I don't know much about hip-hop. I'm sorry. I do enjoy it on occasion; it's just not a genre into which I have as of yet delved deeply. RZA is an important name in hip-hop. It was announced that he would be directing a movie. Gasps of awe were heard. He had acted before, in films such as Repo Men and American Gangster. But to direct??

I literally just now bothered to look it up and I learned that RZA is from Wu-Tang Clan. I've heard that name. I know also that it is a name in hip-hop that demands respect and immense adoration. One of those that skinny white kids worship. (This happened recently.)

So: RZA makes his directorial debut with the blood-soaked hyperviolent film The Man With the Iron Fists. It's about the hunt for gold – and a large assortment of folks who want to get their hands on it, including warriors, assassins, and “a rogue British soldier.” In the middle of it all is a village blacksmith, played by RZA, who just wants to defend his home.

Fun fact: Quentin Tarantino (who “presents” the film, in order to help out RZA with marketing by attaching his name to the credits) toyed with the idea of including a crossover with Django Unchained by having RZA's blacksmith character make an appearance as a slave being sold at auction (this would have taken place before the events in Iron Fists), but RZA was not available for this venture.

This weekend: the University of Louisville Floyd Theater presents multiple screenings of The Man With the Iron Fists. It will be shown tonight (Friday) and tomorrow at 5:00 and 8:00. Admission is $1.50 for students and $3 for the general public. The Floyd Theater is located on the third floor of the Student Activities Center on the U of L campus (look for the clock tower). Further information can be found at the SAB Film Committee Facebook page.

Image: Internet Movie Database