Netflix has some real treats in its vast catalog if you know where to look. Since I’ve been trying to expand my general cinematic knowledge, I opted for a Chinese martial arts film that was also a biographical movie based on a real man. That would be the 2008 Ip Man, a movie that has since spawned some sequels.
By the by, “Ip Man” is the name of the main character played by Donnie Yen. So, anyone hoping for a superhero flick with a guy having the power of “ip” is probably out of luck. And with that horrible joke out of the way, it’s time to move on.
Opening in 1930s Foshan, narration tells us that martial arts is so popular in this Southern Chinese district that schools flourish all over the region, and the greatest master of kung fu there is Ip Man. He lives in a large house with his wife and young son. Said wife wishes he’d spend more time with his son, but everyone in town loves Ip Man. Other masters come to him for impromptu duels and lessons, and when Northern Chinese bullies come by looking to make names for themselves at the expense of the local masters, Ip Man will go out and duel them to preserve the honor of the district. The only real problem in town is a self-serious police officer.
Cut to 1937 and the Japanese invasion. The Japanese have claimed Ip Man’s home for themselves, and he and his family are basically homeless. Working conditions are terrible for anyone who can actually get work. Prior to this, Ip Man led a carefree life, his demonstrations were rarely all that hard on his opponents. Even when dealing with bullies, he never went all out. Now, with a Japanese general that hosts lethal martial arts tournaments of his own, Ip Man will have to do things he’s never done before: let loose and take in students.
So, as biography, this movie doesn’t work. Ip Man is basically just a paragon of Chinese virtue. Other Chinese people in his general vicinity are either staunch allies or people who realize they were wrong to in any way impede Ip. The Japanese are the bad guys, and even if the general has respect for martial arts, his reason for wanting to know more, according to Ip, is an impure motive.
So, why bother with a movie like this? Well, as much as the biography aspects don’t work to make Ip a compelling figure, it does have some fantastic martial arts sequences. Choreographed by Sammo Hung, these are some spectacular fights, with Ip wearing his black robes as a contrast to the white robes of his Japanese opponents. Ip’s combat styles often demonstrate his mood, showing his calm and serene manner early on before going to his righteous rage at the end. These sequences are frequent enough that even if Yen’s charismatic turn as Ip isn’t enough for you.
The movie ends with what could only be described as Chinese nationalism. Test onscreen tells us that in 1945, Japan would surrender and China would win the war. If you didn’t know other countries or atomic bombs were involved in such a moment, said text fails to mention them, suggesting China won the war all by itself. Likewise, the real Ip Man went on to have many students, including Bruce Lee. That sort of stuff just amuses me.
Anyway, fun martial arts, so-so biography. Maybe I’ll check out a sequel soon.
Grade: B+
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