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Confusing as hell can't even begin to describe this Bruce Li film. Re-teaming Li with the director of ENTER THE PANTHER (uh oh), this proves to be one of the most muddled Bruce Li films, which is a shame because when there is fighting on-screen, the film really takes off.
The movie has the age old good Chinese/bad Japanese plot during WWII, as a group of Japanese soldiers invade a small Chinese town. The film starts off promising enough with Li taking out 4 Japanese soldiers trying to steal some chickens. It is a great fight scene, with Li even breaking out a staff to beat these guys down. Unfortunately, fighting of this caliber (along with Li) are not seen on the screen for the next 45 minutes! Instead, we have the bumbling antics of the Japanese soldiers and their obese commander (who looks like Sammo Hung with a shaved head and Hitler moustache). Li shows up again for a big forest brawl about 1 hour (yes, 1 hour) in. The film then drags on for another 20 minutes before it quickly ends when the Japanese giving up the war...the end!
While somewhat better than the dire ENTER THE PANTHER, MAGNUM FIST doesn't fare much better. The two or three fight scenes with Li are very good, but the film's tone is so whacked that one can't help wonder what the filmmakers wanted. The comedy relief with the Japanese is really bad. So bad that they actually have trumpets do the "wah, wah, wah, wwwaaahhhh" at the end of each gag. But all the stuff with Li is deadly serious. And given his limited screen time, he almost seems like a supporting character to the Japanese! Like ETP, I would recommend this one for hardcore Bruce Li aficionados only.
Instructions for viewing:
a. watch the opening fight scene
b. fast forward to the forest brawl
c. stop tape
d. go on with life
Reviewed by William