THE BRAVEST FIST has a nice stark (and clearly Low Budget) look to it that I couldn't help but like. It begins with a trio of escapees on the run. We don't see from whence they've escaped, but two of the three are manacled together; the third is alone afoot. Lu, the bigger of the two linked by chains, manages to break the bonds binding him and his companion, then proceeds to fight the man to the death. Meanwhile, the third escapee enters a house and is driven off by the tenant (this apparently being a VERY tough neighborhood). While all of this is going on, the village fishermen are being harassed by a local gang. Chang intervenes and sends the thugs on their way. He then rescues a gambler, Wu Hai, who finds solace in the nearness of his savior (he's invariably nearby whenever anything happens). Lu, the brutal escapee who murdered his traveling companion, begins to grow his criminal empire. When Chang whips Lu and sends him off with his tail between his legs, Lu brings in a pair of "Kung Fu killers" (one of whom is Carter Wong) to set things aright. Lu also kills his wife's lover- and her brother, who tries to defend her. Chang's mother is beaten and his sister kidnapped, which sets the stage for The Final Showdown. Wu Hai, the "gambler," turns out to be an undercover cop and he throws in with Chang vs. the gang. An outstanding little movie, THE BRAVEST FIST is one of those almost non-stop action flicks in which every scene turns into a fight scene. If you like your action fast and furious (with some small touches that make the fight choreography really interesting), check it out.
Review of Yi shan wu hu
