#6 – Face of Fury (The Big Boss, 1971)

Why Lee-mendous: Bruce Lee made audiences think that the body, when expertly deployed, was the best weapon. His incredibly expressive face acted as a chorus to what the rest of him was doing, frequently mirroring audiences’ reactions.

As film professor David Bordwell writes in his book Planet Hong Kong:

“(There are moments) after Lee delivers a punch his brows knit, his head swivels, and his mouth opens in astonishment at the damage he has done or draws into a grimace mixing strain, anger, and anguish.”

Interesting-Lee: Lee’s vivid expressions are far removed from the standard image of a stoic hero, and more in keeping with the typical portrayal of a villain.