Ip Man
A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.
What critics thought
DivisiveAudiences embraced the film far more warmly than professional critics, who were split: many found it an exciting, character-driven martial arts picture elevated by Donnie Yen's dignified performance, while others felt its heavy Chinese-nationalist framing and dramatic liberties with history kept it closer to crowd-pleasing pulp than genuine biography. The action sequences and the shift in tone from the film's lighter first half to its more stirring, war-torn second half were widely noted as central to its appeal.
“well-paced and satisfying piece of Chinese-nationalist pulp”
Andrew O'Hehir·Salon
“Yen, who's taking on real star charisma in middle age, is aces as Ip, with a simple dignity that exactly mirrors the movie's own and a gracefulness in combat that's very different from his trademark whiplash style.”
Derek Elley·Variety
“what carries Ip Man is its dramatic charge: it is the story's entanglement in the real horrors of Japanese occupation that pulls the viewer in and builds tension into the fight scenes.”
Jen Ogilvie·Fortean Times
Genres
Action, Biography, Drama
Cast & Crew
Wilson YipDirector
Donnie YenYip Man
Simon YamZhou Qing Quan
Lynn Hung Doi-LamZhang Yong Cheng
Hiroyuki IkeuchiGeneral Miura
Gordon Lam Ka-TungCaptain Li Zhao
Louis Fan Siu-WongJin Shan Zhao
Xing YuMaster Zealot Lin / Crazy Lin
Wong Yau-NamShao Dan Yuan
Dennis To Yu-HangHu Wei
Calvin ChengZhou Guang Yao
Chen ZhihuiMaster Liao
Shibuya TenmaColonel Sato
Kenji KawaiComposer
Edmond WongWriter
Chan Tai-LeeWriter
O Sing-PuiCinematographyIp Man
A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.
What critics thought
DivisiveAudiences embraced the film far more warmly than professional critics, who were split: many found it an exciting, character-driven martial arts picture elevated by Donnie Yen's dignified performance, while others felt its heavy Chinese-nationalist framing and dramatic liberties with history kept it closer to crowd-pleasing pulp than genuine biography. The action sequences and the shift in tone from the film's lighter first half to its more stirring, war-torn second half were widely noted as central to its appeal.
“well-paced and satisfying piece of Chinese-nationalist pulp”
Andrew O'Hehir·Salon
“Yen, who's taking on real star charisma in middle age, is aces as Ip, with a simple dignity that exactly mirrors the movie's own and a gracefulness in combat that's very different from his trademark whiplash style.”
Derek Elley·Variety
“what carries Ip Man is its dramatic charge: it is the story's entanglement in the real horrors of Japanese occupation that pulls the viewer in and builds tension into the fight scenes.”
Jen Ogilvie·Fortean Times
Genres
Action, Biography, Drama
Cast & Crew
Wilson YipDirectorDonnie YenYip ManSimon YamZhou Qing QuanLynn Hung Doi-LamZhang Yong ChengHiroyuki IkeuchiGeneral MiuraGordon Lam Ka-TungCaptain Li ZhaoLouis Fan Siu-WongJin Shan ZhaoXing YuMaster Zealot Lin / Crazy LinWong Yau-NamShao Dan YuanDennis To Yu-HangHu WeiCalvin ChengZhou Guang YaoChen ZhihuiMaster LiaoShibuya TenmaColonel SatoKenji KawaiComposerEdmond WongWriterChan Tai-LeeWriterO Sing-PuiCinematography