For a long time, the only thing we knew of Rza’s directorial debut film Man with the Iron Fists besides that it starred Lucy Liu and Russell Crowe and was filmed in China, came from an extremely succinct synopsis on IMDB:
In feudal China, a blacksmith who makes weapons for a small village is put in the position where he must defend himself and his fellow villagers.
Now that the trailer is finally here in all its gory punched-out eye flinging glory, here’s ten important facts we’ve learned from it.
10. The location scout did his/her job well
The budget obviously went to more than wireworks and CGI and it seems like actually shooting in China has paid off at least visually.
9. A lot of stuff gets demolished in awesome ways
The way tables get smashed, knives appear from everywhere and great set pieces like the one above get smashed into bits promises all-out mayhem.
8. They’re milking Tarantino’s name for all it’s worth
The movie is directed by Rza, written by Eli Roth and Rza, and produced by Eli Roth. Perhaps it’s co-produced by Quentin Tarantino or he was asked as a consultant of some sort (he is after all, a good friend of Eli Roth and worked with Rza on Kill Bill). His role remains unclear for now, but whatever the case may be, of the three names, he was not the one doing the heavy lifting, but he is of course the name that’ll fill seats. “The directorial debut of a rapper you might’ve heard of” is not going to drive the general movie-going public to cinemas en masse. Tarantino’s name is a good marketing tool in this case.
7. There are some highly irregular but very dope weapon designs galore
When of all the weapons prominently featured in the trailer a hidden knife coming out of a shoe is the most generic one you know you’re in for a wild ride in that regard. Blacksmith Rza isn’t gonna cook up some ol’ regular shit. It’s just not in his veins.
6. Realism is of no concern
When you have blood swirling out of chopped off body parts in photogenic symmetric patterns you can rest assured the aesthetic of the fight choreography takes precedence over its realism. I ain’t mad.
5. Realism is really of no concern
Yes, feudal China was a real place, but it seems like Rza has chosen to set his story firmly in the mythical version of that place, as evidenced by the character Brass Body (played by Dave Bautista) being engulfed in some sort of magical armor. A special effect that by the way, has exactly the right look to both be fantastical and reflect the period it’s set in.
4. There are seven clans in the story
I bet I can tell you the name of one of them and I’ll be biting my tongue not to yell “SUUUUU!!!” through the movie theater at it’s first mention. Either that or curse at the missed opportunity if there’s no mention of those with witty unpredictable talent and natural game.
3. This is probably not the best date movie
Unless you’re rolling with a Shaolin-repping rich vanilla, butter pecan, chocolate deluxe or caramel sundae you’re probably better of watching this one with the homies. Roll a blunt, sip a brew and enjoy the eye candy and bad-ass dialogue like “Pleasure before business? -You are business”
2. This is a movie that I’ll probably like a lot
Oh man, this pun…
1. SHOW ME THE TICKET BOOTH SON! OPENING NIGHT, I AM THERE!!
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