The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

September 19, 2016

Okay so not your traditional Chinese Wuxia, that is because it is an American film that is an homage to martial arts films much like Kill Bill vol. 1 & 2.  The film received mixed reviews however if you enjoy old school martial arts films then will probably enjoy The Man with the Iron Fist. The sets and costumes go from the fantastic to the wonderfully ridiculous! Some of the armor and weaponry made me feel like I was watching an old Chang Cheh movie like Jack Knife’s scissor-knife-gun or Zen-Yi’s armor.

The movie was written and directed by RZA.  Now if you do not know who RZA is he is a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, a hip-hop group from New York City in the early 90’s. They adopted the name for the group after the film Shaolin and Wu Tang. They were such fans of Martial Arts films they would watch them even if there was no English Dubbing or Subtitles.

I think RZA’s love of martial arts films certainly shows in The Man with the Iron Fist and it is a perfect homage to the blood soaked, violent films from the 70’s

RZA as Blacksmith

RZA (The Man with the Iron Fists 2, Warrior King 2) as Blacksmith / The Man with the Iron Fists

Rick Yune (Ninja Assassin, Marco Polo) as Zen-Yi, The X-Blade

Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Robin Hood) as Jack Knife

Lucy Liu (Kill Bil Vol. 1 & 2) as Madam Blossom

David Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption) as Brass Body

Jamie Chung (Once Upon a Time, Sucker Punch) as Lady Silk

Cung Le (Into the Badlands, Bodyguards and Assassins, True Legend, The Grandmaster ) as Bronze Lion

Byron Mann (Martial Law, Street Fighter) as Silver Lion

Daniel Wu (Into the Badlands, Tai Chi Zero, Tai Chi Hero) as Poison Dagger

Gordon Liu (Dirty Ho, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Legendary Weapons of China, True Legend) as the Abbott

Andrew Ng (Marco Polo, Kill Zone 2) as Senior Monk

Kuan Tai Chen (The Water Margin, Kung Fu Invaders, Executioners from Shaolin, 14 Blades) as Gold Lion

Yoyao Hsueh as Copper Lion

Telly Liu as Iron Lion

Wen-Jun Dong as White Lion

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