Dragon Fist (1978) September 6, 2008
Posted by Cal in : 1970s films, Kung Fu , trackbackDirector: Lo Wei Main Cast: Jackie Chan; Nora Miao; Yen Shi-Kwan; Hsu Hsia Territory: Taiwan Production Company: Lo Wei Motion Picture Co
Dragon Fist starts in an extremely dubious way and promises to be another revenge flick from Lo Wei studios and yet another Jackie Chan film before he found success. Yawn. The opening scene, in which a cartoon villain challenges the upstanding leader of Jackie’s clan to a dual bodes ill, as does the Fist-of-Fury-esque way the winner destroys the plaque of the honourable (are you getting the message yet?) Tang San Clan after killing the kindly Sam Tai. I wanted to scythe my own leg off at the prospect of such tedium.
But, you know what? Dragon Fist is actually a very unusual kung fu flick. In fact, I’ll say it’s quite unique in that it is a revenge film, but completely unlike any I’ve seen before. And I’ve seen a few - oh yes, I’ve seen a few…
After the yawn-inducing opening, it turns out the head of the Champion’s Clan and thoroughly bad guy (Yen Shi-Kwan), has an ulterior motive for knocking off Sam Tai – he once had an affair with his wife. Afterwards, the wife, wracked with remorse because her former lover’s dead by her husband’s spinning kicks, hangs herself. So what does the evil bad guy do? Seek further revenge? Laugh evilly and then stroke his beard before wiping the Tang San Clan off the face of the earth? Surprisingly, no. He is so regretful of the whole incident that he goes into retreat and chops his leg off in penitence. And this isn’t the I’m-feigning-remorse-to-lull-you-into-a-false-sense-of-security-then-hack-you-to-bits kind of remorse, this is the real deal. He even changes the name of his school to the Patience Clan.
So when Jackie shows up at the Patience Clan’s school to take revenge at the death of his master, taking along Sam Tai’s mother and daughter (Nora Miao), he gets the wind completely knocked out of his sails when he finds out the man responsible is a cripple and desperately seeking atonement for his crimes. All is not as it seems elsewhere though, when another Clan, the Ngais, start to headhunt Jackie for odd jobs and this clashes with the Patience Clan’s new policy of non-aggression.
Dragon Fist is a film I’m very familiar with but I’ve seen it with open eyes this time around. While I was expecting the worst (I’ve never been what you would call a “fan” of the film) this was a very pleasant surprise. I also don’t remember the fight scenes being quite as exciting as they are. Jackie again directs the action in this and it’s clear that he was really getting the hang of the job at this point in his career. He really lets rip here and every action scene featuring him are well choreographed, which can’t be said for many of his Lo Wei films.
The only real fly in the ointment (apart from the ultra-lame opening) is the film’s need to explain everything, Scooby Do-style, right near the end – it kills the atmosphere and brings everything to a very embarrassing halt for a while. To make up for it though, Jackie kicks serious arse in the finale, and that’s more important than clumsy exposition scenes in a 70s Kung Fu flick.
The presentation on the recent Hong Kong Legends disc is distinctly better than any other version I’ve seen before (which is more than I care to admit for a film I’ve already admitted isn’t highly regard by me). The sound and video mastering problems I noticed on their DVD of Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin are not repeated here bar a few colour issues that inevitably pop up on the film.
I know this is said by at least one person about every Chan/Lo Wei collaboration, but Dragon Fist really is one of the better Lo Wei films. Honest.
Comments»
I agree completly. Cheesy opening and lame exposition aside, it’s really quite good
Can’t really disagree. I enjoyed this movie (gave it a 7/10), all is explained in my old review
. Probably the best Lo Wei/JC film (out of six I think). I do feel Chen Chi-Hwa handled JC better though.
I need to rewatch the opening again. It did not bother me as much as you.
Here is an old review I did on this (warning self promotion; actually a bit too much plot retread on this one): http://hkmdb.com/db/reviews/show_review.mhtml?id=10149
Ah, yes: the old James Tien turncoat ploy. Even after seeing one or two Lo Wei films, I stopped falling for that one. Basically, if he’s in a Bruce Lee film he’s a decent guy, otherwise don’t trust the bastard…
James Tien is a goodie in Mangificent Bodyguards. Albiet one who likes to skin folks alive!
Sounds like a great guy
. I only vaguely remember him in that film. It’s been a good 10-15 years since I’ve seen it. Looking forward to seeing it again actually, but I’ve got to wait until I’m in the right frame of mind…
Magnificent Boydguards is not as bad as I originally thought it would be (still haven’t seen a great DVD of it though; I have the telefilms R1 I believe). Somewhat forgettable, but not too bad (not as bad as JC talks about it
).
James Tien is OG baby. I don’t know why I said that. I’m sure audiences pretty much expected Tien to either be a turncoat or a bad guy from the beginning at some point in his career
.
It’s got mad Chinese Apaches, face morphing techniques, 3 babes, 3–d and the Star Wars theme. Go on! You know you want to!
Well, put that way, I have to put it higher on my “to watch” list. I’ll probably watch it after I come back from holiday!