NEW FIST OF FURY: With poor production values, decrepit fight choreography, and no sense of a decent narrative, director Lo Wei steps boldly into well-trodden territory. Thrusting an utterly unconvincing ‘Bruce Lee persona’ onto a young Jackie Chan, the film lurches and crawls through a series of tedious, obvious events before reaching the unfulfilling final showdown. Old favourites Hang Ying Chieh and Chan Sing are present but cannot prevent this semi-sequel from being an absolute stinker. Rating: 1 / 5 . NINJA IN THE DRAGON'S DEN: Another resounding success from premier independent gold-spinners, Seasonal Films, this stunningly original feast of martial artistry stars Conan Lee and Hiroyuki Sanada as warring representatives of Chinese and Japanese styles. Both actors had great potential, and the chemistry is undeniable in what is respectively their finest film. Production values were certainly not spared, with enormous, authentic sets and stunning cinematography, helmed by Corey Yuen Kwai on top form. Rating: 4 ˝ / 5 .
