film in 1995. (Jet Li portrayed the character in 1994's Fist of Legend and also played Huo in 2006's Fearless.) This movie picks up seven years from where the TV series left off. Chen Zhen, who was believed dead, returns to Shanghai under the guise of a rich playboy.

He becomes manager of the gaudy nightclub Casablanca and ingratiates himself with its Triad-connected owner (Anthony Wong). The place is awash in betrayals and subterfuge. American, French and British businessmen, Japanese spies and resistance supporters all vie to protect or advance their various interests. Chen becomes infatuated with the club's sexy singing star, Kiki (Qi Shu), who may not be what she seems.

At night, he dons the black leather costume of a movie hero, the Masked Warrior (like something The Green Hornet's Kato would wear), and tries to protect members of the underground, who have been marked for death by the army. There's triumph and tragedy, but ultimately he must confront the Japanese colonel (Ryu Kohata), who is not fooled by Chen's assumed identities. He knows the hero is the man who killed his father years earlier, and he's determined to settle the score.

The movie is packaged with a bonus disc that takes viewers behind the scenes during the filming of the action sequences. It gives an extensive look at Yen's blow-by-blow choreography of the stunts and fight scenes. There's no CGI trickery going on here, just a lot of precision timing, athleticism and flimsy furniture to crash through.

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