11-08-2013, 09:28 AM
There have been 5 major Ip Man flicks including two franchises and one Oscar contender (see <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1122">http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/art ... ticle=1122</a><!-- m -->). If you've not seen any of these yet, you're way out of the Chollywood loop. IM:FF claims to be the finale. It's actually part 2 of franchise 2, but the DVD bears the same design as franchise 1 in order to sell it as part 3 of said franchise. Despite such marketing shenanigans, it's ok. IM:FF lacks the machismo of Donnie Yen in franchise 1 and the smoldering artistry of the Oscar contender, but it stands on its own as an enjoyable Kung Fu flick. It's like a postcard from vintage Hong Kong, set on the cluttered rooftops and the back alleys of the walled city. The color schemes have a hand-tinted tone just like the old photos of the period. Even the soundtrack reflects the times. The story is somewhat apologetic, redeeming rumors of Ip Man's autumn years and injecting an underground fight subplot for more fight scenes. Of the 5 films, this might have the best fights. They aren't as hard hitting as Donnie's work (who can be nowadays?) but they are satisfactory considering that most of the actors aren't known as action stars. It's the actors that shine.
Anthony Wong and Eric Tseng are two of my fav HK character actors. Wong, who always faintly reminds me of ED, always lends a certain genuineness to his roles, even in comedic farce. He's akin to Michael Caine, been at it forever taking a wide range of textured supporting roles and the occasional lead (check out Dr. Lamb, which is Wong's precedent to Hannibal Lector). Wong did train traditional Kung Fu for a while, but it's not what he's known for cinematically. I once compared Tseng unfairly to Danny Devito because they are both short and round, but they have both done exemplary work (Tseng in Infernal Affairs, inspiration for The Departed, and Devito in Matilda and Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The fight scene between the two of them is well done. Newcomers Timmy Hung (Sammo's eldest son) and Jordan Chan (who stole the show in Dragon Pearl, a Sino-Aussie production starring Sam O'Neil recapturing his Jurassic days with a Chinese dragon) were both good, especially Jordan. I expected a little more from Gillian Chung.
Like with part 1 of this franchise, Ip Man's real son, Ip Chun, has a cameo, although in this one, it is fleeting. The film is told from Ip Chun's perspective, which gives this franchise the Ip family blessing. But lineage politics (so pervasive in this style), Bruce Lee references (modestly done here), and apologies aside, this is a decent Kung Fu flick with plenty of decent fight scenes.
No swordfights. Ratchets and axes. A lion dance fight. Ice tong fight. Lots and lots of Wing Chun.
Anthony Wong and Eric Tseng are two of my fav HK character actors. Wong, who always faintly reminds me of ED, always lends a certain genuineness to his roles, even in comedic farce. He's akin to Michael Caine, been at it forever taking a wide range of textured supporting roles and the occasional lead (check out Dr. Lamb, which is Wong's precedent to Hannibal Lector). Wong did train traditional Kung Fu for a while, but it's not what he's known for cinematically. I once compared Tseng unfairly to Danny Devito because they are both short and round, but they have both done exemplary work (Tseng in Infernal Affairs, inspiration for The Departed, and Devito in Matilda and Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The fight scene between the two of them is well done. Newcomers Timmy Hung (Sammo's eldest son) and Jordan Chan (who stole the show in Dragon Pearl, a Sino-Aussie production starring Sam O'Neil recapturing his Jurassic days with a Chinese dragon) were both good, especially Jordan. I expected a little more from Gillian Chung.
Like with part 1 of this franchise, Ip Man's real son, Ip Chun, has a cameo, although in this one, it is fleeting. The film is told from Ip Chun's perspective, which gives this franchise the Ip family blessing. But lineage politics (so pervasive in this style), Bruce Lee references (modestly done here), and apologies aside, this is a decent Kung Fu flick with plenty of decent fight scenes.
No swordfights. Ratchets and axes. A lion dance fight. Ice tong fight. Lots and lots of Wing Chun.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse