Did you know that China sent laborers to France to help fight in World War I?  I didn't.  And did you know that in pre-WWII Shanghai there was a resistance movement against Japan led by a costumed martial arts expert?  I didn't know that either, though the second part may be made up.

It is the tale told, however, in Andrew Lau's Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, starring Danny Yen and his amazing ability to beat people up.

LotF:TRoCZ is a fairly standard historical epic, blanched of any nuance or specific style.  There are merciless bad guys, cherubic aged warriors and glitzy nightclub attendees.  It is generic Hollywood save for the few scenes where Donnie Yen puts on a leather Green Hornet Kato outfit and lights the screen up with action.

This is a serviceable film, but not one for which I can muster much enthusiasm.  Despite unique historical setting and tastes of marvelous fight choreography, this one didn't have much impact.  I give this movie a C (and I can smell the hate mail already.)

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