Fist of Fury (1972, HK)

Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, James Tien. Directed by: Lo Wei

This is Bruce Lee's most famous film and one that's based on the true story of Huo Yuanjia (Fok Yuen Gap in Cantonese). Furthermore, "Fist of Fury" is an enduring cinema classic that is widely regarded to be the movie that made the kung fu genre famous worldwide. The image of Bruce Lee with blood smeared on his face from this movie is one of cinema's most recognizable images and some of the scenes from this movie are some of the most famous in martial arts cinema history.

In "Fist of Fury", Bruce Lee plays Huo's fictional student Chen Zhen, who has come back to the Chingwu School in Shanghai to marry his fiancee Yuan Le-erh (Miao, in an equally powerful and memorable performance). He returns only to find his beloved sifu dead from poisoning. Rage and grief consume Chen day by day. Le-erh stands by her man and is there for him as much as she possibly can be, but he drifts further and further away.

When some Japanese karate students from the Bushido School start taunting the Chingwu students and bring a sign saying "Sick Men of Asia" to the school, Chen unleashes his anger. He returns the sign to the Bushido School and defeats the entire school single-handedly. Chen then proceeds to take a walk through Huangpu Park in Shanghai, where he smashes a sign saying "No Dogs or Chinese Allowed In" (a scene which famously caused the crowds to cheer at the movie's premiere in Hong Kong) and beats up a Japanese man who refuses him entry.

Unable to accept their humiliating defeats at the hands of Chen, the Japanese decide to take their revenge on the Chingwu school. They trash the school, beat up the students, and demand that the school hand Chen over or else they'll have the authorities close the school and arrest the students.

Reluctant to hand over their beloved brother Chen, he lays low and hides from the Japanese. However, after hearing a conversation between the Chingwu cook and caretaker about what really happened to Sifu Huo, Chen sets out to avenge his master, kill all those responsible. In addition, he must defend Chingwu and uphold the honor of the Chinese people.

Also appearing in "Fist of Fury" are a number of future Hong Kong stars, including Jackie Chan (as the Japanese master Hiroshi Suzuki when being kicked through some paper windows by Chen), Yuen Biao, Corey Yuen, Hon Kwok Choi, Yuen Wah (as Bruce Lee's double during the fight scene between Chen and Yoshida), Mars, Unicorn Chan, and Lam Ching Ying.

There's no doubt that this is a very dark movie, but it's one of the most famous kung fu movies of all time and Bruce Lee's most powerful perfomance in his very short career. This is an excellent movie and if you should only see one kung fu movie in your lifetime, this is the one.

Also known as: 精武門/Jing wu men (original Mandarin title-HK), 精武门 (Simplified Chinese characters), Jing mo mun (original Cantonese title-HK), The Chinese Connection (dubbed English version-USA), The Iron Hand (English title-Japan), School for Chivalry (literal English and Mandarin title-HK/China/Taiwan), Todesgrüße aus Shanghai (West Germany), Bruce Lee - Todesgrüße aus Shanghai (West German edited version), Bruce Lee - Die Faust des Rächers (German TV title), Öldüren karatecinin intikami (Turkey), Dalla Cina con furore (Italy), Tekken (Japan), and others.

The Big Boss/Fists of Fury (1971, HK)

Starring: Bruce Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien. Directed by Lo Wei.
This is the film that spawned a legend. It is also noteworthy because Bruce Lee directed some of the action scenes in this movie.

In this movie, Bruce Lee plays Cheng Chao-an, a Chinese man from Guangdong province who goes to Thailand to work with his uncle and cousins at an ice factory. When two of Cheng's cousins discover a mysterious white powder spilling out of a broken block of ice, they are called into a meeting with the boss and never seen again. When more of his family disappears, Cheng sets out to solve the mystery. Can Cheng find his missing family and get down to the heart of the matter? Also, can Cheng break the promise he made to his mother never to fight again? That's what you'll have to watch and find out!

If you want to see the movie that made Bruce Lee a big hit in Hong Kong and in all of Asia, this is it!

Also known as: Fists of Fury (USA/International), 唐山大兄/Tang Shan Da Xiong (original Mandarin title-HK), Big Brother of Tongshan (literal title used in HK), Fists of Glory (a title used in Europe )

Way of the Dragon (1972, HK)

Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Wei Ping-Ao, Wang Chung Hsin, Robert Wall, Whang Ing-Sik. Directed by: Bruce Lee

This is the only movie Bruce Lee had the chance to both act in and direct before he died in 1973. It was also the movie that gave Chuck Norris's career as a martial arts and action star a huge boost.

In "Way of the Dragon", Bruce plays Tang Lung, a Chinese martial artist who is sent from Hong Kong to Rome to help his friend's niece Chen Ching Hua (Miao), her dad, and co-workers fend off a local Mafia syndicate who want the restaurant for themselves. The mobsters are well-armed and well trained in the martial arts, but can they defeat Tang Lung. Also, can Tang Lung defeat the world-famous martial artists they send to defeat and kill him?

Chuck Norris plays the karate expert Colt, who is the only one of the fighters able to communicate with Tang Lung, who does not speak Italian. Despite the duel the two fight, they are also still able to recognize each other as fellow martial artists.

This movie is one of the most well-known kung fu movies in the world and stars the most famous martial artist and kung fu star of them all. Also, to see Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris fight is simply amazing. This is one you must see and see now if you already haven't!

Also known as: 猛龍過江/Meng long guo jiang (original Mandarin title-HK), Mang lung goh kong (Cantonese title-HK), Return of the Dragon (US dubbed version), Bruce Lee - Die Faust des Drachen/Die Faust des Drachen/Die Todeskralle schlägt wieder zu (West Germany), Fury of the Dragon (European English title), and others.