The 1993 wuxia classic Iron Monkey has everything that American superhero movie fans want and so rarely get.
A cowardly governor hides under the covers, clutching his wives and hoarded riches.
Outside the governors guard squabbles with warriors hired to provide extra protection.
The warriors and the guards draw their weapons, ready and waiting.
He floats above their heads, dives below their punches, and deflects all of their attacks.
Grasping the ill-gotten plunder, the figure slips away, thanking the governor for his contribution to the people.
The Iron Monkey has struck again.
The first is Wongs father Kei-ying, portrayed by the great Donnie Yen.
So much ofIron Monkeyengages in pure spectacle.
In other words, wuxia has a fantasy aspect that recalls the powers of superheroes.
But unlike Western action films, Hong Kong cinema puts a premium on clear choreography and legible fight sequences.
The camera zooms up at a touch angle on Hin-hungs face, accentuating his malevolent smile.
An extreme close-up on Hin-hungs hand underscores the danger of the dreaded King Kong Palm.
Yet the battle remains completely comprehensible.
We see every punch and kick connect with its target.
Insert shots last only for a second and accentuate punches, never muddying the action.
He refuses payment from the poor patient but charges the rich one an exorbitant amount.
When the rich patient protests, Yang smirks at the mans audacity.
Those class dynamics driveIron Monkey.
Sensing the mans plight, the Iron Monkey joins Kei-ying to help Fei-hung.
He that they share the same fight.
The clarity ofIron Monkeys moral vision adds an urgency to its action.
3andSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseprove that people still want to watch superheroesthey just wont accept a substandard product anymore.
Iron Monkey is anything but substandard.
Furthermore, theres the basic beauty of Kung fu in a wuxia movie.
Yu, Yen, and their co-stars create visceral fight sequences, punctuated by loud slaps when they hit.
To be sure, well get good superhero movies again.
