Tie hou zi (1977)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Kuan Tai Chen

Writer:

Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

Iron is the son of a rebel leader, but prefers to spend his days gambling and getting into fights. When his father's group is arrested and executed...

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Martial Arts

Cast

Hui Lou Chen	...	Shaolin student
Kuan Tai Chen	...	Iron Monkey
Mu Chuan Chen	...	Bitter Monk (as Chan Muk-Chuen)
Kuan-Chun Chi	...	Fung Kong
Kang Chin	...	General (as Kam Kong)
Ka-Yan Leung	...	Captain Ti
Kuang Li	...	Shaolin student
Chi Ma	...	Iron Monkey's father
Chung Tien Shih	...	Captain Pa (as Shut Chung-tin)
Chia-Lin Sun
Jung Chi Sun	...	Shaolin student
Wilson Tong	...	Ho Yin
Chi Sang Wong
Jiaxiang Wu
Ma Wu

Also Known As:

The Iron Monkey (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title)
Bloody Monkey Master (USA)
School of Shaolin (USA) (DVD title)
Tit ma lau (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

95 min | Netherlands:89 min | Germany:76 min (DVD version) | USA:91 min (DVD version) | UK:91 min (DVD version)

Country:

Hong Kong | Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:18 (video rating) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated (DVD rating) | UK:15 (DVD rating)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Charlie's Angels (2000)

Classic hard nosed 70's Kung Fu Flick, accurately portrayed by Chin Kwan Tai

Iron Monkey is one of the best Kung Fu Movies ever made. Straight to the point plot and storyline. The movie has it all. Chin Kwan Tai's portrayal of the "monkey style" is the best I've ever seen in a movie (Monkey style in the 7 Grandmasters is also good) and I've seen all of the great Kung Fu Movies. Of all the "Teachers" in Kung Fu movies, Iron Monkey's teacher the "Bitter Monk" is also the best, he has a certain mystic quality about him. Superb training sequences are shown in mastering the monkey style with the Bitter Monk.. Also the background music flows with the movie excellently. All the elements of a great Kung Fu Movie are here: Shaolin Temple, Monks, great villians portrayed by the master of Eagle's Claw. The opening scene which shows the Monkey Fist and Eagle Claw techniques is top notch. Sound effects of the fighting scenes are also up to par. Some actors in Kung Fu movies don't fit the character they play, not here. Chin Kwan Tai seems tailored to play the role in this movie as Iron Monkey. Kung Fu dedication, words of wisdom and discipline are all theme's throughout Iron Monkey. There is one scene in the movie where a Head monk in Shaolin Temple can sense the presence of revenge and anger in Iron Monkey just by looking deeply in his eyes; he knows its for revenge and tells him of "his bloody debt to settle". Only after seeking this revenge can he be a monk in Shaolin Temple. Iron Monkey ranks right with director Chang Cheh's "Kid with the Golden Arms" and "Unbeatable Dragon" as one of the best Kung Fu movies of all time. 9/10 on the scale.