Review: "Iron Monkey" (1993)

“Iron Monkey”, directed by noted martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping, is a Hong-Kong action-adventure that combines compelling drama, cheeky comedy and energetic action.

The story is inspired by the 19th century Chinese folk hero, Wang Fei Hong, a martial artist of great skill and a traditional Chinese herbalist who fought against government corruption. There have been many Chinese films about Wang Fei Hong but this is one of the few that takes a perspective from his early youth.

We are introduced to the Iron Monkey -- whose moniker is derived from the famous Monkey King -- in the dead of night as a masked, ninja-quick stealth fighter who battles a posse of evil Shaolin-trained guards, gains access to the corrupt Governor’s mansion and steals a treasure chest of gold which he proceeds to give away to the poor. We learn that the Iron Monkey, beholden in the community as a defender of the poor and weak, is a wanted man whom the Governor and his henchmen have not been able to capture. Frustrated and at wit’s end, the Governor kidnaps and holds hostage the young Wang Fei Hong, son of Wang Kei Ying (Donnie Yen), a traveling physician reknowned for his superb kung fu skills, forcing him to track down the Iron Monkey in exchange for his son’s freedom. What ensues is a classic story of good guys teaming up to fight bad guys with lots of eye-popping, adrenaline fueling action.

“Iron Monkey” is distinguished by its stellar fight choreography which combines traditional kung fu fighting with graceful “flying” acrobatics. One particularly exquisite scene occurs early in the story when we learn that the Iron Monkey is a compassionate local herbalist. Upon returning to his clinic after a night of battling evildoers, he greets his assistant Orchid and prepares to close up shop just as a strong wind scatters a pile of papers about the room. The floating ballet between the doctor and Orchid as they gather up the papers is not only a beautiful demonstration of kung fu but also underscores the emotional bond between the two.

Another notable aspect of the fight choreography is the creative use of simple props and background objects as weapons. Wang Kei Ying’s first fight with a group of local hooligans is masterful as he uses his umbrella in ingenious ways to defeat the gang. This umbrella fighting technique is subsequently used by his son Wang Fei Hong to defeat another bunch of rascals.

Overall, “Iron Monkey” offers high-energy action that will appeal to hard-core kung fu fans and mixes in enough comedy (including a real cheeky monkey!) and drama to interest those who are looking for a fun and interesting story. The relationship between the physician and his son is the most touching. The fight scenes progress at a rapid clip, each one raising the stakes as the villains become more heinous and harder to defeat. The final showdown between the team of Iron Monkey and Wang Fei Ying versus the Royal Minister as they maneuver amidst bamboo poles perched precariously over a raging fire is spectacular.