Iron Monkey (1993)

A martial artist/doctor steals from the corrupt authorities as a masked thief to give to the poor while another martial artist/doctor is forced to hunt him down. But a major threat unites them as a powerful and traitorous shaolin monk takes over the authorities.

Director:

Woo-Ping Yuen

Writers:

Tan Cheung, Richard Epcar

Stars:

Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rongguang Yu	...	Dr. Yang / Iron Monkey
Donnie Yen	...	Wong Kei-Ying
Jean Wang	...	Miss Orchid
Sze-Man Tsang	...	Wong Fei-Hong
Shun-Yee Yuen	...	General Fox
James Wong	...	Governor Cheng Pak-Fong
Shi-Kwan Yen	...	Hin Hung (as Yee Kwan Yan)
Fai Lee	...	Hin Hung's disciple #1
Hou Hsiao	...	Hin Hung's disciple #2
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brianne Brozey	...	Wong Fei-Hung (voice)
Mandy Chan	...	Shaolin Monk #4 (as Man-Dik Ko)
Siu-Wah Chan	...	Shaolin Monk #2
Fung-Lei Cheung	...	Governor Cheng's favorite mistress
Kwai Po Chun	...	Shaolin Monk #1 (as Kwai Po Chin)
Peter Doyle	...	Orchid's Boss (Flashback Scene) (voice)

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

shaolin monk | monk | iron monkey | outnumbered | father son relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Unmask the legend

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

With Jet Li at the time not wanting to continue his role as Wong Fei-Hung, producer Hark Tsui gave Woo-Ping Yuen the task of directing a prequel.

---

Goofs

(at around 41 mins) When Dr Yang plays the monocord, we hear vibrato, but the fingers in his left hands are not moving.

---

Quotes

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

---

Alternate Versions

For the English dub, the line, "A man should shed blood, not tears," has been changed to, "Be a man... grow up!"

---

Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The Arrival of Multiplexes and Asian Mainstream (2011)

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

12 October 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Iron Monkey

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,014,653, 14 October 2001

Gross USA:

$14,694,904

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,694,904

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