#films2020 #NowWatching DRAGON FIST (1979, Lo Wei)

Reportedly filmed in early 1978 but not completed and released due to lack of funds in the Lo Wei camp.

Eventually did get released in 1979 after the loan of Jackie Chan to Ng See-Yuen’s company Seasonal had generated the kung fu comedy hits SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW and DRUNKEN MASTER and now the actor who had previously found it tough to generate box office working for Lo Wei

was a bankable name. Perhaps due to DRAGON FIST telling a dark, serious story (especially now that comedy was the name of the game when making kung fu movies), the returns weren’t on the level of DRUNKEN MASTER but the gloom of it all makes DRAGON FIST an exceptional standout

in Jackie’s filmography. Simple revenge setup leads to thoughtful plot developments where the target of revenge (Yen Shi-Kwan's character) is filled with remorse and Jackie's Tang Hao Yun takes a job (to pay for medicine his Master's wife needs) with Yen's rivals in another clan.

Lo Wei's direction therefore shines for the first time in years and this is also short for him (96 minutes). That's perfect space for the layered narrative for the genre and also perfect space for Jackie's astounding choreography.

A fast, violent and ferocious aura is present in nearly all the fight scenes and it's such a treat seeing Jackie excel at making straight kung-fu because you take it (and him) seriously technically as well as within the context of the story.

An underrated classic buried underneath Jackie's big breakthrough in the late 70s.