Iron Monkey | | Cast : | Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen | | Director : | Woo-ping Yuen | | Studio : | Dimension Home Video | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 1993 | | DVD Released Date : | March 01, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), Chinese (Original Language), English (Original Language), English (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 25, 2005 | | Summary | "They fly through the air with the greatest of ease..." | Content
 | Iron Monkey is one of those Hong Kong fight films that combine a simple but entertaining plot with brilliant fight choreography in just the right amounts to keep the viewer's attention throughout. Set in 19th Century China it begins as the story of Dr. Yang (Yu Rong-guang) who has undertaken to right the wrongs of the greedy provincial governor by moonlighting as the Iron Monkey - a Zorro like character who leaps from roof to roof, often with the governor's illicit takings in his bag. Dr. Yang's beautiful assistant Miss Orchid (Jean Wang), is also the Iron Monkey's faithful sidekick.
Governor Cheng (James Wong) is foaming at the mouth in his efforts to catch the Iron Monkey. Herbalist and martial arts wizard Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) and his son Fei-Hung (Sze-man Tsang) are drawn in first to help the governor and then as co-conspirators with Dr. Yang. However, the governor is not the worst problem. An imperial investigator who is both utterly evil and a grandmaster of the Shaolin fighting style comes to look into the Iron Monkey mystery and doctor, nurse, herbalist and son are all fighting for their lives.
Even though the story is an excellent one, and the Chinese actors do a fine job, the real test of a Hong Kong fight film is its fights. Choreographer Yuen manages to create action that is surprisingly believable, despite all the 30 foot leaps into the sky and an entire scene done on the tips of poles set in a blazing fire. I actually feel that the work is better than that of Crouching Tiger. The action in Iron Monkey is very tight, while in Crouching Tiger they seem to bobble at the ends of cords. And the physical fighting in between leaps is genuinely dazzling.
There are a couple of complaints about the subtitles, but I never felt they were out of place or awkward. Unless you are an expert at Cantonese I don't think the disparities will bother you. This is as fun a fight film to watch as any I've seen. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 20, 2005 | | Summary | What is it with Monkeys? | Content
| This is my first review so apologies if it sucks. I purchased a few martial arts movies recently and while some were a waste of money Iron Monkey is brilliant! The story is ok, not brilliant but not the worst I have seen either. The choreography of the martial arts is however excellent! Sure some of it is far fetched, but overall it is done so well you just don't care. I bought this movie at the same time as "Evil Cult" and there is no comparison between the two. Evil Cult looked lame beside Iron Monkey.
If you are looking for some of the best martial arts I have seen for a while this is a must buy! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 27, 2005 | | Summary | An Action-Packed Alternative for Crouching Tiger! | Content
| Still in awe from the international hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Well, Iron Monkey will definetly satisfy those looking for a less artsy, more action-laden flick.
Yuen Wo Ping, the fight choreographer for CTHD, struts his stuff creating the martial-arts mayhem in this film as well. The high-flying acrobatics (with some help from wires), the flurry of kicks and punches, and exaggerated impacts all help make the scenes appear as if it were a dance. This isn't to say the characters are prancing and flying around everywhere all the time, but rather, these elements are used to support and build upon the base hardcore kung-fu combat. Even if you're geared toward more physical, realistic fights (ala Ong Bak), you can't deny the certain charm of Iron Monkey. I consider myself a slight detractor from "wirefu", but it's impossible NOT to be in awe of the masterfully-concocted mysticism of Yuen's fight scenes. The numerous battles are all somewhat different from each other, keeping the action alive and fresh throughout. Creativity really shines. Like all good kung-fu movies, Iron Monkey provides memorable fights that you'll even remember down the road. So sit back and be sure to absorb the beauty of Yuen's work.
Ok, enough of my babbling about the action. As you can all see, I love the fights. However, it's time to move on to other aspects of the movie. You can read the summary from almost any other review, so I won't bother with that. It is in the story that one can make the argument CTHD and IM are two completely different movies. CTHD uses action to support and enhance the wonderful plot-driven movie, whereas IM uses a story to bring you from one fantastic fight to another. Don't get me wrong...for a kung-fu flick, the story is developed alot better than what's normally adequate. Although providing some history for the characters is a nice touch, it's hardly inspected thoroughly.
The actors make the story work. Each person is casted convincingly. The young girl who played the part of Wong Fei Hung has serious skill! I also loved the major bad-guy. He brings back memories from the classic, old-school kung-fu flicks. Embodying a powerful arrogance, an elaborate costume, the whimsical 'stache and beard, and (most importantly) the Buddha Fist(!), Yee Kwan Yan makes for one kick-ass villain.
The only things that keep this movie from a perfect score are trivial matters. I feel the wire-effects were abit overdone in the earlier parts of the movie (although it was somewhat fitting to go along with the light-hearted mood during the beginning). However, in defense, the fights do heat up as the movie progresses. Another problem is the aforementioned weak history guide to the characters. In defense yet again, the movie still provided more plot substance than what kung fu flicks are normally creditted with.
Iron Monkey is not as artful and elaborate as Crouching Tiger, but the film never aims to be. It was made to be an action packed kung-fu movie, which it definetly delivers in spades. The names Donnie Yen and Yuen Wo Ping should be reason alone to get you on the couch, glued to the TV.
NOTE: Movie was viewed with Chinese dialogue/English subtitles. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 27, 2005 | | Summary | I got a tension headache while watching this | Content
| With spectacular fight scenes and a simple (yet effective) story line, Tsui Hark dishes up a masterpiece martial arts film with "Iron Monkey". The film takes place during the latter part of the Manchu Dynasty where Dr. Yang is a local physician who runs a clinic with his wife by day but fights and steals from corrupt government officials by night as the Robin Hoodesque folk hero "Iron Monkey". The fight scenes in this film are constant and incredible. I particularly liked the pace that they were conducted in and in some ways this movie reminded me of the 1970s Kung-Fu films I used to watch during Saturday afternoons as a kid, respectfully. My main complaint with this film is that the subtitles do not stay on the television screen long enough to read them making it difficult to follow the dialogue. The fight scene at the end with Iron Monkey and Wong fighting the Chinese overlord on flaming wooden poles was incredible. I ended up following the advice of one reviewer and bought the Hong Kong version of this film which can also be bought at Amazon. If the U.S. release of this film (which I have not seen) is a watered-down, edited version then the Hong Kong version is certainly worth the wait. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 11, 2005 | | Summary | Psst! Don't even say the word 'Monkey' | Content
| After seeing (and absolutely loving) Donnie Yen in Hero and Shanghai Knights, I had to have more. Iron Monkey seemed like a good bet, so I bought it.
WOW. I hit the jackpot! Rough and comic unlike the serious and elegant Hero. Chinese, Chinese, Chinese unlike the Hollywood Jackie Chan Knights. Plenty of martial arts and good natured humor. From the corrupt Governor and his many giggling wives to the evil monk who -- opps there go the many giggling wives -- to Master Fox, the heart of gold police chief, all the bad guys are comics. When the Governor orders that Iron Monkey must be arrested, the police round up an acrobat who jumps like a monkey, a man who sneezes like a monkey, a man selling...someone leans over and whispers, "Don't even say the word Monkey," but he gets nabbed, too. Even the serious Donnie Yen and Rongguang Yu have a playful chopstick fight over a piece of roasted duck.
For those who love flying, there are many scenes with the beautiful antigravity choreography of Woo-Ping Yuen. Probably the most lovely is the first, when the Doctor (Iron Monkey) and Miss Orchid (the nurse) go flying around the room to retrieve a stack of papers which has blown out of their hands at the end of a busy day at the clinic.
Although Iron Monkey's father had been killed unjustly and Miss Orchid's son, born of her work as a prostitute slave, dies at birth, in the present tense no one dies which is as it should be with a good old fashioned folk story. Five stars!
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