Iron Monkey

Year:1993
Director:Yuen Woo-Ping
Cast:Yu Rong-Guang, Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Jean Wang Ching-Ying, Tsang Sze-Man, Yen Shi-Kwan , James Wong Jim, Yuen Sun-Yi, Hau Yiu-Chung, Lee Fai, Cheung Fung-Nei, Chun Kwai-Choi, Chan Siu-Wah, Yip Choi-Nam, Ko Man-Dik
Description:
There
are only a select few Hong Kong films in existence that perfectly
optimize the very genre in which they fall under. It's safe
to say that celebrated action director Yuen Woo-Ping has had
a hand in more than a few motion pictures that would fit that
description, and his 1993 kung fu opus Iron Monkey
is no exception. If ever a Hong Kong cinema neophyte wanted
to know what a period martial arts film is supposed to be
like梚n terms of action, plot, performances, and the
requisite comic relief桰ron Monkey would definitely
serve as a prime example.
The film follows the exploits
of Dr. Yang , a kindly physician who spends
his days tending to the sick, but leaves his evenings open
to right wrongs in the guise of the shadowy Iron Monkey, a
sort of Chinese Robin Hood who relentlessly
fights against the oppressive machinations of the ruling Ching
government. The beautiful Orchid assists our hero
in both his identities, providing the movie with the required
love interest/eye candy. But as with most films of this ilk,
the romance is implied rather than explicit, leaving ample
time to showcase the one thing audience members expect from
a kung fu film梟amely, kung fu!
The potential for kung fu fisticuffs
increases exponentially when two newcomers stroll into town:
Wong Kei-Ying , member of the fabled "Ten
Tigers of Canton"; and his son Wong Fei-Hong ,
a boy destined to be a legend in his own right. Unfortunately
for the Wong family, the local authorities are arresting people
left and right in the hopes of catching the Iron Monkey, and
thanks to a marvelous display of martial arts prowess on the
part of Wong Kei-Ying, both of the Wongs are hauled off to
court. Even though Kei-Ying is cleared of the charges, his
troubles don't end there. Impressed with the elder Wong's
martial arts abilities, the local magistrate holds Fei-Hong
hostage, ordering Kei-Ying to bring in the Iron Monkey. If
he fails, it's curtains for the boy. To make matters worse,
the Ching government sends in Hiu Hing , a high-ranking
official who is not only ten times more corrupt than the local
governor, but also a disgraced Shaolin monk adept at the deadly
art of Buddha's Palm. With Fei-Hong and later Orchid in the
hands of the enemy, Kei-Ying realizes that his only hope is
to join forces with Iron Monkey and face the bloodthirsty
Shaolin traitor as a team. Good call.
It's no exaggeration to say
that Iron Monkey is one of the best martial arts films
of the last decade. In terms of action, few films could top
it. Even though there's some obvious wirework, it feels more
like an enhancement rather than a "cheat" thanks
to the unquestionable martial arts skill of actors like Donnie
Yen. And unlike some other films梕ven ones that boast
topnotch action choreography桰ron Monkey never
feels repetitive. Each fight builds upon the last one, climaxing
in what could be described as a martial arts crescendo. In
one of the more memorable fight scenes in Hong Kong history,
Wong Kei-King and Iron Monkey fight valiantly against the
villain, each of them trying to maintain their balance on
some precariously high wooden posts. That may sounds easy
enough for masters of kung fu to handle, but when you factor
in that EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE in the scene, well, not so easy,
is it?
Although the kung fu is most
impressive, it's the other "less important" elements
of the film that help make Iron Monkey a genre standout.
The plot is refreshingly straightforward with few zany digressions
and none of the unnecessary convolutions that seem to plague
even the most simplistic films of this genre. Comic relief
is almost a requirement in this kind of picture, and some
silly moments arise, but not to excess or annoyance. The seeming
restraint may put off some, but there's a certain undeniable
symmetry to the proceedings that would probably merit Iron
Monkey a nomination for "Perfect Kung Fu Movie,"
if such an award existed.
Performance-wise, there's little
to complain about. Yu Rong-Guang and Donnie Yen make for likable
protagonists, and Yen Shi-Kwan does what he's good at, playing
the same type of maniacal villain role that seems to dominate
his filmography. Jean Wang is easy on the eyes, and Tsang
Tze-Man makes for a believable pre-teen Wong Fei-Hong; few
could surmise that the actor is in actuality an actress! Taken
all together梐ction, actors, and plot桰ron Monkey
amounts to one finely crafted motion picture. And at the end
of the day, most of the credit has to fall on the guy behind
the camera: Yuen Woo-Ping. Although he will forever be connected
with The Matrix in the West, it's good to remember
the HK movies Yuen made that helped him attract the attention
of American studios in the first place. For many, Iron
Monkey ranks as Yuen Woo-Ping's finest film, but whether
one agrees or disagrees with that assertion, he or she would
be hard pressed to deny that it's a hell of a lot of fun to
watch.