One Baad "Monkey" ... Shut Yo Mouth!

by Esther Iverem
SeeingBlack.com Editor and Film Critic

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After choreographing "The Matrix" and"Crouching Tiger", "Hidden Dragon," Woo-Ping Yuen is finally getting his props. So the folks at Miramax are smart to re-release "Iron Monkey," a 1993 martial arts flick, directed by Woo-Ping Yuen, that features the furious acrobatics, intense motion and flair for the dramatic that characterizes his work.

Maybe a few years ago, American audiences weren't ready, or didn't know that we were ready to consider a Kung Fu flick outside the typical thin story lines involving modern villains and hoods. Like in his previous two hits, Woo-Ping Yuen's moves in "Iron Monkey" are set within the context of the mythical or supernatural. Or, I should say, the mythical or supernatural nature of the plots rest comfortably on the wonder he creates with the human body. We all want to fly, or to turn our bodies into spinning hurricanes or to be so baaaad that we are known for delivering a sho-nuff ass-kicking.

This film is set during a time of marauding warlords, when farm peasants were forced into urban areas to find protection and food. In one village, the peasants have learned to depend on the brave deeds of the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong Guang), a mysterious, fierce warrior who takes from rich, corrupt government officials and redistributes gold and food to the poor and hungry. Meanwhile, the corrupt and slovenly officials are eager to catch Iron Monkey. Awed by the fighting skills of the renown Kung Fu master Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen), who is traveling though the town, they force Wong Kei-Ying to help defeat and arrest the Iron Monkey. But things don't go quite as the officials plan.

The story is based partly on the real-life Kung Fu master Wong Kei-Ying, a master of Hung Gar style boxing. Both he and his son, Wong Fei-Hung, are beloved martial arts heroes and legends that been written about in books and operas all over China.

Yen, who was born in China but grew up in Boston, brings a relentless intensity to his fighting scenes, as does Yu Rong Guang, who also plays Dr. Yang. Beyond the eye-popping action, including an ending fight scene atop flaming poles-- this is a story that also has a fierce sense of humor. Maybe at this time I just need to laugh at something stupid but even the slapstick antics of some of the buffoonish government lackeys were genuinely funny.

One caution for those taking little people: old-world China obviously wasn't a good place for women. Aside from Dr. Yang's assistant, Miss Orchid (Jean Wang), most of the women in this flick are hinted at to be prostitutes, concubines or one of many wives. There is even one of those uneasy scenes where a woman is almost attacked, her clothing is partially ripped away,but she fights them off. It could be, though, that these fairly lightweight moments will sail way over the heads of most young Kung Fu movie fans. Speaking of women, I predict "Iron Monkey" will win over even the most indifferent to these flicks. Its got it like that, ya know?

Esther Iverem's reviews also appear on the lifestyle and movies pages of BET.com

--October14, 2001

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