ONE HARD MONKEY, ? BEFORE THE FLAMING DRAGON. (The Iron Monkey (DVD))

Member Name: Cheuk

Product:	The Iron Monkey (DVD)
Date:	20/07/01 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Fight Scenes, Excellent film, Stunning performance

Disadvantages: You have to start learning Chinese. Translation to english loses a lot..

Ok to be rather honest the DVD I have is from HK rather than the UK release, I couldn?t wait for it to be released as my video copy is wearing out. The UK DVD has the following: Animated biography showcase (Yuen Woo-ping and Donnie Yen), Production photo gallery, Interview gallery with leading man Donnie Yen and director Yuen Woo-ping, Original theatrical trailer, UK promotional trailer, Fully animated menus, Dual language format (English dubbed and Cantonese with remastered English subtitles). Anamorphic Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.78:1

Note don?t confuse this version with the older one made in the 1970s, that is watchable but no way as good.

The Film
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Set in the late Ching dynasty, director Yuen Woo-ping (Matrix, Crouching Tiger) yes him, directs with his usual trademarks of incredible dynamic, high-flying fight action and stunning cinematography with a classic story of courage, honour and sacrifice.
The Chinese title tells the story of the Martial Art legend of Wong Fei Hung ( actually played a girl!) in his early days. Donnie Yen (Once Upon A Time In China 2 and drunken Tai Chi) plays his father also no martial art walk over. Yu Rong Kwong (Shanghai Noon, Project S,) who is the elder martial arts brother of Jet Li and arguably just as tough, give breathtaking performances as two legendary warriors who must put their lives on the line to defeat the barbaric excesses of an increasing corrupt political regime which ultimately led to the Ching dynasty downfall, and a kind of Robin Hood story. Making judicious use of low-key lighting, high contrast colour combinations
and a haunting soundtrack, director Yuen Woo-ping creates a unique visual tapestry and
captures a mood, which is gently romantic and yet emotionally charged. As usual the fight scenes are very well choreographed and original and enervating, possessing a relentless kinetic energy and strong emotional underscoring, which lifts it well be
yond traditional martial arts action. There are enough comical scenes that helps carries the film through some of the darker scenes of human suffering.

Fans of Yuen Woo-ping?s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will not be disappointed, Iron Monkey is more of a true Chinese Martial arts epic than the fore mentioned. In ways it matches John Woo?s character creations, of loyalty and blood bonding. The plot may be weak compared to Crouching Tiger, but it is much more faster pace and requires less brain power to watch.

Overall the star of the show is the young actress who plays the young Wong Fei Hung. It is hard to imagine that she is a girl as she simply kicks butt. As she puts it (I can?t do better myself) I may be small and young but I can handle myself, if you want to fight an older guy then you?ll have to wait for me to grow older! For a cinematic debut her performance is simply stunning and she should do well.

This much unknown film is an excellent example from the rather overcrowded genre and deserves to be watched by a much larger audience. So dim the lights order a Chinese and watch it. You?ll watch again to see some of the excellent fight scenes alone!! Now what are you waiting for.

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