When my father and I went to see The Grandmaster in 2013, we left the theater feeling horribly underwhelmed. What we didn't know was that the movie we wanted to see had come out five years earlier.
Donnie Yen plays the Wing-Chun master of legend, Ip Man, who lives peacefully with his family in Foshan. However, everything changes when the Japanese invade, turning the thriving community into a dusty and decrepit graveyard. It is then that Ip Man is forced to step forward and teach everyone to protect themselves using the secrets of Wing-Chun and become the champion the people desperately need.
Ip Man is the kung-fu film we wanted to see, even though it takes several liberties with the actual story behind Ip Man's experiences during the Second Sino-Japanese War. But who cares? The fight scenes are phenomenal, entertaining and exciting. It honestly comes to a shock to realize that this film wasn't choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping.
Aside from the fight scenes, the characters are also very much a highlight in the film. Ip Man is a very humble and soft-spoken character who is willing to put himself in harm's way for his people and country, and the main antagonist isn't half-bad either. He may be China's enemy, but he's a Reasonable Authority Figure who genuinely respects martial arts and views Ip Man as a Worthy Opponent.
The music is also spectacular. It adds more to the dramatic moments and enhances a lot of the action.
Overall, Ip Man is an overall joy to watch and I'd glady re-watch it any day.
The Grandmaster We Deserved
When my father and I went to see The Grandmaster in 2013, we left the theater feeling horribly underwhelmed. What we didn't know was that the movie we wanted to see had come out five years earlier.
Donnie Yen plays the Wing-Chun master of legend, Ip Man, who lives peacefully with his family in Foshan. However, everything changes when the Japanese invade, turning the thriving community into a dusty and decrepit graveyard. It is then that Ip Man is forced to step forward and teach everyone to protect themselves using the secrets of Wing-Chun and become the champion the people desperately need.
Ip Man is the kung-fu film we wanted to see, even though it takes several liberties with the actual story behind Ip Man's experiences during the Second Sino-Japanese War. But who cares? The fight scenes are phenomenal, entertaining and exciting. It honestly comes to a shock to realize that this film wasn't choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping.
Aside from the fight scenes, the characters are also very much a highlight in the film. Ip Man is a very humble and soft-spoken character who is willing to put himself in harm's way for his people and country, and the main antagonist isn't half-bad either. He may be China's enemy, but he's a Reasonable Authority Figure who genuinely respects martial arts and views Ip Man as a Worthy Opponent.
The music is also spectacular. It adds more to the dramatic moments and enhances a lot of the action.
Overall, Ip Man is an overall joy to watch and I'd glady re-watch it any day.