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LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING WU FENG YUN: CHEN ZHEN)Movie Reviews
Mandarin language action drama set in 1920s Shanghai, about a man who dons a disguise at night to fight the Japanese and anyone else who would attempt to take control of China. Cast:Donnie Yen, Shu Qi, Anthony Wong, Huang BoDirector:Wai-keung LauRelease Date:April 22, 2011DVD Release:June 14, 2011From:Variance FilmsLength:1 hr 45 min
JUNE 14, 2011
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen), Fair Reviews, Mixed Limited
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) played in limited release to fair reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Shawn Levy wrote in the Portland Oregonian, "...best appreciated as a showcase for the charisma and potency of its star, the underrated Donnie Yen, and the inventiveness of its director, Andrew Lau." • And Doug Knoop wrote in the Seattle Times, "...a big cinematic jumble..." More Reviews Below...
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) Positive Reviews (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: FAIR "...has a problem other movies might envy. Its opening scene is so spectacular that everything that follows feels a little pale in comparison."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 544 words, 04/22/11
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "Although it's slick, stylish and assured, it is also bloated and hollow, and seemingly without much sense of what actually is working.... fails to pack much of a punch."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 277 words, 04/22/11
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...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."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 182 words, 04/22/11
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...when the film shifts to Shanghai and the club Casablanca, there's too much lustrous-hued loitering and too few martial-arts set pieces."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 177 words, 05/02/11
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "Lau's handling of exposition is markedly poor, distended with rubbish plotlines, flashy sadism, and overwrought jingo.... even the few-and-far-apart fights prove muddled..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 04/20/11
KEY CITIES (2 Reviews)
Doug Knoop, Seattle Times: WEAK(cg) "But wait, there's more -- kidnapping, torture and a big final showdown. It's all a big cinematic jumble and, quite frankly, an expensive-looking mess."(See all of Doug Knoop's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 324 words, 04/29/11
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "...best appreciated as a showcase for the charisma and potency of its star, the underrated Donnie Yen, and the inventiveness of its director, Andrew Lau."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 200 words, 04/22/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "Lau's handling of exposition is markedly poor, distended with rubbish plotlines, flashy sadism, and overwrought jingo.... even the few-and-far-apart fights prove muddled..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 04/20/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Fight sequences and jingoism propel Andrew Lau's period martial-arts melodrama, a formula that can be irresistible despite one's better judgment."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 158 words, 05/19/11
Noel Murray, AV Club: GOOD(cg) "...there aren't enough A's in 'bad-ass' to describe the fight scenes.... too bad the film breaks up that action with long scenes of well-dressed men and women sitting around."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 04/21/11
Rob Humanick, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...most engaging when it dispatches with narrative excess and focuses on the beautifully orchestrated mayhem, which comes in brutal fits and spurts."(See all of Rob Humanick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 04/21/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: FAIR "...has a problem other movies might envy. Its opening scene is so spectacular that everything that follows feels a little pale in comparison."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 544 words, 04/22/11
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "Although it's slick, stylish and assured, it is also bloated and hollow, and seemingly without much sense of what actually is working.... fails to pack much of a punch."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 277 words, 04/22/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: FAIR "...the film's reluctance to hold any shot longer than a few seconds gives it a jerky, cluttered feel, all movement and no momentum..."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 774 words, 09/01/10
Natasha Senjanovic, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...good fun, a popcorn movie of epic proportions for kung-fu fans.... director Andrew Lau's trademark visual pizazz is there, if not the gritty intensity of his other work."(See all of Natasha Senjanovic's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 593 words, 10/15/10
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "Although it's slick, stylish and assured, it is also bloated and hollow, and seemingly without much sense of what actually is working.... fails to pack much of a punch."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 277 words, 04/22/11
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: EXCELLENT(cg) "Andrew Lau is one of Hong Kong's best action directors... a good reminder of how to wed ample thrills and an actual plot. This is how it is done."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 961 words, 04/07/11
Mike Hale, New York Times: FAIR "...has a problem other movies might envy. Its opening scene is so spectacular that everything that follows feels a little pale in comparison."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 544 words, 04/22/11
20.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen)'s reviews are separated by an average 20.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen)'s reviews cover 13.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 5,334 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 381 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) Coverage, Volume & Length (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 13 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen)'s reviews on average broke 13 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Jing wu feng yun: Chen Zhen) (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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