Donnie Yen is a modern martial arts legend, whose Hong Kong films like Iron Monkey and Hero rival even the heights of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s greatest films. However, the film that undoubtedly made Yen a star for Western audiences is Ip Man, the 2008 drama that kicked off a multi-generation martial arts movie series and is inspired by the real-life exploits of the Wing Chun grandmaster who defended his community during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Ip Man‘s story revolves around the city of Foshan, the cultural hub of martial artists in southern China and the home of the тιтular grandmaster. Unlike other martial arts movies that feature aggressive, “tough guy” leads, Ip is a peaceful kung fu master who only engages in combat for sport, self-defense, and the protection of others. With a charismatic, soft-spoken performance from Donnie Yen and the artful direction of Wilson Yip, Ip Man is undoubtedly one of the great martial arts movies that can confidently be labeled a masterpiece of cinema.
Donnie Yen’s Ip Man Is An Ideal Entry Point For The Martial Arts Genre
Ip Is A Humble, Compelling Hero You’re Always Rooting For
Taking place around the Japanese occupation of mainland China in the ’30s, Ip Man follows the тιтular lead, a master of the Wing Chun martial arts style and a respectful family man who strives to avoid conflict with his contemporaries. Once war breaks out in China in 1937, Ip is forced to relocate his family to a rundown apartment and find work in a coal mine, where Japanese general and karate master Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) occasionally recruits workers to compete against military trainees in a martial arts arena in exchange for rice.
After his friend, Lin (Xing Yu), disappears after fighting in the match, Ip agrees to compete, only to witness Miura’s deputy, Colonel Sato (Tenma Shibuya) kill fellow kung fu master and former rival Liu (Zhi-Hui Chen). Enraged, Ip demands to fight ten Karateka, easily defeating them and captivating Miura in the process. However, Ip has no further interest in the games, leading Miura to send a military squad after his family that the grandmaster easily defeats. However, after securing the safety of his wife and son, Ip surrenders to the Japanese, challenging Miura to a match that pits kung fu against karate in one final, bloody battle.
Ip Man Has Plenty To Offer Martial Arts Movie Aficionados Too
The Film Is A Love-Letter To The Genre
Ip Man tells a classic hero’s journey of good versus evil, and it’s easily digestable for newcomers to martial arts cinema. However, that doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer to viewers familiar with the genre—far from it, in fact. For starters, the film possesses superb fight choreography, organized by the great Sammo Hung, whose filmography includes some of the best martial arts movies there are. Furthermore, Donnie Yen delivers an all-time performance as Ip Man, whose earnest, soft-spoken nature makes him all the more compelling once he springs into battle as the formidable Wing Chun grandmaster.
The real-life Ip Man trained Bruce Lee in Wing Chun.
Like other great martial arts movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Enter the Dragon, Ip Man values grace in combat as much as brutality and action. However, what truly separates the film from its contemporaries is the unbreakable conviction of its protagonist, whose humble acts of good will and self-defense distinguish him from his opposition and elevate his fight against Miura to one of true honor and character. So, if you’re looking for an action-packed film with heart, drama, and expert fight choreography, look no further than this modern martial arts classic.
