For the US release, distributor Miramax made their own subtitles that did not accurately translate the Cantonese dialogue. Scenes were also edited or removed to tone down the violence and comedy.
Iron Monkey:
Don't take things too seriously, and you will always be at ease.
(at around 41 mins) When Dr Yang plays the monocord, we hear vibrato, but the fingers in his left hands are not moving.
The Miramax version released in the U.S. in 2001 is severely cut from the original Hong Kong version and has the memorable original musical score by Richard Yuen removed and replaced by a new score by James L. Venable. The new score was made to sound similar to the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon score because Miramax hoped that it could cash in on its success.
Cantonese
$11,000,000 (estimated)
$6,014,653 14 October 2001
$14,694,904
$14,694,904