The Chinese Connection (1972)

His Best Film After Enter The Dragon!

This movie (called Fist Of Fury overseas) was made before Enter The Dragon and, in my opinion, ranks just behind ETD! While all of Bruce's films and fight scenes are legendary, if this one or ETD is on TV, everything stops! LOL!

The plot, like ETD, is very basic. Bruce comes back to his martial arts school to find out his teacher was dead! Not only that, he suspects was murdered and goes on a rampage to avenge his death!

What's interesting is that even though the film is fiction, the teacher was actually a real life person. That character was recently shown in a film by Jet Li called "Fearless."

Back to the movie, what makes this special is Bruce himself. He was electrifying in every scene he was in. While I am still biased to Enter The Dragon, Chinese Connection ranks a close second in my view! Highly recommended! January 16, 2008

The Early Bruce Lee...

1972's "The Chinese Connection" features a young Bruce Lee as the leading student at a King Fu Academy in 1908 Shanghai. The storyline is a simple tale of revenge, but in the context of a Shanghai dominated by Japanese and other outsiders, in which the natives are treated as second-class citizens, it resonated deeply with its original Chinese audience.

In the movie, Chen, played by Bruce Lee, returns to his academy to find that his beloved master, a famous martial artist, is dead. Chen is stricken with grief, but learns from his fellow students that his master's death may not have been an accident. Chen patiently but violently works his way back through the members of a rival Japanese school, looking for those responsible for the master's death. Highlights include a many-on-one fight at the school, which Chen wins decisively, and a confrontation with a Russian martial artist brought in to deal with Chen. Chen's willingness to stand up for his fellow Chinese forces the hand of the local authorities (including a police chief played by director Lo Wei), who are beholden to the Japanese. Cornered at the end, the gallant Chen will be left with only one option.

The original Chinese is dubbed over in English, unfortunately resulting in dialogue that sounds like it was lifted from a high school drama. Fortunately, the non-verbal qualities of the acting, including a touching performance by Nora Miao as Chen's love interest and some nicely choreographed fight sequences, carry the movie. "Chinese Connection" is a Raymond Chow production, and a better than average representative of the early martial arts genre.

This movie is highly recommended to fans of Bruce Lee and of the early martial arts movies. September 25, 2007

Bruce shines in this, his best the lot

I love this movie and still think its Lee at his best. Between the scene of him as a very awkward phone repairman, and the scene where he takes on a horde of bad guys with Nunchucks, this is his most complete performance on screen to me and showed his talent at its best. This transfer is of a much better quality than most of the releases out there of this movie. If you ever wanted to see just how good and talented Bruce was, just watch this one and find out.
The story is standard for these movies but Lee bumps the action and the acting up to give this one it's true classic reputation. May 22, 2007

This is a review of the Laugh Track version

I wanted to like this but in the behind the scenes interviews they show little respect for Bruce Lee and that got me started off on the wrong foot. Then I watch it and it just isn't that clever. I did laugh once or twice but i expected something more along the lines of What's Up Tiger Lilly. At least they could have had the actors play orientals. Too bad because this concept could have been funny. July 12, 2006

Sound is bad but the movie is good

The voices are dubed in and it is in a deep voice but there a some great fight seens but if you want to see a really good Bruce Lee movie get Enter the Dragon.The Chinese Connection is still a good movie June 12, 2006

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