Martial arts movies are like circuses: they pop and whirl with wonders for the eye and ear, but for some reason, the garish physicality, the broad clowning, the smell of elephant dung... some people don't like them and never will. That said, the re-released Iron Monkey is pure popcorn-munching bliss and a five-ring genius at its finest. Directed by chop-socky guru Yuen Woo-Ping of The Matrix and Crouching Tiger fame, the film is about a doctor-by-day who fights injustice and robs corrupt politicians during the off-hours. It's like Robin Hood, but with much better groin muscles. In one instance, this hero, also known as the Iron Monkey, kicks off a man's eyebrow; it's about as subtle as a kick to the forehead, and twice as visceral. Full of balletic grace and more cartoonish double-takes than Scooby-Doo at a NASCAR weekend, Iron Monkey dares you and your pretentious friends not to like it. But you will.
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