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:

Unmask the legend

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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

In the Iron Monkey's first fight with the witch, she cuts off his braid of hair. However, in some scenes after the fight, it's there again, and in some scenes, it isn't.

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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

Referenced in The Making of 'Kill Bill' (2003)

User Reviews

Awesome

Note that this movie's subtitle is "The Young Wong Fei-Hong."

This isn't so much a movie about a Chinese Robin Hood/Zorro figure, or a strict martial arts hero - it's a movie about a young boy and the people who influence who he will become. It's poignant in parts - such as when Fei Hong tries to grab his father's hand and is scolded for it

• and hilarious in others - "My kung-fu is pretty good!" exclaims a

surprised Fei Hong in one scene.

While much of the movie is focused on the concerns of the adults around him, Fei Hong is also the audience's conduit to the subtle messages of the movie as a whole. It's not all about kick-ass fight scenes - that's just how they keep our attention. The world portrayed in IRON MONKEY admires intellect and wit as much as martial arts ability. Woven into the whole is a lesson in honor, the balance between discipline and recklessness, and the need for affection and love.

Fans of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON will love this movie because of one simple fact - the plot is linear, with short flashback sequences as needed, and despite its intricacy, it's not too involved. CTHD would be like riding in a Rolls-Royce: beautiful to look at, enjoyable to drive; but IRON MONKEY is like a Porche, fast, sleek and dangerous. CTHD may be visually superior as far as cinematography goes - and in a lot of ways, it is - but IRON MONKEY moves along in ways that CTHD does not.

Also look for Tsang Sze Man, who had the potential to be what Haley Joel Osment is here in America. Pity Man didn't do any more martial arts films.

Film fans must see this movie; kung fu fans probably should see this movie. But if subtitles scare you (the dubbed version isn't quite as good) and guys in robes and braids are "gay," keep away. Go rent DUMB AND DUMBER or something.