Fist of Legend or Drunken Master II? [Archive]

Iron_Leopard

10-20-2008, 02:38 PM

In 1994 Jackie Chan and Jet Li dropped two of their greatest martial arts movies out of their whole filmography. If you want to watch the greatest fight scenes ever you will find them in these two movies. I know Jackie does comedy kung fu while Li does serious kung fu but i'm still comparing the two movies.

Their both classics of the genre but which one do you prefer over the other?

luckystars

10-20-2008, 02:47 PM

Fist of Legend for me. It's a Five star movie without doubt.

Markgway

10-20-2008, 03:19 PM

Film - Fist of Legend

Action - Drunken Master II

KUNG FU BOB

10-20-2008, 04:32 PM

It's close. I agree with Markgway- FoL is a better story, and perhaps movie, but DM2 squeaks into first place with it's jaw-dropping action.

Yi-Long

10-20-2008, 04:40 PM

Both are 5-star movies, but Fist of Legend (extended cut) is my absolute favourite. Just prefect: good pace, great action, nice story, good soundtrack, etc. This is how martial arts flicks should be done. You can watch it over and over again without getting bored.

Drunken Master 2 is terrificic, and has some great action, but it also has it's pacing problems.

inframan

10-20-2008, 05:28 PM

Didnt realize they were the same year, definately in the same class. For me its DM2, although Fist of Legend is my favorite Jet Li. I even bought the VCD years ago because I refused to buy the dubbed Disney version.

TibetanWhiteCrane

10-20-2008, 05:35 PM

DM2! Jet has always been a little too wirehappy for me. But I agree that FOL has a better story. Definitely the best FOF incarnation outside of the original.

Iron_Leopard

10-20-2008, 06:06 PM

I love both movies but if I could only own one of the two I would go with Drunken Master II. I really had no problem with the pace of the film like someone earlier said. Both movies had awesome end fights but from the second Jackie walked into the factory till the second he defeated Lo I was in kung fu heaven.

drunkenmaster

10-20-2008, 06:09 PM

DM2 by the narrowest of margins. No matter how impressive Jet Li looks, Jackie's charisma shines through. Both are definitely five star films though. :D

thundered mantis

10-20-2008, 07:31 PM

DMII for me all the way. Story wise there have been much better kungs that both, IMO. DM2 wins for me story wise for not too big margin, despite having the pace issues mentioned above. But action wise, DM2 is quite many steps in the lead for me...

SamuraiDana

10-20-2008, 07:42 PM

inframan

10-20-2008, 07:51 PM

There is a Thakral DVD of DM2

Drunken Monk

10-20-2008, 08:17 PM

I would be in with those that prefer DMII but, again, only by a margin. It's all about Jackie's charisma and what he brings to the movie. I also love Anita Mui in her role.
While both are high in terms of action, DMII's finale is just that perfect.

KUNG FU BOB

10-20-2008, 08:38 PM

I'd have to watch both of these films again to give you an answer.

(Hmmm...I think I only have DMII on VHS. Did this ever come out in a decent HK import DVD? I'm not talking about the US version, LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER.)

Not to go off on a tangent here and ruin the thread, but the Thakral DVD is the only version of DM2 that I know of that is subbed (imbedded) and uncut. But... it's only partially letterboxed! It's aspect is about 1:85:1 instead on it's original 2:35:1. So in regards to picture quality and the widescreen image- if I want to just watch the action scenes I pull out the shit US release.

The Dragon

10-20-2008, 09:57 PM

Fist of Fury.

gorhama

10-20-2008, 10:10 PM

DM II is the better of the two to me. But only but a tiny bit. I have to agree with mostly everyone else. FOL is the better all around movie, but when it comes to the action they both rock...but DM II and Jackie vs. Ken Lo is still one for the ages!!!!

GwaiLoMoFo

10-21-2008, 04:50 AM

As much as I love FOL, without hesitation I say Drunken Master 2. On all fronts. And thats without ever seeing a uncut/subbed version of DM2.

drunkenmaster

10-21-2008, 04:53 AM

I also love Anita Mui in her role.

And then there is the wonderful Anita Mui.

venom10463

10-21-2008, 05:08 AM

This is a tough choice to make, but I would have to give it too DMII for the Jackie vs Lo end fight.

TheGrimReaper

10-21-2008, 06:00 AM

Both are fine films - I wish I could choose them both, however I have to go with Drunken Master 2 - the last old school martial arts from Jackie. Fist of Legend is also great - the battle between Jet and Yasuaki Kurata is a rare gem. But Jackie wraps everything in a very tight action pack which is hard to miss. :)

Morgoth Bauglir

10-21-2008, 06:02 AM

I never liked DM 2 much, just the fights. I go with Fist of Legend.

northern b

10-21-2008, 09:53 AM

Fist of Legend- really should have been a classic but I find it just lacks something which is a pity…

Don’t get me wrong Fist of Legend is good but not great imo and it really could and should have been.. I found the action a little too cranked (surely with likes of Jet , Kurata and Woo Ping this wasn’t required…) and is a little disjointed- the story is good although I thought it dragged in places. FOL should have been up there with Fist of fury and Legend of a fighter but IMO just falls short in that it's not the film it should have been..

Drunken Master II wins hands down for me. It’s probably the best of the new wave Kung Fu movies, filled with magnificently choreographed fights, yes there are wires but I found it enhanced the action. I’d also have no hesitation in listing DM II among my all time faves

blue_skies

10-21-2008, 09:56 PM

Fist of legend - it's just such a fantastic film and of course Jet Li performing with far less wirework made it an even better treat for me.

chen lung

10-22-2008, 03:08 AM

I like about 10% of DM2, the rest was bull to me (some histrionics and somewhat sub-par action). 'Fist Of Legend' gets my vote - one of my favourite films with a great uplifting score and no-bullshit character. I wish the sound effects were better though - I found that recently with a few movies that trailer sound effects are often better than the film itself personally ('My Father Is A Hero' and 'Once Upon A Time In China And America' included).

To quote James Berardinelli (I find this with quite a number of HK movies - even the "beloved" ones):

"The Legend of Drunken Master is pretty typical Hong Kong Chan fare - five superior action sequences with a lot of failed comedy and mindless drivel padding out the running length. Most of the expository and character-building scenes fall into one of three categories: (1) inane, (2) incomprehensible, or (3) dull. The tone is also wildly inconsistent. Some sequences are laced with slapstick comedy while others are acutely uncomfortable as a result of torture and the nearly-abusive disciplining of a grown child by a parent. (Differences in culture make the latter seem more incongruous to American viewers than to Chinese movie-goers.) So it's up to the action to redeem the film - a feat it succeeds at, at least to a point."

ekisha

10-22-2008, 06:38 AM

Without doubts Drunken Master II
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rederror

10-22-2008, 02:59 PM

Both great films but for me it's Drunken Master 2 all day!

Chinatown Kid

10-23-2008, 12:10 AM

Fist of Legend

massa_yoda

10-23-2008, 02:12 AM

DMII. it's just too good to be number 2.

ironfistedmonk

10-23-2008, 04:19 PM

If LKL had stayed onboard it would have been DM 2, but the 2 big dogs couldn't both run the pack so out went the maestro and in came JC going mental (yet again :cry:) to ruin the end fight. Fist of Legend for me, just a more rounded story and better acted.

TibetanWhiteCrane

10-23-2008, 04:34 PM

Drunken Cat

10-23-2008, 08:24 PM

Drunken Master II

Iron_Leopard

10-23-2008, 08:46 PM

Looks like Drunken Master II is in the lead.

Endsang

10-23-2008, 09:02 PM

Not sure which one is the best in my opinion, but I've probably seen Fist of Legend like 10 times more than LOTDM 2, so it definately has a better rewatching value.

WalkOn

10-25-2008, 06:06 PM

Drunken Master II. Both are great but, Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Ti Lung and the incredible end fight with Ken Lo does it for me. Fist of Legend is Jet Li's best movie, IMO, and probably my favorite Jet film, but Jackie's/Lau Kar Leung's choreography is more inticate and simply breathtaking. Both are 5 star kf flics.

thehangman

10-26-2008, 05:02 PM

Drunken master 2 story lets it down,would love to see what else was filmed and not shown in finished print.like the prison fight which was supposed to be longer.

edher_M.A.

10-26-2008, 08:27 PM

I love both movies. But my personal favorite has to be Fist of Legend, i feel it's an overall better movie. DM2 i just see it for the fights, that's it.

Chinatown Kid

10-26-2008, 11:29 PM

I have to say I really loved Ken Lo's skills as the superkicker baddie in DM 2, it's a shame he never looked as good as he did in that film.

WuxiaFan

10-28-2008, 04:58 PM

DM II is arguably the greatest martial arts film of all time. However, FOL would be in the top 5 of all time greats, IMO.

Rebornman

10-29-2008, 01:36 AM

Film - Fist of Legend

Action - Drunken Master II

i concur

Morgoth Bauglir

10-29-2008, 02:09 AM

I like the action in Fist of Legend more. But the reason is partly because it is a better overall movie. Gordon Chan's directing greatly enhances the fights. Because of the acting and the directing, that's a big reason why I like the action in Fist of Legend more. And it's probably also because I'm a huge Billy Chow fan. He couldn't have given a better performance and is perfect for that role. And then you have Jet Li giving a great acting performance... I guess what I'm saying is that I like the tone in Fist of Legend more than Drunken Master 2. To me a better movie in every way. And it's not like I don't like comedies. The dubbed version of Young Master is my favorite Jackie movie.

TrickyNicky

10-29-2008, 05:52 AM

I'll take both any day of the week, but if I had to choose one it would be Drunken Master II. As others have said, the supporting cast just really clicked like no other Chan movie. Plus, I don't think I'll ever see something that made me feel so awe-struck as the last 30 minutes did for me.

bolofan

11-03-2008, 10:06 AM

Drunken Master 2 any day.
Jackie Chan is just plain entertaining to watch.

kowloon

11-03-2008, 10:12 AM

Without doubts Drunken Master IIthe best of the best martial arts movie of the last 20 years

prometheus126

11-13-2008, 07:26 PM

have to go with fist of legend on the account that it actually talked on the subject of chinese/japanese relations. in most chinese films, the japanese are monsters who usually slaughter people ruthlessly and even in fists of fury it showed the japanese in nothing but a bad light. in fist of legend though, it showed the japanese as human beings and some chinese as bigoted. also, it wasn't afraid to show a japanese fighter winning a fight against a chinese fighter (jet and kuratas fight.)
drunken master 2 is an amazing work and easily one of jackie chans best films but it was pure entertainment while fist of legend had a message behind it's awesome action. so I have to go with fist of legend.

emacs

11-25-2008, 12:50 AM

Their both classics of the genre but which one do you prefer over the other?

it really is quite the difficult choice because my preference of either film changes over the years. Drunken Master II is remarkable for the Jackie Chan / Ken Lo confrontation in that warehouse.

SimonMW

11-27-2008, 09:19 PM

I'd love to see the fights that were cut from DM2. I bet there's a whole vault of unseen LKL choreographed action from that film that'll never see the light of day.

greenfan

11-27-2008, 09:27 PM

Fist of Legend is a slightly better drama, but Drunken Master 2 has far superior action.

Righteous Master

11-28-2008, 04:24 AM

It is not even close for me. FOL all the way!

FrankBolte

11-28-2008, 07:41 AM

DM 2 is not first in my list but FOL is not even "in" my list...
So DM 2 all the way...

AbeRudder

11-28-2008, 12:59 PM

Fist of Legend :D

WuxiaFan

01-28-2009, 03:39 AM

Not to go off on a tangent here and ruin the thread, but the Thakral DVD is the only version of DM2 that I know of that is subbed (imbedded) and uncut. But... it's only partially letterboxed! It's aspect is about 1:85:1 instead on it's original 2:35:1. So in regards to picture quality and the widescreen image- if I want to just watch the action scenes I pull out the shit US release.

You are correct sir, yes. I think the transfer is very good.

tdb

01-28-2009, 04:25 AM

Not to go off on a tangent here and ruin the thread, but the Thakral DVD is the only version of DM2 that I know of that is subbed (imbedded) and uncut. But... it's only partially letterboxed! It's aspect is about 1:85:1 instead on it's original 2:35:1.

Actually the subs are removable, not embedded. The picture does appear cramped on the sides.

shaolin drunkard

01-28-2009, 05:13 AM

Fist Of Legend-Unseen
DM2-Did not like movie overall that much but some action scenes are very good.Fight in marketplace and Lau Kar Leung vs Jackie under train are sweet.

Tosh

01-29-2009, 12:06 PM

DM 2 is not first in my list but FOL is not even "in" my list...
So DM 2 all the way...

Yeah, I'll go with this.

Has anyone tallyed this up yet?

teako170

01-29-2009, 12:17 PM

Has anyone tallyed this up yet?

I nominate Tosh. :p

Tosh

01-29-2009, 01:07 PM

I nominate Tosh. :p

Haha where's the poll when you need oneXD

JazzandZen

01-29-2009, 05:19 PM

My choice is with DRUNKEN MASTER II.

I love both Chan and Jet, but for me I give it to DM2.
For me, my personal highest rated Jet Li movie is FEARLESS, and 2nd would be FIST OF LEGEND.
But If I'm rating between DM2 and FOL - DRUNKEN MASTER II is the more complete movie for me. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy Fist of Legend. Jet, Kurata, and the cutie Shinobu Nakayama are all good.

What Chan and Jet need to do though is collaborate for a second time and out do both DM2 and FOL.

thedirtytiger

01-30-2009, 04:26 AM

There was a proper wide video of DM2 with English subs released by Mei Ah in HK. I am a proud owner of the tape. :) Overall I think Fist Of Legend was the better film, I prefer it to Fist Of Fury, I was never a huge fan of Bruce style. The main problem with DM2 is the comedy which is too long and quite grating. But I have to agree the moment Jackie flew into action in each fight scene I was in heaven too.