The Man with the Iron Fists

If you are fan of 1970s kung fu action adventures in the Shaw Brothers tradition, then this heady concoction from hip-hop superstar RZA - who directs, stars and co-writes (with gore guru Eli Roth) - hits the target. But beware otherwise, because it's just average genre fare - a one-note pastiche featuring impressive wire-fu, bloody mayhem and CGI mutilation. RZA plays a village blacksmith in 19th-century China, whose forearms are replaced with death-dealing iron contraptions after they are severed by the evil Lion Clan. With the aid of mercenary Russell Crowe, warrior Rick Yune and brothel madam Lucy Liu, he sets out for revenge - with a particular focus on the monstrous, seemingly indestructible Brass Body (David Bautista), who kills someone close to the blacksmith's heart. Legendary stunt choreographer Corey Yuen provides some suitably over-the-top action, the credits are authentically wobbly and there are cameos from the likes of Pam Grier and martial arts screen legend Gordon Liu. Crowe and Liu bring an entertaining gusto to their formulaic roles, while RZA (making his directorial debut) enlivens a predictable finale with operatic melodrama and split-screen techniques.