Apparently the English (U.S. release) version did a bit of editing that took away from the Hong Kong version. I saw the English dub a while back and just now watched the Hong Kong with subtitles version. Anyway, it is a really good action piece based on actual history of turn of the 20th century China. Although Donnie Yen doesn't always get the same accolades as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, or even Bruce Lee, of which he is equally talented , if not more so in many cases, as these, he shines, as always in this period piece. Graced with a better script, a superb supporting cast, and more realistic fight scenes, this offering of Iron Monkey is by far better than most of the period kung fu pieces before or after. It breaks away from the Kung Fu action genre of the 70s and 80s where crazy fighting and techniques were overflowing from beginning to end for no other reason than just to show them, with flimsy plots. It doesn't get into the hardcore blood fest and rawness of newer kung fu movies. It can stand alone on a strong and well acted story interlaced with a little humor, a little drama, and a whole lot of action, filled with believable fight sequences. An interesting bit, that I find made it so much more entertaining, is that Angie Tsang superbly plays the part of folk hero Wong Fei-Hung, the son of Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen). Being only 13 at the time of it's release in 1993, her fight scenes are intense yet believable. One of the best kung fu artist of both male and female in a very brief period that has sadly retired from acting. Ronquang Yu, another not as well known martial artist/actor, who is also sadly overshadowed, does a pretty good job as the Iron Monkey. Truly an all out good show that rivals Donnie Yens later outings as Ip Man.
Review of Iron Monkey
