Wen Chiang-long stars as Lang Hsiao Hu, a young Chinese cook and student at the Chung Hua Kung Fu School. While working one day at the restaurant, he sees some unruly Japanese trying to have their way with his girl and disrespecting his boss. Wrong move. He cleans house and sends the Japanese crawling out of the restaurant on their hands and knees, barking like dogs. Of course, this doesn't sit well with Kuroki, head of the Japanese Musashi Judo club. The rivalries escalate until a few Japanese and Chinese guys are dead and everyone blames Hsiao Hu. What will he do? Why, what Bruce Lee would do, of course!
Sound familiar? Well, it should because this Joseph Kuo production is a remake of Bruce Lee's 1973 film FIST OF FURY. Released only a couple of years after Bruce Lee's death, this film capitalizes on his film rather than the man himself. Lead Wen Chiang-long never attempts to imitate or mimic the master. Instead, he gives a rather stoic performance as the only embittered Chinese man who will stand up against the Japanese. The film mirrors FOF faithfully until the very end when the two rival schools decide to end their feud the old fashioned way. How is that? They set up a boxing ring in the center of town and duke it out with each other! Of course, Hsiao Hu shows up in disguise (who makes those things?) and proceeds to beat the crap out of everyone, throwing people on roofs and plowing the Japanese instructor through the boxing ring. Then he quietly surrenders while all the Chinese give him thumbs up. Wen doesn't have nearly the fight ability of Lee but he is serviceable. Instead of nunchucks he uses a big rope in the dojo showdown.
Bruceploitation fans should also take note that this film co-stars a very young looking Ho Chung Tao (Bruce Li) as, get this, an EVIL JAPANESE HENCHMAN! Ho appears through out the entire film and repeatedly has his ass handed to him. He is such a wimp that he even takes a bag of flour to the stomach! He even gets in one line. Actually, it is a word. He yells, "Charge!" I bet he is still getting royalty checks on that one. Also worth looking out for is the crowd in the end fight scene. The first two rows of extras are in period outfits, while everyone behind them is wearing contemporary clothing. By the end, guys in business suits and 70s butterfly collars freely strut in front of the camera. What were they thinking? Were they holding studio tours that day or something?
Reviewed by William