Viewer Comments:The Iron Monkey
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| Fans of classic Shaw Brothers films will be pleased to recognize Chen Kuan Tai, Wilson Tong, and Chi Kuan Chun. Even "beardy", Leung Kar Yan, is in this as a bad guy. It's clearly a low-budget film, filmed at actual locations and few, if any, sets. "Iron Monkey" was filmed at near the height of this genre's popularity so the fight scenes are not that fast as say, "Flag of Iron" or "Legendary Weapons of Kung Fu". However, there is emphasis on the animal styles, specifically monkey and eagle. Those who are offended by animal cruelty should skip the opening title sequence. There are scenes of an eagle and monkey obviously thrown together to fight. If owning or seeing something like this is more than offensive, than you can pass this altogether. The fight choreography isn't bad and the plot is similar to any other revenge flick of the time. Chen Kuan Tai's monkey is also different than others you may be used to. It's more high up and not low to the ground. The training sequences are also enjoyable to watch, especially when Chen Kuan Tai learns from a monkey. |
I loved this one, you must add it to your collection.
| This was one of the few films Chen Kuan Tai made outside of Shaw Brothers in the late 70's. And the best of that bunch in my opinion.
Chen Kuan Tai is, I believe, a real life exponent of monkey fist. And it shows in the fight scenes, of which there is no shortage in this film. But the three standout fights have to be Chen Kuan Tai vs. Leung Kar Yan in some fierce hand to hand combat; Chen Kuan Tai's three sectioned staff vs. Sun Jung Chi's kwan dao; and last but not least Chen Kuan Tai's monkey fist vs. Kam Kong's Eagle claw in a great duel of rival styles. It has pretty good production value for a Taiwanese indie flick--and a really nice training sequence, with Chen practicing Monkey boxing deep in the woods, on top of clay jars, with a descending roof of incense sticks looming over him. Great atmosphere. All in all a cool movie, with a decent story, decent acting, great fights and nice little touches here and there. |
This is like the classic "36 Chambers" story, but Chen Kuan Tai is more brutal and vicious than most Shaolin training films. "Iron Monkey" is a bonafide classic.
A must-have in any collection.
-Kung Fu Classic Viewer (see my profile)
Chen Kwan Tai stars as the 'Iron Monkey'. After his family is killed for being rebels to the government, he roams the jungle and steals food from the Shaolin Temple. He is accepted into the Temple and then learns the difficult art of Monkey Fist Kung Fu (though the training scenes are not too demanding). Then pretends to be a traitor and joins the Government army, so he can get close to the General to take out his revenge. The story line is very thin, but it is action you want, action is a plenty as Monkey Fist and Eagle Claw have the final battle.
-DarkHumour (see my profile)
http://www.myspace.com/jrwlfc
This movie is a classic in my book.
Chen Kuan Tai's performance is what stands out in this movie. This story has been told many times before, but he makes it worth watching. Definitely recommended for those that like old school kung fu.
-William Giordanella (see my profile)
Outstanding performance by Chen Kuan Tai demonstrating the Monkey style. It is an old school classic. The plot is average and nothing new in the genre. But CKT is just great to watch in this one!
-Roger Judd, Jr. (see my profile)
What can you expect from Chen Kuan Tai? Lots of action and great kung fu. The plot is used much in the Hong kung fu genre, but hey who cares about the plot. The final confrontation is already your money's worth.
This movie was a mixed bag with the hero playing a villain as well in order to get close to the bad guys. Good acting throughout. I just love Chen Kuan Tai for his graceful movements and intensity. This film will get varying reviews for its storyline, however, remember a lot these films are portraying real events in early Chinese history.
-Noel 'Bravo' Francis (see my profile)
This is another super classic kung fu movie. Get your copy now!
Iron Mokey is one of my favorite old 70's kung fu flixs. Chen Kuan Tai is superb in the movie. The technique he mastered is displayed by him in an astonishing way. The fight scenes are fantastic, especially when he takes out the whole ching army& the general who masters the evil claw style. Definitely own this movie in your kung fu collection. If you are a fan of Chen Kuan Tai you'll enjoy this old school flix
| "The Iron Monkey" is one of those late 70's kung fu flicks with at least a dozen but stills and Buddha bless yous. It tells as an often-heard story about a young man who enters the Shaolin temple to study martial arts. Why? To avenge his murdered family of course. Also, this movie isn't from any major HK producing companies, but from some smaller one called Ching Hua Film Co. All this leads you to expect a very lame, very low-budget film. Then again, "The Iron Monkey" seems to got some potential as well: the director & actor Chen Kuan Tai [from Shaw Brothers fame] and also many supporting roles from familiar faces i.e. Leung Kar Yan ["Warriors Two"], Wilson Tong ["Snake Deadly Act"] and Chi Kuan Chun ["Eagle's Claw"].
"The Iron Monkey" isn't too bad for an old school fan like me. While the fighting is just average, nothing special, the plot involves some nice twists and the great screen presence of Chen Kuan Tai is used to the fullest. The sets are OK; nothing like in some of those worse independent productions where it looks like the whole film is shot in the producer's backyard or in your neighbour's garden. In "The Iron Monkey", there are no major flaws, except that they forgot to dub about some 20 seconds of the movie at one point [everyone's suddenly speaking Cantonese for a while]. Also the print I saw [UK cassette from "Eastern Heroes"] had quite bad picture quality, especially the colors were fucked up. But this doesn't spoil the film too much, so if you are in mood for some fun old skool chop socky, give "The Iron Monkey" a try. |
http://www.cityonfire.com
I like this movie, its an old school kung fu flick, with alot of killing, the movie starts with his whole family being murdered, and his lil brother being killed by his own dad, thats one of my favorite scenes, Then he goes to shaolin for training and this where the dullness sets in, But he finally leaves shaolin to revenge his families death, kills alot of folks brutally, the end scenes when he takes out the generals is some great old school kung fu fighting, but dullness in the middle brings the movie down, if u wanna see an shaolin training movie get shaolin master killa a much better film.
-City On Fire (see my profile)
http://www.cityonfire.com
| A truly superb classic 70s kung fu film. When a kung fu movie starts out during the opening credits with a live animal fighting another live animal on an empty sound stage, followed by the film's stars fighting each other in their signature animal form on the sound stage, while a serious-sounding narrator gives you the history of each animal form --- you know it gotta be good! If you like that truly classic-style flick, buy this video immediately. Chen Kwan Tai is superb, as always. The plot is straightforward and engaging and leaves you in suspense throughout. Spectacular intricate fight sequences are scattered liberally throughout the entire film, from beginnng to end. One of the Kwan Tai's many opponents, I believe, is a Venom.
This movie, made in 1977, should not be confused with the altogether different 1993 film of the same name. From my "classic" perspective, this film (the 1977 "original") is far superior. This is one of my favorite kung fu movies of all time. It contains one of my favorite kung fu films lines, uttered by the aging monkey fist master to his new would-be student on the first day of training, "The monkey fist technique is most complex..." If you are a lover of 70s classic kung fu, you will want this movie. Do not confuse this movie with the newer 1993 film of the same name. While that movie is good in its own right, I still prefer the "classic" 1977 movie hands-down. If someone tells you they like the newer version better, they are probably too young to appreciate classic Venom-style choreography and/or never had a opportunity, as I did, to enjoy the movie in a packed "hootin' and hollering" theatre during the original theatrical release. |
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