Iron Monkey

Given its very nature it comes as no surprise the Hollywood Machine knows A Good Thing when one comes along: When a film like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" proves critically and financially successful little time is wasted exploiting this concept.

In recent years, however, the Hollywood Machine has become unabashedly lazy: No longer is money in great sums spent to hop on the proverbial band wagon called 'Pop Culture'. Instead, field agents for the major movie studios are sent around the world to buy up already produced films and movies that fit to a given 'hot' concept.

It is by way of this practice, then, that "Iron Monkey" comes to mass audiences once more.

Produced in 1993 by the action master Tsui Hark, "Iron Monkey" is now released in North America by Miramax, a small studio (now owned by the ever-growing Disney), infamous for releasing previously produced, but underhyped films and movies.

Understand: Despite the self-serving implication of this practice and the possibility of tainting films and movies by way of it, "Iron Monkey" is an enjoyable film.

"Iron Monkey" features one Wong Fei-hong, whose antics and adventures were chronicled in "The Legend of Drunken Master", the 1994 Jackie Chan movie released in 2000 by Miramax's subsidiary, Dimension. Wong Fei-hong (for those who don't know) was a 19th century folk hero who traveled the countryside of China doing noble deeds. (Think: Robin Hood--according to the storytellers who perpetuate his legend.)

'He'. Yes, well. In "Iron Monkey" 'he' is played by Tsang Sze-man who, if I am not mistaken, is female.

Anyway, Wong Fei-hong was supposedly known for fighting drunk and succeeding (more or less).

Of course, he was not actually drunk; he acted drunk so he could relax and loosen up enough to fight appropriately.

In "Iron Monkey" we are introduced to a 12-year-old Wong Fei-hong, who travels in the company of his father, Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen). As they travel they are caught by forces in the service of the provincial governor, who suspects they may be or may know Iron Monkey, the aforementioned Robin Hood-like figure.

Of course they proclaim innocence. No matter. The provincial governor informs Wong Kei-ying his son will be held captive until such time he produces the Iron Monkey for punishment.

Now. Just as this is made known the real Iron Monkey appears, thereby negating the charge Wong Kei-ying is the Iron Monkey. So that should assure the release of Wong Fei-hong. But it doesn't. Instead Wong Fei-hong's father is ordered to bring the real Iron Monkey in.

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