Iron Monkey
AKA: Shao nian Huang Fei-Hong zhi tie ma liu; Iron Monkey: The Young Wong Fei Hong
Released: 1993
Version: video
Length: Approx. 85 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Main Cast: Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang, Yee Kwan Yan, James Wong (I), Hou Hsiao, Sze-Man Tsang, Shun-Tee Yuen, Fai Lee
Here is an interesting Kung Fu movie that was brought over to the USA by Miramax. yes, that's Disney's sickest division, but this is actually a pretty good movie.
The story revolves around someone known as "The Iron Monkey" (Rongguang Yu). This is a masked ninja or sorts that acts like a Chinese Robin Hood. He robs from the corrupt Governor Cheng (James Wong (I)) and gives it to the downtrodden and the poor. There's even a Sheriff-type person in the form of Master Fox (Shun-Yee Yuen).
The only major difference is that the Monkey doesn't shoot arrows and he has a floaty Kung Fu style reminiscent of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The fight scenes are very cool, but there is a lot of very over-the-top acting as well that makes this movie a must see for any true Kung Fu fan.
Eventually you meet someone named Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) who can fight almost as well as the Iron Monkey. Gov. Cheng has Wong arrested along with anyone else that does anything even remotely related to fighting or monkeys in hopes of capturing the real Iron Monkey. Eventually, he forces Wong to hunt down the Iron Monkey within one week or he and his son will enjoy Gov. Cheng's prisons. To make sure Wong doesn't just run off, Cheng takes Wong's son as insurance.
One of the best parts in the film is when the Iron Monkey dresses up as Gov. Cheng's superior and wreaks some havoc to Cheng's kingdom.
The main bad dude comes in later. He has some kind of poisonous hand slap. Anyway, he's pretty bad with his odd growls and such emanating from him. He also has a couple of henchmen. A witch (referred to as a virgin) (played by Fai Li) and a Swordsman (Hou Hsiao) that are quite good at fighting too.
Well, I think that give you, the reader plenty of information to watch the movie. If I give more, then there won't be much left for you to enjoy.
The Good Stuff:
 | The neat Kung Fu |
| Pretty clean for a PG-13 flick |
| Dr. Yang and The Iron Monkey show a lot of kindness for the welfare of the poor and sick. |
The Bad Stuff:
| Some of the violence is a little extreme |
| There's some odd sexual themes in some of the talk... |
| Promotes stealing |
| Some swearing |
Dumb Stuff:
| Watching a kid kick some major booty in a Kung Fu battle or two |
| Not letting Orchid Ho (Jean Wang) show her stuff. (She's good at Kung Fu too) |
| All the weird sound effects that were featured with the main bad guys...and watch for the lame destructive sleeve! |
This movie was quite funny and over-the-top. I liked it quite a bit. Just be warned about some of the language.
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