Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, this martial arts classic is set against the end of the Qing Dynasty, and tells the tale of a chivalrous robber, Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang, Supercop 2), who robs the rich and gives to the poor in Zhejiang province.

A famous kung fu master (Donnie Yen, Ip Man) is enlisted in the capture of Iron Monkey. He is thus torn between upholding the law and siding with this unknown hero …

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Video Quality

Iron Monkey comes to Blu-Ray via Shout! Studios with a 1080p master in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio derived from a 2K restoration of the original film elements. This new release offers a rewarding presentation that allows the film to look as desired on physical media. The transfer does not appear to have any unnecessary DNR applied which allows it to retain its organic appearance. The level of detail rarely falters as you take in the impeccable facets unveiled with this restoration. There is almost nothing in the way of lingering wear and tear, and the film does not stumble with any exceptional instances of compression artifacts. The transfer features vibrant color saturation throughout with bright colors emanating off the screen. Black levels hold up well and highlights do not get excessively bright. Shout! Studios has put forth good work.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio dual mono track in the original Cantonese along with a stereo Mandarin and English dub mono track that holds up favorably. There are also DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround tracks presented in Cantonese and English. The Cantonese track should be your default track, but all of the choices hold up well enough. The score maintains a faithful fidelity, but there are moments of age-related wear and tear and general weakness at the highest amplitudes. Dialogue is clear and distinguishable throughout the runtime. The film deploys some bone-crunching sound effects in the mix that are given the expected weight. Overall, Shout! Studios has done everything they can to provide a consistent audio experience. This release does have optional English subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Hong Kong Filmmaker and Academic Gilbert Po and Critic Sean Tierney provide a new commentary track in which you get some background information on the production, the execution of the fight choreography, the background of the performers, and more.

Scoring A Fresh Take – Interview with Composer James L. Venable: A new 27-minute interview with the composer of the 2001 US theatrical cut of Iron Monkey in which he discusses his background, how technology changed the art of composing, how his work on Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back led to this project, working with the Weinsteins, what he tried to bring to the project, and more. This is an interesting interview, but its place here is a bit strange considering this release does not have this cut of the film.

International Iron – Interview with Writer Richard Epcar: A new 19-minute conversation with the writer of the 2001 US theatrical cut of Iron Monkey in which he discusses his background, his voiceover work, adapting films into English, trying to make things appear as natural as possible, how the technology has evolved over time, and more.

From Monkey Business To The Big Time – Interview with Film Critic Ricky Baker: A new 13-minute piece with the critic in which he discusses his part in exposing Donnie Yen to western audiences.

Interview with Actor Donnie Yen: A nearly 20-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his character, where the character fits into Hong Kong lore, the qualities of the young performer playing the son, what he wanted to accomplish with the story, and more.

Interview with Producer Tsui Hark: A nearly 25-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses his background and the development of this story from Once Upon A Time In China to this feature.

Interview with Actor Yu Rong-Kwong: A nearly 27-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his early life and family background, his role in the film, the challenges of shooting certain stunts, memorable moments on set, his career after this role, and more.

Interview with Actor Li Fai: A nearly 26-minute interview with the performer in which she discusses her background, the martial arts style that informs her work, the choreography of the film, the stunt performances, and more.

Interview with Actor Tsang Szi-Man: A 20-minute interview with the performer in which she discusses her background, her character in the film, experiences on set, and more.

Iron Fist – A Look Behind The Action of Iron Monkey: A 16-minute featurette on the creation of the action-packed set pieces and the performers bring them to life.

Shadow Boxing with Alex Yip: An eight-minute archival featurette that shows some of the training for the film.

Li Fai and Tsang Sze-Man at the 2003 Wushu Championships: A nine-minute look at an athletic competition.

Theatrical Trailer (5:20)

TV Spots (3:09)

Still Gallery: A collection of images from the production is provided.

Final Thoughts

Iron Monkey is a tremendous martial arts drama that features multifaceted character dynamics, hard-hitting action, clever bits of comedy, and more that offers a little something for everyone. Donnie Yen has always been someone who caught our attention, but he comes alive here in an unforgettable manner. The film was not treated the best when it was brought to the United States under the Weinstein regime, but fans who are finally getting to it how it was intended are going to love it. Shout! Studios has provided the film with a Blu-Ray release that delivers a lovely A/V presentation and a significant amount of special features. If you like the film, don’t hesitate on this one. Recommended

Iron Monkey is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.