Rating: 
Summary: Excellent. Analysis of his fighting style (read to learn)
Review: This is one of Bruce Lee's best films. His somewhat darkened film Fist of Fury was pretty good too. Interestingly people who talk about his skills truly dont understand his skills. I'm not sure he was the best but he was a pretty amazing martial artist and a rather charismatic actor. I beleive his style(s) would be different today because he was an ever changing person in his philosphy and improvement of skills. People who know anything about fighting know what I am talking about. There were elements of jui-jitsu where Bruce almost gets armbarred on the floor and bites the guy to break the hold or else his arm is broken. His actualy fighting look quite different than what he does on screen but there are aspects of what he does for real that is on screen. You can see him put it altogther going from fighting stlye to fighting style and that was his true point was to adapt to the situation. He was showing that there were no rules to fighting from eye gouge to biting (your standard street fight/dirty fighting showing that a street fighter has a right type of thinking in a fight and uses everything as a weapon), wing-chun (very strong at in close fighting and speed plus reflexes), to jui-jitsu (on the ground fighting), to American boxing (where he jabs the Russian in the face about 5 times without a single response from his opponent, he even jukes the fakes so nicely you wonder where he comes up with the stuff. He usually enters with a kick if you notice and then pops the guy (Russian again) with a mean 7 hit combo of punches to the body and face. But he shows that you dont stop smashing the guy even when he's out of range of a punch and finishes with a kick. Then he switches it up and jukes with a rushing lead right up high and nails the very confused Russian with a side kick to the body. Everytime the Russian comes in he pops him with something be it a kick (usually a side kick because it has the longest range for your various attacks, front kick has a long range but it's more of a push kick then a bludgeoning type kick like a side kick)or jab or hook. If you analyze it like this you begin to see what he is saying not with words but with what he's showing you with action and the audience has missed this. And what he's trying to say is that be creative and dont fall into a style but use the styles strengths and mix it up when you do fight.As for the story, there is one other movie that did a remake off of this one. It was done by the now famous Jet Li, called the Fist of Legend. The story is exactly the same and the actor names are completely the same. The only true difference in the films were action. Jet uses a much flashier action style and it is rather intense. The only difference is that Jet interestingly enough takes a completely different fight style which encompasses more kung fu philosophy than anything. Really it sets in a time period where Japanese took over China during World War 2 I beleive. Where the Japs dominated some regions of China. The tale takes place where there existed a legend. Neither movie Connection or Jet Li's Fist of Legend explain the plot terrible well as is because it's an action film anyhow. But the Legend Hero Chan-Zen comes back because he hears of his masters death. Right off the bat the Japanese hate the Chinese by proving that they are better at everything including Kung-fu, except there is a problem Chan (Bruce Lee) is back and whips the Japs like he was just warming up. Then it escalates bigger problems by the Japs taking revenge and plotting to rid of the school because they fear Chan and noone comes close to having the skills to beat him. This leads to many deaths due to Chan's emotion running wild and kills some Japanese and of course they want revenge by putting him in jail or execution because they cant take care of him through martial arts. Of course Chan finds out that the Japs actually plotted against Chan's master and poisoned him to death and made him weak for the fight and died during a combat fight using kung fu and of course lost to a Japanese fighter. Chan goes crazy and starts mauling everyone in his way which leads to a surprise ending or different ending. I loved this film and of course his many others. It's too bad when he started gaining fame and the love of the people with his brilliant on screen charisma that he then died so soon.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps Bruce Lee's Best
Review: Bruce Lee delivers his most intense, transparent and believable character performance in this film, along with some of his best fighting performances (his first battle at the Japanese karate school is a classic). But make sure you get the Columbia re-master DVD; Bruce Lee is worth the extra cost.
Rating: 
Summary: Bruce Lee is a God
Review: This movie is great but the dubbing ruined it.
Bruce Lee always he ways to amaze us with his kung-fu.
Thought his martial arts don't look as fancy as they do now,
he made it look real and effective.
I do believe that Bruce Lee IS still the best, l don't think anyone could have beaten him in a freestyle martial arts fight.\ And to all of you Bruce Lee haters, screw all of you.
Rating:
Summary: Proof of Bruce Lee's Amazing Abilities
Review: I grew up watching Bruce Lee movies, and this one has my favorite fighting scene: Bruce Lee's first battle with the entire Japanese martial arts school. Although this is by no means the most intense fight scene, it is impressive because it shows Bruce Lee taking on about 20 guys at the same time. This is much more realistic than many other martial arts movies because they do not attack him one by one after surrounding him (which has become the standard for most martial arts movies); I know from my own experience that if one is surrounded by more than one opponent, they will definitely not attack him or her one by one. The dub job is horrible, but it is extremely entertaining; I could not stop laughing at it! It is highly unlikely that an entire male cast would have speaking voices similar to that of John Wayne. The story itself is somewhat touching, since it deals with the Japanese imperialism and prejudice towards the Chinese; however, it is the campy elements as well as the impressive martial arts action that make this an instant classic. To all lovers of martial arts movies: Bruce Lee is the king; get yourself a copy of this movie!
Rating: 
Summary: possibly Bruce Lee's worst
Review: As I said in the "Fist of Fury" review, I realize that Bruce Lee's films aren't centered around a good plot. However, I watched the Chinese Connection and I tried to base the movie on good fight scenes but there just wasn't enough to save it. As for the DVD, the transfer is pitiful! It would have suited me fine to watch the Chinese Connection on VHS.
Rating:
Summary: Don't hate on the Legend.
Review: "The Chinese Connection", "Fist of Fury", "The Iron Hand"--call it whatever you want, it's a classic. It's the best of Bruce Lee's movies, and the production values were above average for its era. Even though Lo Wei was the director in name, and Han Ying-Chien was the credited fight choreographer, Bruce Lee was the guiding force of this movie, because he handled all of his action scenes. And since this movie is all about Bruce Lee going into action, you might say he was the sole reason for its success. Admittedly, the set-up is kind of weak, since most of the characters are cardboard cutout portrayals of right and wrong. But the basic plot theme is very powerful: Chinese nationals fighting to protect their rights and avenge wrongs perpetrated by the Japanese and other foreigners.
Bruce's acting was overwraught, if only to get to a rise out of the Hong Kong audiences, who were notoriously staid at the time of the film's release. And even if a person believed that his acting abilities were sub-par (and I'm not such a person), nobody could deny that he had charisma out the wazoo.
Nothing much more that I can say about the action that hasn't been said a thousand times already. With the exception of the in-school fight (which Bruce didn't choreograph), the action is at turns fluid and graceful, powerful and vicious.
No offense to 20th Century Fox, because the American version was the one I grew up on, but I recommend getting the HK DVD release. It has two commentary tracks, trailers and all other kinds of cool stuff.
I find it's best to watch this movie bookended by the Donnie Yen 1991 miniseries (which provides character background and more setup) and the 1994 Jet Li milestone, "Fist of Legend" (for better story treatment, better rounded characters, and, well, Jet Li). "The Big Boss" may have been the movie that got Bruce Lee into the limelight, but "Fist of Fury" is the movie that ushered in a new era of not just Hong Kong action cinema with its groundbreaking choreography, but worldwide filmmaking in general. 5 stars for the one that started it all. P.S. Watch closely for Jackie Chan practicing with one of the girls at Jing Wu Men, and again as the stuntman flying through the air at the end.
Rating: 
Summary: breaking point
Review: _The Chinese Connection_ is the American title of Bruce Lee's 2nd feature film, "Fists of Fury." _Fists of Fury_ is also the American title of Lee's first feature, "The Big Boss," one year earlier-- both directed by Lo Wei. _The Chinese Connection_ is a step up from Lee's first film in a number of ways. Lee is onscreen much of the time, has more fight scenes, and plays a cunning, steely character who even goes into disguise several times in the film. However, the main reason for the jump in quality is Lee's role in his character's development. He not only choreographed all his own fight scenes, he even insisted on the film's semi-surprise ending. Playing a student avenging his teacher's murder, Lee shakes off the questionable mores and self-doubt of his _Fists of Fury_ character and becomes in _The Chinese Connection_ a deadly and fearsome martial arts nemesis. Unfortunately, despite these advances the film as a whole suffers for the same reason the older film did: a poorly written plot. The story, set in 1908 China, follows the escalating racial violence of two rival fight schools, one Japanese, the other Chinese. I'm sure there was something lost in translation-- shame on 20th Century Fox for once again not providing the original audio with proper English subtitles, though in a way the atrocious dubbing has come to be expected of this genre of film. However, this doesn't explain the terrible vagueness in plot throughout. From the very first scene, nothing is explained about *why* other than race these two schools are fighting. Lee's jumpkicking of the "No Chinese allowed" sign is a powerful moment, but it doesn't make up for what we do not know about him, about his teacher, or about his relationship to the rest of the school; which is to say, nothing. There aren't even any details given about Lee's relationship with his fiance, and it forms another instance of a place in the film where the viewer is asked to care about something with little justification why. Lee was reportedly unhappy with Lo Wei's script and it was to be the star's last film with him. However, for its awesome display of Lee's physical prowess and as a document of his own unique brand of incredible martial arts skills, _The Chinese Connection_ is a worthy viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Bruce
Review: Hard to believe this movie was made 30 years ago. I still get charged when I pop this movie into the VCR. In my opinion this is Bruce's best of the 4 complete movies he made.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome movie, but GET THE ORIGINAL!!!!!!
Review: Well, I'll be one of many to say it...the sound for this version of Bruce's timeless classic truly [stinks]!! Wow, Fox sure does not know how to remaster a great film. Anyways, the original name for this film is Fist of Fury (not Fists of Fury, which is the replacement name for The Big Boss). Now that the confusion is out of the way hopefully, this is about Chen (Bruce) who comes back to his martial arts school to find his master suspiciously dead. Japanese own the territory, and Chen suspects a murder. He finds out that a Japanese official was behind it, and fights his way to confront him. Thin plot, but the fighting was way ahead of its time. This is the beginning of what everyone remembers of Bruce. His amazing technique and the power that he puts in all of his attacks are mindblowing. Hands down, he is the best realistic fighter to be caught on film. What version to get?? Definitely not this one for the sound is completely mono and only an English dub is available. If you can play Region 2 PAL dvds, then the Hong Kong Legends version entitled Fist of Fury is the one to own. Awesome remastered sound (5.1 dbd Chinese and English) and video (shockingly clear) and uncut. There is also a DTS version which is pretty hard to find, but plays on any dvd player. I can't say much for this one, but DTS for an early 70's film can't be too much better than dbd 5.1. There is also a standard HK version of this film as well, which is still way better than this Chinese Connection release. Just look for the film titled Fist(not Fists) of Fury and you got yourself a classic. This film is such a classic that Jet Li did the infamous remake of it called Fist of Legend, which is probably my favorite martial arts movie of all time. This film is essential for any martial arts collection, and I urge all of you to own it. Actually, all of Bruce's films are a must own...Big Boss (Fists of Fury here in US), Way of the Dragon (Return of the Dragon here), Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death...Way of the Dragon (or Return) was my favorite, check out my review on that and check my other HK reviews too...Hope this was helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Master Collection?
Review: I bought this edition of the DVD so that i would get the "higher quality version", as opposed to the one that retails for 4.99...what a disappointment? I don't understand how Fox can market this in a box set with cool packaging as anything different than the low quality version. The picture is grainy, the sound is terrible, and the "Theatrical Trailer", featured on amazon.com, AND on the back of the case in the menu screenshot is non-existent! If you're going to pick this DVD up and don't want to get completely hosed, buy the cheaper version bundled with Fists Of Fury. Same quality, better deal. I can't believe that fox video can get away with such a con job in nice packaging.
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