Man With the Iron Fist: Hip Hop Meets Kung Fu

Recently I went to see "The Man With the Iron Fist" with my little play brother Jova. I saw the trailer for this film and I was immediately excited to see what it was about. I grew up on Saturday morning cartoons and the out of sync martial arts films of the 70's.

You can tell that Quentin Tarantino who has been informally mentoring first time, rapper turned director, RZA both also have been influenced by the 70's martial arts genre.

I have to rant before I get into the film. What is it about being a rapper that allows you to branch off into any area imaginable? You have rappers turned models, actors, directors, politicians, dental assistants and pilots. Rap has become the mass communication major of this new generation.

I'm all for anyone expressing themselves creatively but some of us have actually been to schools to not only learn the art of production but also theory and critical analysis of the visual text.

Ok rant over. I will however give RZA props because he seemes to have committed himself to learning the craft.

Other than being mentored by Tarantino, RZA received a master class in filmmaking by taking small acting parts and cadging tips from his directors, including Paul Haggis, Judd Apatow and Jim Jarmusch.

RZA co-wrote the “The Man With the Iron Fists” with Eli Roth (the director of such horror films as “Hostel” and “Cabin Fever”) Roth also helped in proctoring the distribution deal for RZA’s with Universal Pictures as a producer.

The film is set in Jungle Village in mythical 19th century China, “The Man With the Iron Fists” features rival tribal gangs at war. You know Hip Hop has met martial arts when the opening sequence is edited to lyrics with the Nword. This took me over the edge at first.

The film then follows the story of rival gangs each posturing for control of territory and gold. The center of all this drama is a brothel run by Diva Lucy Liu and her working girls/Ninjas. You do not want to piss these ladies of the evening off or you might not wake up the next morning.

The General's gold is in route and many clans are trying to get the loot.

The film does play homage to the story lines of some of my favorite martial arts films like "Five Deadly Venoms."

I used to terrorize my sisters with my sneak tiger claw attacks and scorpion kung fu...LOL.

You see the kung fu and characters play out some of these historical traits with hot tall drink of water wrester turned actor Bautista as Brass Body and my favorites, Gemini the twins.

The fight scenes are very reminiscent of "Kill Bill." You can tell RZA like Tanratino is influenced not only by the 70's martial arts genre but anime as well.