Iron Monkey (1993)

90% of critics liked it
(91 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(18,060 ratings)

This kung fu classic weaving fact and myth earned a theatrical release in the U.S. from Miramax eight years after it was produced, following a successful retrospective screening at the 2001 Los Angeles Film Festival. Wong Kei Ying (Donnie Yen) is a master of the Hung Gar style of boxing in mid-19th… More This kung fu classic weaving fact and myth earned a theatrical release in the U.S. from Miramax eight years after it was produced, following a successful retrospective screening at the 2001 Los Angeles Film Festival. Wong Kei Ying (Donnie Yen) is a master of the Hung Gar style of boxing in mid-19th century China. His son, Wong Fei Hung (Sze-Man Tsang), though still just a boy, will grow up to become a martial arts legend, a nearly mythical figure in Chinese history. When Wong Fei Hung is kidnapped, his father is forced to use his daunting skills in the service of the abductor, a dishonest politician plagued by the Robin Hood-style thief known as Iron Monkey, a mysterious masked avenger stealing from the rich, delivering the spoils to the poor. Wong Fei Hung's only allies are the kindly Dr. Yang (Yu Rong Guang) and Yang's assistant, Orchid (Jean Wang), who are protecting an important secret. Iron Monkey (1993) director Yuen Wo Ping is also the masterful martial arts choreographer behind The Matrix (1999) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000); his father served as action choreographer on a series of popular, long-running films centered around the Wong Fei Hung character in the 1950s. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Woo-ping Yuen
Written By: Hark Tsui, Tang Pik-Yin, Cheung Tan, Lau Tai-Muk
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Oct 12, 2001 Limited
On DVD: Mar 26, 2002
Studio: Dimension Films

Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley, Washington Post
A crackling Cantonese action caper in the tradition of Robin Hood, Zorro, Batman et al.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Yuen tosses off nimble, elegantly witty solutions to life's most vexing problems regarding rooms full of bad guys who won't take thwak for an answer.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
[Yuen's] fights are innovative and intense, whether they're a whirlwind one-on-one duel or one of many struggles featuring multiple combatants.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Think of Iron Monkey as the potboiling cousin of Crouching Tiger, rather than its most honoured forefather, and you'll be on the right wavelength.
David Edelstein, Slate
A rollicking, comic-book Robin Hood plot and more furiously entertaining fight scenes than the ones in Ang Lee's solemn martial-arts art movie.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was like fusion food, Chinese for Western tastes. Now, get ready for the real thing.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Despite its seemingly constant action, the focus was way too light for my liking, resulting in a film that's often more corny than it is enthralling.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
some of the finest martial arts displays imaginable, and it doesn't take itself seriously
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
The whole film is trivialized by a poor dub . . . .
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Despite it's tonal split personality, Iron Monkey is a fun Hong Kong martial arts action-comedy that offers a heck of a climax.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
Woo-ping is as unembarrassed by the hokiness of his narrative as he is by that of his unending combat enactments, which you can accept as intentional stylistic exaggerations.
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
While purists may balk at not getting Yuen Woo-ping's complete "vision" here, Iron Monkey manages to make its case, even within the mangled material provided.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Extras on the disc include an interview with Quentin Tarantino, who helped bring the film to North America, plus an interview with one of the movie's stars, Donnie Yen.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Some of the best fight sequences one can expect to see in this genre.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Sometimes it's nice to sit back and enjoy the fireworks, and this movie has lots of fireworks.
Paul Salfen, Supercala.com
...quite possibly the best action film of the year.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Super fun times, just avoid Miramax hack version. They ruined the cantonese track with the overblown sound effects they added.
Lee ?

Hong Kong kung-fu madness with a Robin Hood themed story. Highly regarded by martial-arts fans, and yeah, the fight scenes are spectacular, as you'd expect from legendary action director Yuen Woo-Ping who has worked in both Asia and Hollywood orchestrating some of the most… More
Hong Kong kung-fu madness with a Robin Hood themed story. Highly regarded by martial-arts fans, and yeah, the fight scenes are spectacular, as you'd expect from legendary action director Yuen Woo-Ping who has worked in both Asia and Hollywood orchestrating some of the most impressive action sequences ever recorded on film. It's easy to see the influences this film had on the likes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The story and dialogue are very basic though and it's a script a 10 year-old could easily come up with. It's worth watching just for the action.
danny d

yuen woo-ping is the man. another masterfully choreographed film - the kung fu in this film is just mind blowing. i love watching donnie yen on screen and the scenes featuring a young wong fei-hung were incredibly believable. i loved this kung fu robin hood/superhero story. one of… More
yuen woo-ping is the man. another masterfully choreographed film - the kung fu in this film is just mind blowing. i love watching donnie yen on screen and the scenes featuring a young wong fei-hung were incredibly believable. i loved this kung fu robin hood/superhero story. one of my favorite films.
Justin Y

Yuen Woo-ping shows that he is not only an action choreographer, but also a director as well.At just over 80 minutes, Iron Monkey is non stop fun from beginning to end. The characters and story elements have a quirky feel to them, while also the right… More
Yuen Woo-ping shows that he is not only an action choreographer, but also a director as well.At just over 80 minutes, Iron Monkey is non stop fun from beginning to end. The characters and story elements have a quirky feel to them, while also the right amount of seriousness to go along with it. The sound effects are playful, as well as the dialogue, and both fit the style of the film nicely. This picture really does just fly by.The wire work martial arts comes in bunches with some great choreography, while the editing, as well as the high speed camera shots give the fights that hyperactive edge. There are also a variety of martial arts styles and moves to keep the film interesting.Donnie Yen and Yu Rongguang carry this film with their acting and martial arts segments. Tsang Sze-Man and the beautiful Jean Wang also impress in the same departments.Iron Monkey is a film that succeeds on many levels and is a martial arts picture that is easily enjoyable.
Khris N

Fun and enjoyable - despite the high wire kung fu - a good movie!!
Dean M

Donnie Yen as Wong Fei Lung's father and Yu Rong-guang as the Iron Monkey are fantastic team-up to fight against the evil Monks. Great non-stop action and wire-enhanced acrobatics.
William G

Loose and fun wire-fu romp with hearty slapstick and asskicking.
Kyle S

Anyone know where I can see the original 1993 release, not the butchered Tarantino releases 2001 version?