Movie Scene
'Iron Monkey' is wonderful precursor to modern-day martial arts films

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

IRON MONKEY (Rated PG-13, for martial arts violence, sexuality). Three Stars (Good). Rousing martial arts fable in the tradition of "Crouching Tiger," about warriors who go undercover to combat a corrupt regime. Yu Rong-Guang and Donnie Yen co-star for director (and fabled stunt choreographer) Yuen Wo Ping. Miramax, 90 mins.

Suppose they really like the film, so you go back later and show them another good Western, although maybe not quite as classic. Maybe "Rio Bravo" or "Ride the High Country."

That sort of cross-cultural education is happening in reverse this week, with the opening in the United States of "Iron Monkey," a 1993 Chinese action fable reminiscent of last year's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

In releasing "Iron Monkey" Miramax (at the behest of Quentin Tarantino) has polished it, given it a richer music score and new subtitles that'll add greater clarity in the West.

Quite clearly, the selling point is: If you liked "Crouching Tiger," check out "Iron Monkey." And, oh yes, there's another attraction: "Iron Monkey" was directed by Yuen Wo Ping, the master of high-flying action choreography in both "Crouching Tiger" and "The Matrix."

Like many Chinese martial arts fables, "Iron Monkey" tells a Robin Hood-style story of an outlaw hero who helps the disadvantaged against corrupt authority.

The film is a precursor to several other action films, because it tells of the youth and emergence of a hero named Wong Fei Hung.

Wong has been played in several other variations by superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li, especially in the "Once Upon a Time in China" and "Drunken Master" films.

In this film, the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang) is a masked hero of the Lone Ranger-type who is causing all sorts of havoc for the corrupt officials of the Ching Dynasty, circa 1860. Another kung fu master, Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) comes to town with his young son, the soon-to-be-famous Wong Fei Hung (Tsang Sze-Man).

The governor enlists the elder Wong to help find the Iron Monkey.

Eventually, Wong discovers the Iron Monkey is fighting the good fight, so Wong and his son are soon fighting alongside the Monkey to eliminate evil.

To propel his tale, the director stages several remarkable martial arts sequences. But, although the fights are remarkable, my favorite scene finds the Iron Monkey and his female assistant using amazing spin moves and kicks simply to clean up their office after they spill a pile of papers.

As in "Crouching Tiger," you'll find much of the action breathtaking and beautiful. "Iron Monkey" falls a bit short of "Crouching Tiger's" poetic grandeur; still it's quite astonishing.

No wonder Asians who have seen "Iron Monkey" and related films didn't understand why Americans got so excited about "Crouching Tiger."

Ang Lee's Oscar-winning epic remains a superb film, but isn't quite as unique as we in the West had assumed it was.

The release of the 8-year-old "Iron Monkey" in America enables Westerners to see a continuum of a great Chinese film tradition — and gives us another rousing adventure to enjoy.