from Miramax
Directed by
Woo-ping Yuen
Starring
Donnie Yen ( Wong Kei-Ying)
Rongguang Yu (Dr. Yang/Iron Monkey)
Jean Wang (Orchid Ho)
Yee Kwan Yan (Hiu Hing)
James Wong (Governor Cheng)
Hou Hsiao (Disfigured Swordsman)
Sze-Man Tsang (Young Wong Fei-Hung)
Sai-kun Yam (Hin Hung)
Shun-Yee Yuen (Master Fox)
Fai L (Witch)
Written by
Tai-Muk Lau
Cheung Tan
Pik-yin Tang
Hark Tsui
Music by
Richard Yuen
Rated: 
(for martial arts/violence and brief sexuality)
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 Yuen Woo-ping's
dazzling take on Robin Hood, set in a 19th-century Canton township,
stars Yu Rong-guang as the humble healer Dr. Yang, who dons black
tights and a bandit mask for nightly excursions as the Iron Monkey
to rob from the thieving governor of Canton and give to the poor.
When wandering herbalist and martial artist Wong Kei-ying (Donnie
Yen) enters town with his son in tow, the governor blackmails
Wong into capturing the outlaw. Needless to say, Wong and Yang
become fast friends and team up to take on the new villain in
town, the Monk, and his mob of street-fighting thugs. The story
is pure pulp, a turn-of-the-century superhero picture with a
comic book sensibility, and master choreographer Yuen (Wing
Chun) provides plenty of splashy, stylish battles with an
emphasis on elaborate wire work and complicated stunts--notably
the spectacular finale in a fiery inferno as the heroes leap
above the flames, balanced on burning poles. Fans of the Once
Upon a Time in China series (created by Iron Monkey
producer Tsui Hark, Hong Kong's answer to Steven Spielberg) will
appreciate the prequel elements featuring Wong's son (played,
incidentally, by a very gifted young girl), a scrappy little
customer who turns out to be none other than future folk hero
Wong Fei-hung. --Sean Axmaker of Amazon.com
Official Site
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