Product Details

• Actors: Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang, Shi-Kwan Yen, James Wong
• Directors: Woo-ping Yuen
• Format: Color, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Tai Seng Video Marketing
• VHS Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (164 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305534616
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,927 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #66 in

  Video > Art House & International > By Original Language > Chinese

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Yuen Woo-ping's dazzling take on Robin Hood, set in a 19th-century Canton township, stars Yu Rong-guang as the humble healer Dr. Yang, who dons black tights and a bandit mask for nightly excursions as the Iron Monkey to rob from the thieving governor of Canton and give to the poor. When wandering herbalist and martial artist Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen) enters town with his son in tow, the governor blackmails Wong into capturing the outlaw. Needless to say, Wong and Yang become fast friends and team up to take on the new villain in town, the Monk, and his mob of street-fighting thugs. The story is pure pulp, a turn-of-the-century superhero picture with a comic book sensibility, and master choreographer Yuen (Wing Chun) provides plenty of splashy, stylish battles with an emphasis on elaborate wire work and complicated stunts--notably the spectacular finale in a fiery inferno as the heroes leap above the flames, balanced on burning poles. Fans of the Once Upon a Time in China series (created by Iron Monkey producer Tsui Hark, Hong Kong's answer to Steven Spielberg) will appreciate the prequel elements featuring Wong's son (played, incidentally, by a very gifted young girl), a scrappy little customer who turns out to be none other than future folk hero Wong Fei-hung. --Sean Axmaker

Amazon.com

Since the late 1800s, the real-life Cantonese patriot Wong Fei-hung has evolved into an icon of Chinese pop culture, a sort of Asian Davy Crockett. He's been a central figure in Hong Kong cinema since the 1950s, most recently in Tsui Hark 's Once Upon a Time in China series. In this thrilling 1993 adventure directed by Yuen Woo-ping, we meet Wong as an earnest boy traveling with his upright pugilist father (Donnie Yen) and drawing inspiration from the activities of the benevolent masked bandit known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-guang). The sheer physical prowess of the stars is often flabbergasting, and the action set pieces (especially an interlude atop a set of "Chinese poles") are staged for maximum dynamism. In effect, this is a powerful combination of the older, Baltic style of kung fu action and the newer body-slamming style pioneered by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. This is a perfect martial arts picture to screen for any genre skeptics in your midst. --David Chute

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 149 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars GREAT movie, POOR version, March 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Iron Monkey (DVD)

Iron Monkey is definitely one of the best (if not THE best) kung-fu movie ever made. The story is nice and simple enough to follow with ease and the fight scenes are nothing less than breathtaking.

This American version of Iron Monkey totally downgrades the movie. OK, so they added to the story at the beginning and also remastered both audio and video. They even kept the original Cantonese language. Sounds like the best remastered kung-fu movie? Well, not exactly. Though what they added is great, what they took out was totally uncalled for. First, they deleted scenes. I would understand deleting irrelevant scenes but why delete fight choreography? I don't understand why some of the fight scenes were cut short, especially the final fight as it's the best one. It doesn't make sense at all. Secondly, they deleted dialogue. A big part of kung-fu is actually calling the attack one is about to do. Donnie Yen's character (Wong Kei-ying) has this signature move called the "Shadowless Kick" which he yells out when he executes it. They completely took that off along with other called attacks for some reason and that just takes the flavor out of the fighting. Finally, they changed the story with the subtitles. If you don't speak Cantonese (which I don't) you won't get what the characters actually say as the subtitles are NOT actual translations. This really feels like a dumbed down version for the American audience.

I've seen two other versions of this DVD. One is the original Region 0 version from HK and the other is the Region 2 Collector's Edition that I bought. The Region 2 is a perfectly remastered version of the ORIGINAL movie with crisp sound and video with REAL subtitles. The only thing about this version is that it's PAL video format whereas the Region 0 is NTSC. I give this Region 1 release 2 stars just because it's Iron Monkey. The added content was nice but they shouldn't have cut so many things. I recommend buying the original Region 0 HK DVD (green cover with the 2 ninjas) or the Region 2 version if you can play PAL discs. However, if you're not picky and just want a glimpse of this movie, buy this release.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, but this US version is CUT!!!, April 4, 2002

By	Dragon Man X (Sunnyvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Monkey (DVD)

Why can't the people at Dimension Home video get it right for once??? They messed up every single martial arts movie release by not providing the original language tracks and cutting scenes. This time with Iron Monkey, they were wise enough to remaster the original chinese language track, but they still decide to cut. For me, cutting a fighting scene, especially if its the last one, is a no no...and I, like another reviewer here, love it when Wong Kei-Ying or Wong Fei Hung call out their special move (Shadowless Kick) before they actually do it. Anyways, for those that don't know, this movie was made in 1993 and it took long enough to come over here. This is a story of a Robin Hood like character who steals from the rich corrupt govt officials and gives to the poor towns people. He goes by the name of Iron Monkey (played by Rongguang Yu), a hero to the townspeople, and a wanted man by the officials. The officials are arresting anyone that looks suspicious. While in town to shop for medicine, Wong Kei-Ying (played by the awesome Donnie Yen) and his son, the very young Wong Fei Hung get in a quarrel with some thugs and get arrested for suspicion. The chief official learns of Wong Kei-Ying's great martial arts, and by force sends him to take out the Iron Monkey while his son Wong Fei Hung is held in custody. To make it simple, Wong Kei-Ying and the Iron Monkey will eventually team up and fight some interesting govt officials. Donnie Yen pretty much steals the show in this film as Wong Kei-Ying, and he is the reason why I watched it. His kicking ability and speed are just awesome. Yeun Woo Ping once again lends a hand in making a decent choreographed film. I must admit there is more wirework here than I would want to see, but thankfully Donnie saves it here. The kid that plays Wong Fei Hung (a boy?...I've heard it was a girl too) is pretty awesome in this movie as well. Basically, theres plenty of fighting action in this film to keep action fans happy, and the ones with Donnie Yen are the best. Now, to the dvd...quentin tarantino and Dimension is getting a lot of heat from me for the cutting. Folks, if you are able to play Region 2 PAL dvds...then the Hong Kong Legends version of Iron Monkey is the essential copy to own...completely uncut, remastered audio (Original Chinese and English) and video, and some interesting extras. If not, then get the Media Asia HK version (green box) for that is uncut as well, but not as crisp clear as the Region 2. I wrote this review in full support of Donnie Yen, he is one of the best martial artist to be caught on film. Check out his other greats such as In The Line of Duty IV, Tiger Cage 2, Wing Chun (alongside Michelle Yeoh), and OUATIC 2 (alongside Jet Li). For those that dont know, hes also the asian guy in Blade 2. Anyways, Iron Monkey is a classic and well worth your buck. Check this movie out and check my other HK reviews too...hope this was helpful.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yuen Woo Ping Knows How to Direct Great Martial Arts Films, November 22, 1999

By	jon (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

The Iron Monkey is evidence why the martial arts choreography in The Matrix thrilled the American audience. Director Yuen Woo-Ping delivers an impressive punch with this 1993 film which features an easy-to-follow storyline, good acting, stylish cinematography, and amazing fight scenes. Highlighted in this film is actor Yu Rong-Guang whose acrobatic and hand-to-hand combat skills are at their best. The inclusion of the legendary character Wong Fei-Hung (depicted in this movie as a child) makes this movie appealing to the younger viewers as well. All in all, the Iron Monkey is a great film and, perhaps, deserves a big screen showing here in the U.S. Until that happens, whether you buy or rent this film, watching it would definitely be time well spent.