2 Movies: Ip Man

Met up with my jc friends at night and we watched Ip Man.

Adapted from the life story of Ip Man - the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This movie will be the first important record of the master's life. Ip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. Ip Man is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it exemplifies a new peak in Hong Kong's wushu movies. Extracted from Sg Movies.

Ip Man is straightforward storytelling with themes of honour and country. The action scenes are spectacular and the fight scenes are definitely enthralling. Donnie Yen plays the martial arts maestro and he portrays his role well with his innately calm and genial character but yet executing acute and lightning fast kung fu moves when the need calls for it. Violence is not glorified here while traditional values like honour, respect, humility, and loyalty are.

The film editing could be improved as the storytelling transition is not very smooth. One moment many villagers and Ip Man and his family (living in a mansion) are doing well, the next scene, Ip Man and his family live in a shabby room during the Japanese Occupation. Another slight issue that i have with this film is that Ip Man is simply too strong, too powerful and a tad too undefeatable. The action choreography is wonderful but i would prefer a little more drama with more vulnerabilities of Ip Man. The comedic elements in the movie are a nice touch to this martial arts film as well.

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