Overall: If you’re looking for historical accuracy, Ip Man falls short as much of the story is pure fabrication. But as a top-notch martial arts movie, Ip Man impresses. With a more direct plot than your usual martial arts movie, one that offers a familiar film narrative, a fight against an Imperial aggressor, here’s a story that’s recognizable to Western audiences. That despite some heavy-handed Chinese propaganda.
The fight scenes in Ip man are impressive, without being ridiculous, relying on the speed of Wing Chun rather than Superman’s flying antics. Donnie Yep’s portrayal of Ip Man is noble and heartwarming and adds weight to the fight scenes that have seen the film praised as one of Hong Kong’s Top Ten.
IP Man vs History
Ip Man is a martial arts movie. That may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying because the movie has drawn a lot of criticism for its fantastic take on the story.
Famous as Bruce Lee’s Sipu (teacher) and Wing Chun-style martial arts master practitioner, there are numerous Ip Man movies in the works today. But if you are looking for an accurate historical representation of the life of the great master, this is not the case. Besides being born in Fo Shan, refusing to train Japanese soldiers in martial arts, and being practical with his fists, Ip Man the movie makes up just about everything else. It’s also worth mentioning that Bruce Lee’s training and Ip Man’s Hong Kong life is not covered in the movie, although Ip Man 2 has already been released.
Instead, the film documents the struggles of Ip Man and the Chinese people during the Japanese occupation of China during WWII. Regardless of wealth, Ip Man has his money and house confiscated by cowardly Japanese during his occupation and is forced to work as a coal miner (laborer). After witnessing repeated Japanese brutality, the man decides that he will seek revenge by fighting at Japanese General Miura’s martial arts dojo, where the general is trying to demonstrate the supremacy of Japanese martial arts over Chinese.
As Ip Man tries to rebuild his life, the general seeks him out for a final showdown.
Historically, it is mostly a fairy tale, but the beating heart of patriotism and the simple tale of good versus evil make for a fantastic movie.
Full Review of Ip Man Movie
Too often, Hong Kong martial arts movies have been based on two- or three-piece fights, albeit spectacular ones, with a plot and characters released later. At best, they can be fantastic and at other times ridiculous, full of awkward characters and clumsier dialogue.
Ip man does a lot to ignore this legacy with a simple yet engaging and exciting storyline driven by the superb Donnie Yen. His understated Confucian approach to Ip Man is flawless and his calm pride and determination lend more weight to the fight scenes, which are excellent. While martial arts fans used to do stunts and people who were hit through the windows will be disappointed, there is a realism to the fight scenes. It is much more satisfying. Yen can mix it up in both one-on-one duels and big crowd fights and his 7-month diet, studying Wing Chun and learning alongside Ip Man’s sons in preparation for the role shows.
It is a tribute to one of the greatest martial arts masters that ever lived.
