The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) RZA, Rick Yune, Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu Movie Review

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Russell Crowe in The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Flawed Iron

Having shown up in Jungle Village, China a man becomes the local Blacksmith (RZA) where his skills at forging metal provides him with steady work thanks to the warring factions who come to him to have elaborate weapons made. But with things boiling over between the various factions and the arrival of Jack Knife (Russell Crowe), a British soldier the Blacksmith will have to turn himself in to a weapon to defend himself against the villains who cause chaos in the town.

"The Man with the Iron Fists" is the sort of movie which would have once entertained me and I am sure I would have been singing the praises of if to all who would listen and some who wouldn't. I am talking about me as a young twenty something who watched movies which were visually impressive, full of slickly choreographed action and featured a few recognizable actors alongside those who were probably famous but I didn't know it yet.

Rick Yune in The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

And there is no denying that RZA has delivered a visually impressive movie from the snappiness of the action to the creativity of the weapons "The Man with the Iron Fists" borders on the spectacular. It is the same with the characters who thanks to their clothes and make-up are a memorable bunch that are also benefited by some familiar acting faces with Russell Crowe seeming to channel some Richard Harris in his performance which works well.

But then there is the storyline and I would hope that those who enjoy the martial arts movies which this is obviously inspired by would get something out of this. But for me the storyline was little more than a flawed vehicle for the action and it failed to keep me gripped. It is the movie's major flaw as it makes "The Man with the Iron Fists" all about the over the top action and little else.

What this all boils down to is that for me "The Man with the Iron Fists" was a visually entertaining movie assisted by the calibre of some of the cast. But it lacked the storyline to make it the full package and without a decent storyline it didn't always keep my attention.


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