ANYBODY who knows Bruce Lee knows that the late actor learnt the basics from the School of Wing Chun and its master was Ip Man (pronouced Yip Mun in Cantonese). In the decades that followed Bruce Lee's martial arts career, first in America then in Hong Kong, not much was known about the low-profiled Ip Man.
So when the trailer about this movie surfaced several weeks ago, many asked "Who's this guy?" Wing Chun enthusiasts probably knew a little bit more about Ip but not much else. In a way, it is good that Hong Kong has decided to shed more than a little light on the early life of the man who was the force behind Wing Chun.
Blow-by-blow in martial arts terms, Ip Man is probably the best Chinese martial arts film this year. Since December is fast drawing to a natural conclusion, it is my humble opinion, Ip Man takes the cake for being the sleekest and certainly one of the most entertaining wushu movies produced by our Hong Kong brothers.
With Sammo Hung as action director, the film can only scale new heights in stylish knee-and-ankle blocks and counter-punches. Donnie Yen who plays Ip Man has stamped his mark as a martial arts actor in this movie. In his previous roles which also involved close quarter combat, Yen often didn't leave a lasting impression.
It is worth noting that this time, Yen has really nailed it. His Ip Man persona fits the character most appropriately. Because Yen has martial arts training and experience, the complicated hand and leg moves executed by him projected a realism that's really rare in Chinese kung fu movies.
Donnie Yen is no stranger to wushu. His mother was a well known figure in the Chinese martial arts world and Yen developed his wushu skill from an early age. His movie career began 24 years ago with Drunken Taichi. Ip Man will certainly be earmarked as an exciting culmination of Yen's accelerating movie career.
The story begins in Foshan, China, 1935, when the country was on the threshold of an eight-year war with Japan. Ip, his wife Cheung Wing-sing (Lynn Hung) and son were living in privileged conditions. Ip kept very much to himself and did not join other sifus who opened up martial arts schools.
Ip's destiny changed when a new sifu in town paid a visit to his house one day and challenged him to a private duel. With his compleat skills in Wing Chun, Ip defeats his guest with ease and elegance. However, news leaked through a curious onlooker that Ip had made a fool of the new sifu. This culminated in an exhibition of Chinese manners that some of us may want to be reminded of.
That particular fight scene was one of the most entertaining in recent years. It is probably an exaggeration to say that Ip Man hardly broke into a sweat in working over his opponent. But a kung fu master can only enhanced his reputation when he fights with grace and power.
The sombre mood of of bombed out buildings and poverty stricken neighbourhoods was splendidly fleshed out in tonal shades which gave the movie an arty feel. The story fast-forwarded to 1937 and China, in particular Foshan, was in the deadly grip of Japanese forces.
Ip Man and his family were ejected from their palatial home and had to join the masses, surviving only on scraps. But a man with solid wushu principles could not be robbed of his dignity and pride. Ip survives by shoveling coal and selling his pocket watch. It was at this time that he learns that the occupying forces, in particular Japanese General Miura, is using Chinese citizens as punching bags.
When Ip raises his fists with great reluctance and fights, the audience begins to learn the moral of the story. Fighting is only necessary when the weak and meek need to be saved.
There's a certain pathos in certain scenes of this movie that may draw tears to the eyes. Those of us whose grandfathers or relatives who have escaped from such trying conditions back in China would feel their heartstrings tugged a little tighter when reminded of family members sacrificing their lives for another at the hands of the enemy.
In the entire movie, Ip Man was shown only once losing his composure when he witnessed a friend sparred with Japanese soldiers for a handful of rice to feed his family and then was shot dead at the end of the bout.
But Ip Man the movie is more than just about the Wing Chun master who survived war-torn Foshan, it is about the essence of Chinese martial arts in which discipline, honour and compassion are very much part of the art.
In a poignant moment inside the darkened cinema hall, I felt a single tear rolling down my cheek. The heart of Wing Chun, as it is in other esteemed self-defence systems, lies in putting family before self, friends before honour and always compassion before revenge.
Ip Man the man embodies all that is good represented by Confucian ethics. Eons have passed since the famous Chinese philosopher walked the earth but some of the finest Confucian principles are still embedded in the various Chinese martial arts systems, especially Wing Chun. No doubt this movie will give Wing Chun schools a boost that will reverberate across the globe. Some of the fight scenes were very well choreographed and it is a joy to watch such fine fight manoeuvres.
It is as much to Sammo Hung's credit as it is also to Donnie Yen's prowess that Ip Man has brought to the fore, many of the principles forgotten by today's martial arts exponents. And many of these have nothing to do with knocking your rival down. It is the essence of martial arts that maketh an honourable man.
Ip Man was not produced to be a mindless action drama with pools of blood and endless minutes of senseless violence. To be sure, it has transcended to a level in which one catches a whiff of what true martial arts should be, could be and not what it has always been perceived to be.
This is a martial arts movie with the right attitude. It is worth watching twice if you have the inclination. A big round of applause for Donnie Yen, action director Sammo Hung and director Wilson Yip Wai-shun.
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