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The legendary Iron Monkey
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Art by Marc T. Hicks
Iron Monkey is set in the mid 1800’s. Refugees are plagued by a corrupt governor and evil Shaolin monks. But out of this misery there is one hope. The Iron Monkey who fights the unjust and provides money and food for the downtrodden. Iron Monkey is a combination of Robin Hood and Zorro with kung fu skills as his weapon.
Iron Monkey is a classic from 1993. Directed by the world famous Yuen Wo Ping – who choreographed such classics as The Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Iron Monkey stars Donnie Yen – most notable from Blade 2 and Highlander End Game. The cast is rounded out by Yu Rong Guang, Jean Wang, and Tsang Sze Man playing the legendary Chinese hero Wong Fei-hong, though she’s female and the role is that of a male.
Dr. Yang / Iron Monkey (Yu Rong Guang) cares for the poor in his medical clinic by day. He provides health care free of charge for the poor and charges the wealthy. At night he dons his dark costume and fights the greed of the corrupt governor. Chief Fox is charged with bringing the Iron Monkey to justice, but is foiled repeatedly. The Iron Monkey’s kung fu skills are unsurpassed and he is a master of disguise and deception.
Aiding Dr. Yang is his future wife, Miss Orchid (Jean Wang). Rescued from a life of prostitution by the kindly doctor, Miss Orchid uses her own kung fu skills to aid the Iron Monkey in his quest for justice.
After repeated defeats, the corrupt governor orders anyone suspected of being the Iron Monkey arrested. Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen) and his son Wong Fei-hong (Tsang Sze Man) are arrested after dispatching a group of thieves. When the Iron Monkey attempts to rescue those falsely accused, Wong Kei-ying battles the hero, not fully understanding his intentions.
Eventually the two join forces after the evil Royal Minister severally injures both men. The climatic battle is a true classic amongst kung fu films. All three men are perched on wooden poles as fire rages below them.
The fight scenes though cartoonish at times will not disappoint the avid kung fu fan. And the scenes where Wong Fei-hong fights the evil monks and uses an umbrella to pummel local bandits are truly entertaining. Mix in the fact that Wong Fei-hong is a true Chinese icon and this just adds to the excitement level of this film.
Iron Monkey provides the perfect mix of wire work, sped up fight scenes, genuine martial arts skill, and larger than life villains: the scene where the Royal Minister first appears is true kung fu exaggeration at its best.
Iron Monkey delivers from beginning to end. The DVD has interviews with Donnie Yen and Quentin Tarantino – a huge fan of kung fu movies and the man responsible for bringing this classic to the states. Iron Monkey does not fail to meet the expectations of kung fu film fans.
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