Watch The Chinese Boxer

The Chinese Boxer, released in 1970, is a martial arts film directed by and starring Jimmy Wang Yu. The film's plot revolves around a young Chinese man named Chen Zhen (Jimmy Wang Yu), who must defend his martial arts school against Japanese invaders during the early 1900s. The film is set in Shanghai, China, and draws inspiration from the historical tensions between China and Japan during this period.

The movie begins with Chen Zhen returning to his hometown in Shanghai after studying martial arts in Japan. Upon his arrival, Chen Zhen discovers that a Japanese martial arts school has been set up in the area and has been challenging and defeating all of the local Chinese martial arts schools. Determined to prove the superiority of Chinese martial arts, Chen Zhen challenges the Japanese school's headmaster, who is revealed to be a Japanese general named Fujita (played by Lieh Lo).

After defeating Fujita in combat, Chen Zhen realizes that Fujita's intention is not to simply win martial arts matches but to infiltrate and take over the Chinese community. Fujita's plan is to use the martial arts matches as a way to gather information on local Chinese leaders and organizations, with the ultimate goal of taking control of Shanghai.

Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Chen Zhen and his allies continue to fight against the Japanese invaders using their martial arts skills as their main weapon. However, the Japanese army soon intervenes, and a full-scale battle erupts between the two sides.

Throughout the film, the fight scenes are choreographed and shot in a way that showcases the different martial arts styles of both the Chinese and Japanese fighters. The combatants' different techniques and strategies are highlighted, creating a visually compelling experience for martial arts fans. The Chinese Boxer also features classic martial arts weapons such as swords, spears, and nunchucks.

Aside from its martial arts action, the film also explores the themes of national pride and identity. Chen Zhen's struggle to defend his school and community against foreign invaders reflects China's struggle to resist foreign influence and maintain its independence during a tumultuous period of its history. The movie also depicts the friendship and solidarity between the Chinese martial arts schools, as they band together to fight against their common enemy, despite their rivalries and differences.

The Chinese Boxer was a commercial and critical success, and is considered a landmark film in the martial arts genre. The film's success paved the way for Jimmy Wang Yu's international career, and he would later star in other widely popular martial arts films such as One-Armed Swordsman and The Master of the Flying Guillotine.

Overall, The Chinese Boxer is a must-watch for martial arts enthusiasts and fans of classic kung fu films. Its patriotism, thrilling fight scenes, and historical relevance all make it a timeless classic.

The Chinese Boxer is a 1970 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.