Iron Monkey (1993)
"Siu nin Wong Fei Hung ji: Tit Ma Lau" (original title)

A doctor fights the corrupt authorities as a masked Robin Hood hero, even while another martial artist/doctor is forced to hunt for him.

Director:

Woo-ping Yuen

Writers:

Tan Cheung, Tai-Muk Lau,

Stars:

Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rongguang Yu	...	Iron Monkey / Dr. Yang
Donnie Yen	...	Wong Kei-Ying
Jean Wang	...	Miss Orchid
Sze-Man Tsang	...	Wong Fei-hong
Shun-Yee Yuen	...	Chief Fox
James Wong	...	Governor
Shi-Kwan Yen	...	Royal Minister (as Yee Kwan Yan)
Fai Li	...	Virgin Assassin
Hou Hsiao	...	Scarred Assassin
Cheung Fung-Lei	...	Governor's Favorite Wife
Kwai Po Chin	...	Shaolin Monk 1
Siu Wah Chan	...	Shaolin Monk 2
Ip Choi Nam	...	Shaolin Monk 3
Mandy Chan	...	Shaolin Monk 4 (as Man-Dik Ko)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chi Tai Lam

Storyline

A Hong Kong variation on Robin Hood. The corrupt officials of a Chinese village are continually robbed by a masked bandit know as "Iron Monkey" named after a benevolent deity. When all else fails, the Govenor forces a traveling physician (Donnie Yen) into finding the bandit. The arrival of an evil Shaolin monk, brings the Physician and Iron Monkey together to battle the corrupt government.

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Plot Keywords:

iron monkey | doctor | monk | shaolin monk | robin hood | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes the only way to become a hero is to be an outlaw

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for martial arts action/violence and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax [us] Official site

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

12 October 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Iron Monkey

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$6,014,653 (USA) (12 October 2001)

Gross:

$14,681,661 (USA) (16 November 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Workshop, Golden Harvest Company, Long Shong Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (US version) Dolby Digital (US version) Mono (original release) SDDS (US version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part of the young Wong Fei-Hung is played by Tsang Sze-Man, a talented martial artist, and also a girl.

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Goofs

When Dr Yang plays the monocord, we hear vibrato, but the fingers in his left hands are not moving

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Quotes

Iron Monkey: [dubbed and subtitled versions] Don't take things too seriously, and you will always be at ease.

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Connections

Followed by Iron Monkey 2 (1996)

User Reviews

Yuen Woo Ping on speed

I have three words for this movie: Yuen Woo Ping.

This movie is action packed with Ping's trademark unique fighting sequences. Whether it's bodies slamming through tables, hopping from roof to rooftop, there's so much action, then story, then more action!!! Donnie Yen's martial arts is impressive and his character is very straight to the point, but very noble. Guang as Dr. Yang is heroic as well and plays his dual role very well. Most of best battles have both men sharing the screen with lightning speed quickness!! Tsang is good as young Wong Fei Hung and the beautiful Jean Wang is visually pleasing to watch as Miss Ho (who can also whoop butt). Master Fox provides funny moments too.

Overall, the main emphasis here is the martial arts. The bad guys are very bad (including one deadly renegade monk) and the action is intense. Besides "shadowless kicks" and "King Kong fists", weapons used vary from staffs & swords to umbrellas, benches, and very sharp tacks (OUCH!) The finale is mind-blowing and is like nothing I've ever seen before.