In the early twentieth century, a local no-good (Michael Chan) is banished from Shanghai and relocates to Malaysia, where he promises to mend his ways. He doesn't, of course, which necessitates a visit from the righteous Master Fok (Chen Sing)--better known as Huo Yuanjia--and his senior pupil (Bruce Lee imitator Bruce Li) to remind the exiled villain that there are no second chances. This low-budget prequel to the Bruce Lee classic "Fist of Fury" (aka "The Chinese Connection") almost works; the fight scenes are competent if not awe-inspiring, and the cast is full of Hong Kong screen veterans. But the viewer cannot take seriously what the filmmakers refuse to take seriously themselves, and when two very undernourished, upright-walking gorillas emerge as opponents for Bruce Li (whose acting and fighting skills should have landed him a decent role every now and then), it comes as little wonder that he never transcended the ghetto of Bruceploitation.
Tolerable if you're just looking for some martial arts action and aren't too fussy about the surrounding story. Otherwise, hard pass.
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