Customer Reviews:
Dated, mannered and enjoyable. "I'd drop anything for you except my 'H's." .......2007-11-30
If you like older movies, even if they are very much of their time, polished performances and gentlemen thieves, this might be the movie for you. Jack Drake (Tom Walls) is known to the police and the public as Crackerjack, the mysterious thief who steals jewels from the rich and provides funds for the poor. On a plane flight over England, four armed gangsters hold up the passengers, steal some very expensive diamonds from a millionaire, force the plane to land and make their getaway. Only later do they realize that what they thought contained the diamonds contains nothing. It seems Crackerjack was also a passenger, and stole the diamonds just before the holdup. Before long, more robberies take place, a person is killed, and Crackerjack starts getting the blame. He decides to intervene and find the gang, then see that the police find them. He does, with style. But complicating matters is the Baroness Von Haltz (Lilli Palmer), who has her eye on Drake for more reasons than simply suspecting he might be Crackerjack.
This is a movie you'll enjoy if you tell yourself you want a nostalgia trip and if you do a little research first on Tom Walls. He was a longtime London stage actor who had great success as a farceur, acting and directing. He moved to movies as he moved to middle age, and this is one of the leading man films he made before he aged into character roles. He reminds me a little of a thin Alan Mowbray with a long nose and slicked back hair. His line deliveries are as precise as his diction. The movie is a sophisticated, sardonic comedy-thriller, and Walls waltzes through the movie in high, mannered style. If you dislike Noel Coward's acting style, you may not like Walls. I think he's a lot of fun. Lilli Palmer, in one of her early British roles after leaving Germany, is delectable. Most of the movie takes place in elegant hotel suites and large manors.
The film moves at a fast clip and has clever dialogue. Drake begins his memoirs modestly by writing, "I have been described as the master cracksman and crook of my age..." At one point the Baroness says to Jack, "We must drop everything for this!" "I'd drop anything for you," Jack says, "except my 'H's." To his secretary Jack says, "I'm going to put those gangsters out of business." "How?" his secretary asks. With perfect timing, Jack pauses for a beat, then says, "I haven't the faintest idea." Well, okay, maybe not the wittiest repartee, but Walls brings great timing and delivery to his dialogue.
The DVD transfer is in surprisingly good shape.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Iron Monkey is a thrilling 1993 adventure directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, now better known as the action director of The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Audiences who approach Iron Monkey after seeing the latter two Hollywood-produced hit movies will not be disappointed here, either by the physical prowess of the stars or the astonishing action set-pieces (especially an interlude atop a set of "Chinese poles"), which are staged for maximum dynamism. The story concerns the real-life Cantonese patriot Wong Fei-Hung, who is first introduced as an earnest boy travelling with his upright pugilist father (Donnie Yen) and drawing inspiration from the activities of the benevolent masked bandit known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang), a sort of Oriental Robin Hood. Ever since the late 1800s Wong Fei-Hung has evolved into an icon of Chinese pop culture and he's been a central figure in Hong Kong cinema since the 1950s, notably in Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China series. Yuen Woo-Ping's fight sequences for his version of the legend are a powerful combination of the older, Baltic style of kung fu action and the newer body-slamming style pioneered by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. If you thought you were allergic to martial arts but loved Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this is the perfect picture to continue your exploration of the genre. --David Chute, Amazon.com
On the DVD: This is a handsome-looking anamorphic (16:9) widescreen transfer, although the soundtrack is in mono. You can select either the dubbed English version or the original Cantonese with English subtitles. Extra features include trailers, photo galleries, biographies and interviews with both star Donnie Yen (in English) and director Yuen Woo-Ping (subtitled).
Customer Reviews:
A good film spoiled by unnecessary effects........2006-08-09
Donnie Yen is an incredibly talented martial artist and this movie goes a long way to proving that. Unfortunately some of the action is speeded up to the point that it's quite laughable - no idea why because the guy's just unbelievable at normal speed! And there's too much wire work - people defying gravity - for me. The story's nothing special, the acting a little above the usual Hong Kong fare, but the bad guy's can really kick butt and there are some great gems in and amongst the fight scenes. Definitely one of the better HK flicks, just not one of the best.
This is a badboy film.......2005-09-17
If you know about kung fu films, i need say no more. The fight scenes are incredible.
I watched it at a friend's, i had my own copy within 24hrs!!!
good film.......2004-08-05
you dont have to worry about quality with this dvd its not to old, its a very good film aswell the fight scenes are quality and i recommend it to anyone that is a fan of kung fu
"NO SHADOW KICK".......2004-03-06
WHAT A CRACKING MARTIAL ARTS FILM. I HAVE 2 VERSIONS OF THIS MOVIE. BUT THIS VERSION IS THE BEST.
A TAKE ON THE LEGEND OF ROBIN HOOD, IRON MONKEY ROBS FROM THE RICH AND GIVES TO THE POOR, ANYONE STOPS HIM HE KNOCKS 'EM TO THE FLOOR(HA, HA).DONNIE YEN IS GREAT IN THIS FILM AS IS THE REST OF THE CAST BUT I MUST MENTION TSANG TZE MAN WHO PLAYS THE YOUNG BOY WONG FEI HUNG VERY WELL AND HER MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS ARE STUNNING. IT IS YET ANOTHER TALE OF CHINESE FOLK HERO WONG FEI HUNG, BUT THIS TIME SHOWS HIM AS A TEN YEAR OLD. THE ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY BY YEUN WOO PING IS BREATHTAKING AND ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF "WIRE FU" THEY ROCK!
THE EXTRAS ON THIS DVD ARE THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS VERSION; AUDIO COMMENTARY BY BEY LOGAN AND DONNIE YEN, INTERVIEWS WITH THE PRINCIPLE CAST, AN INTERVIEW WITH YUEN CHUNG YAN (WO PING'S BRO) ABOUT THE ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY, VIDEO COMMENTARY (20 MINS) GREAT IDEA, BETTER IF IT WAS LONGER AND A LITTLE FEATURETTE OF HK STUNT MAN ALEX YIP SHOWCASING SOME OF THE FILM TECHNIQUES USED TO CHOREOGRAPH A FIGHT SCENE (LOOK OUT FOR BRIT HK STUNTMAN JUDE POYER)A BIT SHORT BUT AN EYE OPENER NONE THE LESS.
OVERALL A GREAT PACKAGE. BUY IT NOW
An Awe Inspiring Period Action Piece.......2004-02-29
Acclaimed director and action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping brings us his most grandiose effort yet. Exhibiting his mastery of the wire movie, as displayed in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, he brings us this highly entertaining period piece revolving around the father of legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hung (played incredibly convincingly by a young girl!) joining forces with a Robin Hood-esque outlaw who robs from the corrupt and gives to the poor by night, and by day runs a clinic.
Phenomenal Martial Arts player Donnie Yen, who can be seen in Shanghai Knights and Blade II, stars alongside Mainland Chinese Peking Opera Player Yu Rong Kwong in what is a highly ammusing action comedy. Iron Monkey provides all the slapstick you would expect from a Hong Kong movie, as Yuen Woo Ping takes us through the corrupt Manchu governments quest to capture the title character, which culminates in a showdown above a flaming pit that really has to be seen to be believed.
True Martial Arts fans should note that this DVD also provides two documentaries on Wu Shu Forms, along with interviews with leading cast members, Iron Monkey promotional trailers, and some glimpses of hot forthcoming titles.
This title is an absolutely integral addition to the DVD collection of even the most casual admirer of Hong Kong Cinema. Miss it at your peril.
Customer Reviews:
Hope.......2005-02-01
If you have ever looked around and felt despair at the effect of abject poverty on young children this film will make you feel 'something' can be done.
It addresses the redeeming quality of (some) eductation, the acute need for caring educators, and the resillience not to 'give in'.
The film follows a French primary teacher as he battles with the authorities and his charges' families to make their few hours in school a respite and a warm enviroment.
DVD:
- A Christmas Carol [1984] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- A Christmas Without Snow [1980]
- Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Advise and Consent [1962] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Alice in Wonderland [1951] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- A Monkey's Tale [2000]
- Angelina Ballerina - The Show Must Go On
- Annabelle's Wish [1997]
- Anthems from Kings [2001] (NTSC)
- An Unfinished Life [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD List
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Children's DVD
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Video
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