Iron Monkey is a classic Hong Kong martial arts film and captures the work of Yuen Woo Ping as director before he became known for his work on more mainstream films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and The Matrix Trilogy.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54996 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-01
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: Cantonese Chinese
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Iron Monkey is a thrilling 1993 adventure directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, now better known as the action director of The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Audiences who approach Iron Monkey after seeing the latter two Hollywood-produced hit movies will not be disappointed here, either by the physical prowess of the stars or the astonishing action set-pieces (especially an interlude atop a set of "Chinese poles"), which are staged for maximum dynamism. The story concerns the real-life Cantonese patriot Wong Fei-Hung, who is first introduced as an earnest boy travelling with his upright pugilist father (Donnie Yen) and drawing inspiration from the activities of the benevolent masked bandit known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang), a sort of Oriental Robin Hood. Ever since the late 1800s Wong Fei-Hung has evolved into an icon of Chinese pop culture and he's been a central figure in Hong Kong cinema since the 1950s, notably in Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China series. Yuen Woo-Ping's fight sequences for his version of the legend are a powerful combination of the older, Baltic style of kung fu action and the newer body-slamming style pioneered by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. If you thought you were allergic to martial arts but loved Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this is the perfect picture to continue your exploration of the genre. --David Chute, Amazon.com

On the DVD: This is a handsome-looking anamorphic (16:9) widescreen transfer, although the soundtrack is in mono. You can select either the dubbed English version or the original Cantonese with English subtitles. Extra features include trailers, photo galleries, biographies and interviews with both star Donnie Yen (in English) and director Yuen Woo-Ping (subtitled).

Synopsis
Yuen Woo-Ping's exhilarating martial arts film stars Yu Rong Guang as Dr. Yang, a kind family doctor who charitably provides medicine and care to impoverished villagers, along with his assistant, Orchid (the lovely Jean Wang). Yang, however, also masquerades as the crime-fighting Iron Monkey, who robs gold from the rich and gives to it the poor, much to the dismay of the corrupt local governor (James Wong). When famed fighter and physician Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) and his young son, Wong Fei-Hung (crossdressed actress Tsang Sze-Man), wander into town, the cowardly ruler captures the boy and pits his father against the elusive Iron Monkey. Eventually, the heroes must unite to face an even greater foe--a renegade Shaolin master (Yen Yee Kwan) and his treacherous lackeys.
This Chinese variation on the legend of Robin Hood is a good-natured (and often funny) action movie that features numerous outstanding fight scenes (including a battle fought on poles over a raging fire) and a surprising amount of cooking (yes, cooking). The film is the prequel to Tsui Hark's ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series, which follows the adventures of folk hero Wong Fei-Hung as an adult. IRON MONKEY is particularly revelatory due to the amazing action sequences directed by Woo-Ping, who went on to choreograph the intricate fights of THE MATRIX and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

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Customer Reviews

An Awe Inspiring Period Action Piece
Acclaimed director and action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping brings us his most grandiose effort yet. Exhibiting his mastery of the wire movie, as displayed in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, he brings us this highly entertaining period piece revolving around the father of legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hung (played incredibly convincingly by a young girl!) joining forces with a Robin Hood-esque outlaw who robs from the corrupt and gives to the poor by night, and by day runs a clinic.
Phenomenal Martial Arts player Donnie Yen, who can be seen in Shanghai Knights and Blade II, stars alongside Mainland Chinese Peking Opera Player Yu Rong Kwong in what is a highly ammusing action comedy. Iron Monkey provides all the slapstick you would expect from a Hong Kong movie, as Yuen Woo Ping takes us through the corrupt Manchu governments quest to capture the title character, which culminates in a showdown above a flaming pit that really has to be seen to be believed.
True Martial Arts fans should note that this DVD also provides two documentaries on Wu Shu Forms, along with interviews with leading cast members, Iron Monkey promotional trailers, and some glimpses of hot forthcoming titles.
This title is an absolutely integral addition to the DVD collection of even the most casual admirer of Hong Kong Cinema. Miss it at your peril.

The original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
With the opening shot of a masked figure running silently over rooftops, this film is instantly recognisable as the work of Yuen Woo Ping, the Action Director for The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The Martial Arts sequences are some of the best on film with the films climax acted out over poles of fire. The story is rather 'Robin Hood'-esque, with the Iron Monkey playing the part of a doctor who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The story is fleshed out with the introduction of a very young Wong Fei Hung, who, with his father, played expertly by Donnie Yen, are woven into the fiasco involving the corrupt town officials. This film is one of the finest of the recent 'period' martial arts films, and a must for all fans of the genre, and for fans of "CTHD".

IRON MONKEY A KUNG FU CLASSIC
This is a movie for all lovers of the kung fu genre, it is action packed, fast paced and exciting.
The film is about this warrior called Iron Monkey(Yu Rong Kwong) who is an innocent doctor during the day, and an ass kicking crime fghter by night. The character "Iron Monkey" is basically the chinese version of robin hood, who steals from the rich to feed the poor. Then along comes Donnie Yen one day, who is also a warrior who fights corruption and it all kicks off from there.
Personnally I think the story line is a bit dodgy but dont let that put you off because the fight scenes are absolutely amazing,
The fight scenes are fast paced action sequences done by the master of fight choreography Yuen Woo-ping. The fights arent as poetic as from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but they still leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more of the kinetic kung fu action.
The acting isn't bad either from the leading cast, which is an added bonus but the fill in actors who hang around in the back ground or have one line scenes could do with a few acting lessons. The translation is good as well, though there are a few moments when the conversations between characters gets a bit confusing because the translation is a bit dodgy in places.
But overall it is a kung fu classic with great fight scenes and a must see for all who are into the genre or are just getting into it, you will love every minute of it once you see passed the bad things and you will be stunned by the stuff these guys can do when fighting, there is one fight scene at the end which is absolutely amazing and very well filmed, but my personal favourite is when donnie yen fights Iron Monkey for the first time on the rooftops of the governors house, that fight scene is just awesome!