Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Chop socky take on the young Wong Fei Hong (or whatever your favorite transliteration is) and a series of corrupt officials.
Biased, pithy comments: This is a lot of fun. Made more than a little bit tongue-in-cheek, this is the kind of movie where people jump from ground to rafter without perspiring, where every kind of kung fu stance has an flowery name and possibly supernatural powers, and girls can kick tail as well as anyone else. It's light, airy, fun, and well-produced, and the cleaned-up version released in the United States has every reason to be popular. There's a point where nonstop martial arts can be tiring to watch though; the sheer weight of the collected action and the conceits of the plot (no one recognizes the true identity of the Iron Monkey, much like no one can tell it's Superman 'cuz Clark Kent wears glasses, see) are almost too many notes. Is it better than the best of Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee? Probably not, but it's awfully good. This is the kind of movie that ``The Matrix'' rips off freely because, until now, there was no way for Western audiences to see it.
Other Notes: The boy is the same legendary figure as in ``Once Upon a Time In China''. Rereleased in the U.S. in 2001.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Rongguang Yu, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang, Yee Kwan Yan, James Wong.
Directed by: Woo-ping Yuen