Iron Monkey
Director: Yuen Woo-Ping
Producer: Tsui Hark
Action Director: Yuen Woo-Ping
Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rong Guang, James Wong, Tsang Tze-Man, Jean Wang
Overview: Iron Monkey, released in 1993, directed in both action choreography and film by the great Yuen Woo Ping (Matrix, Kill Bill) stars two great martial art superstars Yu Rong-Kwong (Musa, The Warrior) and Donnie Yen (Hero, Once Upon a Time in China II).
Plot: The main basis of the film is that Iron Monkey (Yu Rong Guang) steals from the rich and gives the money to the poor and those that need it. It is a very Robin Hood approach but of course done masterfully.
One day Wong Kei Ying (Donnie Yen) and a young Wong Fei Hung (Tsang Tze-Man) come into town. Kei Ying is involved in a small brawl after Fei Hung causes a pickpocket leader to think that he threw a small stone at him.
Kei Ying is then arrested along with Fei Hung and is put with the rest of the people who are thought to be the real Iron Monkey. Seeing all the people rounded up Kei Ying says he will bring Iron Monkey to justice but upon doing this not only are the locals angry and hateful towards him for agreeing to capture someone who helps look after them [even though Kei Ying was not aware Iron Monkey was stealing for a good cause] his son is also taken and held until Kei Ying brings Iron Monkey to them.
Can Kei Ying bring Iron Monkey down and be re-united with Fei Hung? Well you will just have to watch the film.
Review: Firstly, great film! To start the film we have Iron Monkey against Four so called Shaolin Monks - I use the words 'so called' because Iron Monkey even says they act nothing like monks. After this there are many great fights to come.
The rest of the fights through out the film are second to none - Donnie Yen against Yu Rong-Kwong on the rooftop is timed excellently and one of my favorites of the film.
Yuen Woo Ping has done a marvelous job with directing and Tsui Hark as producer just adds to the films amazing qualities.
Also Tsang Tze-Man who has starred in no other films since plays a wonderful Wong Fei Hung and has a spectacular chase which is not to be missed.
Although the film is great in many respects there is heavy wirework throughout, not to say that it lets the film down too a large degree - the hand to hand combat fights are most amazing with many dotted through out the film from start to finish which I am sure will please even a mild HK cinema fan.
Highlights
- Opening to the film with Iron Monkey fighting the monks
- First appearance of Dr Yang
- Dr Yang and Miss Orchid getting all the papers back
- Iron Monkey leaving gold for the poor
- All the people with anything to do with a 'monkey' being rounded up
- Wong Kei Ying with the umbrella
- When the monkey in court in on his hands the Governors assistant says, "Sir, the monkey is flashing his backside at you"
- Once the Monkey is quickly taken away the assistant says "Sir, you will be eating monkey's brain tonight"
- First fight of Iron Monkey vs Wong Kei Ying
- Wong Kei Ying eating chili and shortly after cooking
- Wong Kei Ying fighting the four masked monks who then go on to use knives
- The amazing kicks Donnie can do
- Iron Monkey tricking the Governor
- Wong Fei Hung's chase
- When Iron Monkey falls for a trap
- King Kong Palm!
- Final Fight
Letdowns
- Wires are used a lot through the film and although it can enhance moves when people jump and fly like the old kung fu movie it is a bit un-real for a 1993 film.
- At the start of the film it isn't really too hard to guess who Iron Monkey really is
Rating: 8.0 out of 10.0
By Matt
