Chinese kung fu folk hero Chen Zhen has been played on the screen by Bruce Lee and Jet Li. Now, in “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen,” it’s Donnie Yen’s turn. The result is disappointing.
We find Chen in Shanghai in 1925, having returned to China after fighting with Allied forces in Europe. During the day, he’s wealthy playboy Qi, but after the sun goes down he’s a masked warrior fighting the Japanese invaders and wooing sultry nightclub singer Kiki.
She’s played by former porn star Shu Qi, who looks great even in a drab Japanese army uniform.
Under director Andrew Lau — whose cop drama “Infernal Affairs” was remade by Martin Scorsese as “The Departed” — “Legend of the Fist” is a good-looking action movie with opulent sets and musical numbers. Too bad it lacks a substantial story to go along with the kick-ass combat scenes.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Scorsese remake.