Maybe I am getting a bit soft in my old age, but I was completely wrong in my original opinion of this direct-to-video sequel. The Man With The Iron Fists 2 does exactly what it needs to do in continuing the story of Thaddeus, the blacksmith blessed with some deeply mystical martial arts skills. It’s not better than what came before, but it is also not the trainwreck that some critics have suggested.
The Blacksmith is back in RZA’s The Man with the Iron Fists 2. It is, at once, a movie no one thought possible considering the original film’s lukewarm response back in 2012. Directed by cinematographer Roel Reiné, who uses the slow motion effect here with aplomb, the martial arts flick jettisons much of the original film’s star power factor and its more gonzo tendencies in favor of a straightforward stab at some Kung-Fu tomfoolery and it works in its favor, delivering a cutthroat sequel trimmed of all fat.
Opening with a dockside attack which leaves our lead floating on the river and licking his wounds, RZA is sidelined through much of the action, but those opening moments where his fists are a-swingin’ this way and that way are pretty epic in their beatdowns and leave us waiting for some more of those iron-fisted displays of power.
We get it, but we just have to wait while the story unfolds.
Thaddeus (RZA), a former slave who has left 19th-century America in favor of China, finds himself involved with political cruelty thanks to some awful overlords who try to squash a small mining Asian village located in the Wuji mountains. With their heavy-handed ways and means, their tactics seem to somehow be draining the residents of their will to live. Thaddeus, having sworn to peace, is in a bit of a bind ... quite literally.
Local hero Li Kung (Dustin Nguyen) does most of the fighting as the RZA, with his fists wrapped in gauze, takes a backseat in favor of spreading the philosophy he learned early on in his sojourn through China. We get flashbacks to help flesh out the backstory only hinted at in the first film, but here they help to ease us through his healing period. The Shaw Brothers have done this type of stuff before with their three heroes storylines. It works here, too, allowing the audience to spend more time with some of the new characters, including Eugenia Yuan as Ah Ni and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as the evil Lord Pi, who wants the Golden Nectar flowing from the mountains for himself.
RZA is definitely obsessive about the genre. His good intentions and passions are visible even if the money is not. He invests a lot of time with this direct-to-blu release (as its screenwriter) and delivers a worthy wuxia follow-up to his original work. The charm in the fantastical world he’s created remains intact and the exotic locations are surprisingly solid, even if this remains a low budget affair. For martial arts savages, this sequel might deliver some of the fights with less weight than the original, but the stylish design is still carried over.
Still putting the F U in Kung Fu, The Man With The Iron Fists 2 is a by-the-numbers sequel with grit and grime.
Unrated
Home Video Distributor: Universal Studios
Available on Blu-ray - February 19, 2019
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French: DTS 5.1; Spanish: DTS 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
Thaddeus (RZA) is back in this explosive action adventure inspired by kung fu classics. A reluctant villager joins forces with a mysterious outsider to fight off powerful evil forces, both earthly and otherworldly, in a 19th century Chinese mining town. When a stranger, Thaddeus, is found badly wounded near the village, miner Li Kung (Dustin Nguyen) and his wife Ah Ni (Eugenia Kang) offer him refuge. As he heals, he becomes entrenched in a conflict that pits the townsfolk against the evil Master Ho (Carl Ng), his nefarious Beetle Clan and the terrifying Lord Pi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). With Thaddeus at his side, the mild-mannered Kung transforms into a deadly warrior in this martial arts epic.
Video
The Man With The Iron Fists 2 is beautifully presented on 1080p from Universal Home Entertainment. Interiors are strong. Colors pop throughout, but it is the blood effects - burning bright in the transfer - which seal the deal on this one. It has a solid atmosphere thanks to the quick-footed script and looks visually eye-popping due to the handling of the digital camera. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments of this epic adventure. The tracking shots are glorious to behold in 1080p. Blacks are solid and shadows maintain their lines. Even the costumes are noted stitch by stitch.
Audio
The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is as detailed as the picture.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- Director Roel Reiné and executive producer/co-writer/actor RZA deliver an uncensored commentary of the film. They pretty much gush over each other throughout the commentary. No real insights.
Special Features:
- The release from Universal contains both the Rated & Unrated Versions of the movie and the differences amount to more gore and blood. The commentary handles most of what is contained here: an EPK and 8 deleted scenes.
- Chi Warriors: The Making of The Man with the Iron Fists 2
- Deleted Scenes
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Roel Reiné
Writer: John Jarrell; RZA
Cast: RZA; Schnitrnunt Busarakamwong; Grace Huang
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: April 14, 2015
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 19, 2019
Synopsis: Thaddeus becomes involved in a conflict between townspeople and their evil master.
