Director: Lo Wei
Starring: Bruce Lee
Running Time: 102 minutes
Synopsis: Martial arts expert Chen (Bruce Lee) returns to his Shanghai training school to propose marriage to fellow-student Yuan. He is stunned to learn that their beloved teacher has just died. A rival Japanese school led by Suzuki may have been behind the death, and Suzuki's agents proceed to insult Chinese culture and threaten to shut-down Chen's school. He defends his pride by defeating multiple Japanese school opponents in battle, leading to reprisal attacks and spiraling violence.
Synopsis: Martial arts expert Chen (Bruce Lee) returns to his Shanghai training school to propose marriage to fellow-student Yuan. He is stunned to learn that their beloved teacher has just died. A rival Japanese school led by Suzuki may have been behind the death, and Suzuki's agents proceed to insult Chinese culture and threaten to shut-down Chen's school. He defends his pride by defeating multiple Japanese school opponents in battle, leading to reprisal attacks and spiraling violence.
What Works Well: The plot details are incidental. The culture clash and revenge themes are a pretext for a series of well-choreographed and expertly staged fight scenes fueled by hatred, propelled by nationalism, and dripping with intensity. Slow motion sequences serve as exclamation marks, and Bruce Lee's chiseled physique and perpetually dour presence is a dark source of coiled anger.
What Does Not Work As Well: Chen's arc is limited to the growing realization that violence begets violence and that his friends can become victims. Otherwise, character depth is non-existent, and the quiet intervals expose rudimentary emotions, basic production values, and limited acting talent.
Key Quote:
Chen (forcing his opponents to eat an insulting scroll): Eat. This time you're eating paper. The next time it's going to be glass.
All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.
All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.
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