Man with the Iron Fists, The (2012) Review

“The Man With the Iron Fists” Theatrical Poster

Director: RZA
Writer: RZA, Eli Roth
Cast: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, Jamie Chung, Daniel Wu, Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Eli Roth, Pam Grier, Jon T. Benn, Terence Yin, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung)
Running Time: 96 min.

By Laser Beahm

If your 11-year-old son, nephew, grandchild, or alter-ego were to write and star in their own version of a Kung-Fu film, “The Man With the Iron Fists,” would be that film.

“The Man With the Iron Fists,” is an entertaining, gory thrill-ride that takes place in the fictional Jungle Village; a place for pirates, gangs, and whores. The film throws in everything a good Kung-Fu movie should have: action-packed fight scenes, a battle of good and evil, beautiful women, and fortune. “The Man With the Iron Fists,” however, reads more as parody to Kung-Fu movies than it does homage. The plot is muddled. The characters are underdeveloped. The scenes range from embarrassingly over-acted to confusing. But, for all its faults, it still has heart and is almost endearing.

The film is former Wu-Tang Clan member, RZA’s directorial debut. While it’s chaotic and perplexing, I found myself rooting for RZA, his character the Blacksmith, and, most of all, his movie. It’s as if I am watching my own son act in his first play. Sure, it’s riddled with flaws but there’s something so charming about the enthusiasm that oozes throughout the movie as a whole that I can’t help but love it despite all of its pitfalls.

There are moments of sheer brilliance. The scenes are beautiful. Zen Yi/The X-Blade, played by Rick Yune, does a fantastic job on screen. His martial arts skills are amazing, and his acting skills bring a brooding and stunning richness to his character. The main villain Silver Lion, played by Byron Mann, is the epitome of an anti-hero. He’s coarse and money-hungry, willing to hurt and kill anyone who gets in his way of amassing a quick fortune. His performance is reminiscent of David Bowie in “Labyrinth”: cool, beautiful, and Broadway-esque.

RZA himself does a great job as the films protagonist. He is enigmatic, dark, and worthy of the love of his muse, Lady Silk (Jamie Chung). However, the film takes a very strange turn while explaining RZA’s character, the Blacksmith. Taking us down a tangled web of slavery, monks, and a shipwreck, it’s never very clear just how the Blacksmith ended up in Jungle Village at all. But that’s just par for the course. The entire movie is built on a maze of stories that never really lead up to the action at hand.

The most confusing character of all is the Brass Body. While former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista looks amazing as he shows off some of his classic professional wrestling moves in the film, there is never a discussion as to who he is, who he is working for, why he is living in Jungle Village, or just how he came to have a “Brass Body.”

Russel Crowe also appears in the film as an Aussie mercenary named Jack Knife. His introduction into the film begins with him ripping a large man in half with his knife, then delving into a night full of debauchery in the Pink Blossom whore house, led by Madame Blossom (Lucy Lui). While Knife ultimately helps the Blacksmith, again there are problems with explaining why Crowe’s character is so sociopathic yet so willing to help the Blacksmith.

If you’re up for sheer entertainment and too tired from a long week at work to care about a precise plot, then I say “The Man With the Iron Fists” is definitely worth the money. If you are a Kung-Fu purist, with a knack for character development, then this movie will definitely lead to disappointment. Go with absolutely no expectations and you will come out feeling puzzled and completely entertained, like I did.

Laser Beahm’s Rating: 5.5/10