Yuen Woo-Ping's exhilarating martial arts film stars Yu Rong Guang as Dr. Yang, a kind family doctor who charitably provides medicine and care to impoverished villagers, along with his assistant, Orchid (the lovely Jean Wang). Yang, however, also masquerades as the crime-fighting Iron Monkey, who robs gold from the rich and gives to it the poor, much to the dismay of the corrupt local governor (James Wong). When famed fighter and physician Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) and his young son, Wong Fei-Hung (crossdressed actress Tsang Sze-Man), wander into town, the cowardly ruler captures the boy and pits his father against the elusive Iron Monkey. Eventually, the heroes must unite to face an even greater foe--a renegade Shaolin master (Yen Yee Kwan) and his treacherous lackeys.

This Chinese variation on the legend of Robin Hood is a good-natured (and often funny) action movie that features numerous outstanding fight scenes (including a battle fought on poles over a raging fire) and a surprising amount of cooking (yes, cooking). The film is the prequel to Tsui Hark's ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series, which follows the adventures of folk hero Wong Fei-Hung as an adult. IRON MONKEY is particularly revelatory due to the amazing action sequences directed by Woo-Ping, who went on to choreograph the intricate fights of THE MATRIX and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

U.S. Theatrical Release: October 5, 2001.

Original Production Year: 1993.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85:1
Audio:
TBD
Additional Release Material:
Introduction - 1. Quentin Tarantino
Production Interview - 1. Danny Yuen
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus

Distributor Notes: Iron Monkey

With sensational, nonstop martial arts excitment supplied by the acclaimed choreopgraher of THE MATRIX and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, IRON MONKEY is the spirited tale of a mysterious and mythical Chinese legend. In a desperate and unjust land, where government corruption rules the day, only one man -- known as the Iron Monkey -- has the courage to challenge the system and fight back. Under the shadow of night, in the silence before dawn, he fights to give hope to the poor and oppressed. Although no one knows his name or where he comes from, his heroism makes him a living legend to the people ... and a wanted man to the powers that be! Presented by Quentin Tarantino -- don't miss the exhilarating action adventure that critics everywhere have called one of the greatest martial arts films of all time!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Yu Rong Guang: Hong Kong actor; IRON MONKEY, THE STORM RIDERS
Donnie Yen: Hong Kong Actor
Tsang Sze-Man: HK martial arts actress
Jean Wang: Hong Kong Actress, IRON MONKEY
Yuen Shun-Yee: 
James Wong: Actor

Yuen Woo-ping: HK Director/Fight Choreographer (MATRIX, CROUCHING TIGER)

Tsui Hark: Vietnamese-Born Director/Producer, A BETTER TOMORROW

Tsui Hark: Vietnamese-Born Director/Producer, A BETTER TOMORROW
Tang Pik-Yin: Screenwriter, IRON MONKEY (1993)
Lau Tai-Muk: Screenwriter, IRON MONKEY (2001)
Cheung Tan: HK screenwriter

Richard Yuen: Actor/"Honor And Glory"

"...Damn if it isn't crackling fun....There's no resisting..." -- Rating: B+
"...The action is consistent..."
"...[With] ingeniously choreographed, gravity-defying fight sequences..."