The Man With the Iron Fists - C-

Rated R, 95 minutes

Predictably violent and over the top "Iron Fists"

RZA

What do you get when you have a marital arts film directed by and co-starring acclaimed rapper RZA, co-written and produced by horror master Eli Roth and also featuring Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu? A bloody, dumb and over-the-top entertaining mess of a movie that's what. In nineteenth century China, The Blacksmith (RZA) is forced to create elaborate weapons of death for a small village. When a traitor threatens to destroy the village, he joins both warriors and assassins to protect their community. Egregiously violent, badly acted and otherwise shoddy, "The Man With the Iron Fists" is guilty-pleasure entertainment, especially with the odd addition of Crowe, who still manages to look great and kick some booty along the way. With RZA helming the film, it's also understandable the film's most memorable selling point outside the violence is the rap/rock-infused soundtrack that's sure to become a best-seller. Filmed entirely on location in China, not a bit of it is plausible, but then it's not meant to be either; the martial-arts scenes, which include some CGI added in post-production, are enjoyably well-staged and sure to please those who enjoy this type of thing. "The Man With the Iron Fists" may be worth a look for martial arts fans just know it's crazy violent and crazy stupid.

Wes's Grade: C-