In a lot of ways, The Man With The Iron Fists feels like it should have come out eight years ago.
Its origins may be rooted in classic '70s kung fu films, but aesthetically, it smacks of 2004, from the heavy Kill Bill influence (RZA provided the score for that film and studied Quentin Tarantino intently on set, and it shows), to the advertised presence of Lucy Liu and the cameo from forgotten rapper MC Jin.
But we're getting it now, and that's fine — for one thing, Russell Crowe probably wouldn't have taken on a role in a film as fun as this when he was coming off his dream Oscar run. But although it certainly wouldn't have added to his string of award nominations, it might just be one of the most entertaining roles he's ever taken on. It's certainly the hammiest, which is something of an achievment.
For another, this is the sort of heavily stylised, balls-to-the-wall action flick that lovers of the genre will always have time for. Is it as good as Kill Bill? No, of course not. The plot meanders, the tone is shaky (it's not a comedy, but it sure feels like one sometimes), and as much as I love RZA, he doesn't have the sort of presence you'd expect from a leading man. Those eyes are just too sleepy.
But, flaws and all, is it a great time at the movies? Damn right. If you think you might be the sort of person who would enjoy The Man With The Iron Fists, then you almost certainly are; and if an hour and a half of stylised violence and questionable acting doesn't sound like your cuppa, it almost certainly isn't.
This is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve (or someone else's heart, at least, after pulling it out and showing it to them before they die). This time, that's enough.
