New RZA-Scored Trailer for 'The Grandmaster'

So ummm....you might remember last year that hip hop superstar producer and Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA directed a film called The Man with the Iron Fists. It had a ton of hype, not the least of which by yours truly, and considering RZA's love of both film and kung fu, it seemed like a no-brainer hit. That didn't turn out to be the case, and it not only bombed at the box office, it was disappointing overall.  But despite the film's many many problems, one thing you can't take away was the awesome soundtrack. In fact, it was so good that The Weinstein Company is recycling it in the new trailer for Wong Kar-Wai's The Grandmaster.


Weinstin is pulling every trick imaginable to try and conjure up some buzz about the film, and finding it to be some tough sledding uphill. They've stamped Martin Scorsese Presents over the title, blowing away Kar-Wai in the process, and now they're hoping the kiddies love hip-hop so much they'll forget the film is subtitled and buy a ticket. The track is a slightly tweaked version of RZA's  'Rivers of Blood' (it's definitely not new!), and it certainly packs a mighty punch. It's better suited to 'Iron Fists' which was more of a pulpy throwback, whereas The Grandmaster is a ballet of elegant martial arts mastery probably deserving of something more operatic.

The Grandmaster opens in limited release on August 23rd, then goes wide a week later. Be sure to check it out.