The Iceman Cometh
A Ming Dynasty guard thawed into modern Hong Kong must navigate culture shock while hunting the violent criminal revived with him.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- witty
- irreverent
- propulsive
- martial arts movie night
- cult film night
What critics said
The film is regarded as an entertaining Hong Kong genre hybrid, with particular praise for Maggie Cheung's comedic performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Fong Sau-Ching is thawed from the Ming Dynasty into modern Hong Kong, where unfamiliar technology and social customs drive the comedy.
The film centers on kung fu combat and the physical performance of Yuen Biao and Yuen Wah.
The royal guard's pursuit of Fung San, a rapist-killer thawed alongside him, gives the time-displacement premise a threatening moral conflict.
The contrast between Ming Dynasty customs and contemporary Hong Kong structures the film's humor and conflict.
Films like The Iceman Cometh, and why
Kung Fu Hustle
shared hong kong martial arts choreography, fish out of water comedy, and collision between traditional warriors and modern society
The Visitors
shared time-displacement premise, playful action spectacle, and culture shock comedy
Encino Man
shared frozen-in-time science fiction, fish out of water humor, and broad genre entertainment
Project A
shared hong kong action filmmaking, comic tonal shifts, and charismatic martial arts performers
Movie Details
- Director
- Clarence Ford
- Release Date
- 1989-08-12
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (29)
Cast
- Yuen Biao
- Yuen Wah
- Maggie Cheung
- Lam Chung
- Frankie Ng Chi-Hung
- Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming
- Eva Lai
- Walter Tso Tat-Wah
- Tai Bo
- Ka Lee
Common questions
- What is The Iceman Cometh about?
- A Ming Dynasty guard thawed into modern Hong Kong must navigate culture shock while hunting the violent criminal revived with him.
- What is The Iceman Cometh like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Iceman Cometh as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Iceman Cometh violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Iceman Cometh as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Iceman Cometh?
- The film is regarded as an entertaining Hong Kong genre hybrid, with particular praise for Maggie Cheung's comedic performance.
- Which films are like The Iceman Cometh?
- Films with a similar feel include Kung Fu Hustle, The Visitors, Encino Man, and Project A.
- How long is The Iceman Cometh?
- The Iceman Cometh runs 114 minutes.
