Member gorhama Posted November 19, 2008 Member Share Posted November 19, 2008 Wow....the Chinese trailer looks awesome!!! This could be the one we've been waiting for!! It looks like it's full of great fights without a lot of wirework. Nothing like classic martial arts action!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Charuto Posted November 19, 2008 Member Share Posted November 19, 2008 This won't affect my enjoyment of the movie, but did Ip Man have any fights? A look on wikipedia seems to indicate that he was a teacher and nothing more. Wing Chun guys step up and enlighten me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member thundered mantis Posted November 19, 2008 Member Share Posted November 19, 2008 I dunno, I think I have read he was quite peaceful and didn´t have fights (like many other masters, is Funakoshi). But, as you say, who cares? I´ll gladly take Donnie Yen impersonation of Mahatma Gandhi kicking some serious ass as far as it´s got good action! XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SimonMW Posted November 20, 2008 Member Share Posted November 20, 2008 This won't affect my enjoyment of the movie, but did Ip Man have any fights? A look on wikipedia seems to indicate that he was a teacher and nothing more. Wing Chun guys step up and enlighten me. There are lots of 'encounters' he is supposed to have had. But I don't believe he really had any proper fights to speak of. I'd like to write an article about him for KFC, but some aspects might be controversial. You have to remember that the teacher period of Ip Man's life was only the latter part, and one that he didn't like at all. Ip Man was the son of a rich merchant, and at that time his class didn't do manual work. In fact Ip Man had never worked at all before he was forced to move to HK when the communists took over. If the communists hadn't taken over then he would have eventually have taken over his fathers business. So while he was living in China growing up he was effectively a playboy. Plenty of time on his hands, much of which he put into the practice of Wing Chun. It is said that he became a policeman at one point, but this isn't the whole story. He wasn't actually a 'police officer' as we know it. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the official Ip Man story. Not least the story of him learning off Leung Bik, the son of Leung Jan. This was in fact a story invented by a Hong Kong journalist called Lee Man at the time who wanted to spice up his background for an article he was writing. The son of Leung Jan, if he even existed at all, would not be living on a junk in smelly old Hong Kong harbour! Furthermore, Ip Man was supposedly attending St Stephens college. Which is odd because tuition at that school was conducted in English. It is well known that Ip Man could neither speak English, and hated gwailo. So work that one out! In reality Ip Man learn't off a few different people and trained hard himself. But it isn't the Chinese tradition to say that you got your skill from your own training, and it doesn't sound good to say that you got your knowledge off a few different people. In reality Chan Wah Shun had a stroke and was in no fit state to teach anything to anyone. He died not long after Ip Man started training Wing Chun. So pretty much 100% of Ip Man's initial Wing Chun came from Chan Wah Shuns top student Ng Chun So. From then on he learn't various pieces from guys like Sum Nung, the top student of Yuen Kay San. Oddly many texts state that Yuen Kay Shan and Ip Man were equals in Wing Chun. In reality though Yuen Kay Shan was senior to Ip Man, and, despite being much younger in age, Sum Nung was also senior to Ip Man in terms of Wing Chun. The confusion comes from the fact that the Ip and Yuen families knew each other very well. Yuen Kay Shans father was very good friends with Ip Man's. However Ip Man and Yuen Kay Shan were NOT friends in any way, shape, or form, despite what the marketing people wish to portray. They knew each other, and possibly socialised from time to time, but they were not friends. What it comes down to is that Ip Man was a guy who trained Wing Chun very hard in his youth. He was very good, but certainly not the best. In China he was just another practitioner. If he were alive today he would probably find it hilarious that people were calling him the Grandmaster of Wing Chun. There is no such thing. He was a guy who was forced from one end of the social spectrum to the other through harsh circumstances. He HATED teaching. One reason there is so much difference and argument between his guys that teach now is mainly down to the fact that he was known as "Mr Okay" because he would rarely ever correct people. They would say "Is this right" and he would say "Okay". In Ip Man's mind, from the class he was from, teaching was very low, beneath him. The guys that got the best from him, Leung Sheung (not to be mistaken with Wong Shun Leung) and Lok Yiu etc are now long gone. The Wing Chun that Leung Sheung learn't was much closer to the mainland versions of Wing Chun than the later stuff that was taught to guys like Bruce Lee. This isn't information that is from my head. It is out there in the public domain, much of it from Ip Man's students themselves. While we can never create an all out accurate history, we can put together lots of small bits of information and eliminate the conflicting evidence and get a better idea of what really happened. Though not a lot of people are willing to do that. People will think that I am dissing Ip Man by saying all of this. However I am not. I have been an Ip Man Wing Chun practitioner for 13 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member FrankBolte Posted November 20, 2008 Member Share Posted November 20, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Charuto Posted November 20, 2008 Member Share Posted November 20, 2008 history Informative. I'd rep you if they do that here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted November 20, 2008 Author Member Share Posted November 20, 2008 Once again the same trailer but in original Cantonese language: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYjy69ignPM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Maz Posted November 22, 2008 Member Share Posted November 22, 2008 http://ent.qq.com/a/20081122/000010.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member emacs Posted November 25, 2008 Member Share Posted November 25, 2008 Tony Jaa has proven nothing yet ... off topic: yes. his only film of note was made five years ago on topic: the trailers and productions notes of Ip Man point to a really great martial arts film. it'll be challenge not to import the Blu-ray release Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member wudangimmortal Posted November 26, 2008 Member Share Posted November 26, 2008 anyone have info on the soundtrack that was promoted at one of the press conferences? tracklist, release date, etc? the latest trailer was amazing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 5, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 5, 2008 Positive Responses at Ip Man Test Screening -- Ip Man -- Test screening for Ip Man was held in Beijing on Dec 4. Based on the survey sheets returned by the audience, it's an unanimous recommendation. Donnie Yen's portrayal of Yip Man was billed as the year's best performance. Donnie Yen has acquitted himself well as a great master, besting his two other works this year. High marks were also given to Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung, and Lynn Hung. The first half of the film is filled with more laidback, humourous moments, amply showing Ip Man's kungfu. The second half is thoughtful, stirring and nationalistic, amply showing Ip Man's grandmaster spirit. As a traditional kungfu film, Ip Man's martial arts scenes were awarded 8 to 9 out of 10 by 85% of the audience, while full marks were given by the rest. Ip Man premieres on December 14 and opens in theatres on December 16. http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/604-Positive-Responses-at-Ip-Man-Test-Screening.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SimonMW Posted December 9, 2008 Member Share Posted December 9, 2008 The wait is killing me on this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member The Dragon Posted December 9, 2008 Member Share Posted December 9, 2008 In the words of Darth Siddious..." Goood. ...GOOOOOD!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member emacs Posted December 11, 2008 Member Share Posted December 11, 2008 Ip Man's martial arts scenes were awarded 8 to 9 out of 10 by 85% of the audience, while full marks were given by the rest. Sammo Hung action choreography realised by Donnie Yen is truly amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Bravery Posted December 11, 2008 Member Share Posted December 11, 2008 What do you guys think they will do with Bruce Lee character in the sequel? I read over at twich that he is going to be a major character in the follow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Yi-Long Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 What do you guys think they will do with Bruce Lee character in the sequel? I read over at twich that he is going to be a major character in the follow up. Probably making him a bragging selfish punk who gets into rooftop-fights alot. I do hope they will really showcase the training-aspect of the art, and so instead of making it a wing-chun version of Young and Dangerous, it would focus on Bruce getting better and better and also searching out new/different styles and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 11, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 11, 2008 Ip Man Gala Premiere in Beijing; A Return to the Roots -- Ip Man -- Ip Man gala premiere was held in Beijing on December 10, attended by producer Raymond Wong, director Wilson Yip, martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung, the cast members Donnie Yen (and his wife), Lynn Hung, Fan Siu Wong, etc, as well as Yip Chun, Daniel Chan, Hu Yan Bin and others. Donnie Yen says that it took him 9 months before he truly comprehended Wing Chun, and also incorporated some of his ideas. In the movie, the quick, successive punches are no special effects, but a result of his training, and he was actually having much difficulty delivering such a chain of supersonic moves, having to endure the pains from his ailing right shoulder. In Ip Man, what they wish to convey is not the ostentation of kungfu, but its inner cultivation, it's a film promulgating Chinese martial arts philosophy. It's not about fighting, but understanding of martial arts essence through sparring, swapping pointers with each other. Sammo Hung hopes to eulogise grandmaster Ip Man with pure kungfu, "Nowadays, you only see special effects in action films, but no real kungfu. Kungfu has gone above the sentient world, becoming impracticable. I hope to let the people see that fistplay can be humanly attainable, returning to the original forms. Wing Chun is a simple kungfu that anyone can pick up, I have no reason not to use real kungfu." Wilson Yip says they intend to make a series out of Ip Man franchise, and hope to shoot the sequel next April. Ip Man opens on December 12 in China, and across other Asian territories next week. http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/610-Ip-Man-Gala-Premiere-in-Beijing;-A-Return-to-the-Roots.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 11, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 11, 2008 Movie review: Ip Man Paul Fonoroff South China Morning Post Dec 11, 2008 Starring: Donnie Yen Ji-dan, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Simon Yam Tat-wah, Lynn Xiong Dailin Directed by: Wilson Yip Wai-shun Category: IIB (Cantonese) ** Hard-hitting kung fu and heavy-handed patriotism are the major characteristics of this biopic of martial arts master Ip Man, played by Donnie Yen (pictured). Director Wilson Yip follows the formula of Fearless, Jet Li Lianjie’s Lunar New Year blockbuster of 2006, in telling an action-based historical saga infused with anti-foreign stereotypes that will presumably play better across the border than in Hong Kong. Edmond Wong Chi-woon’s script focuses on the mid-to-late 1930s, just before and after the Japanese occupation of Ip’s native Foshan in Guangdong. This period of his long career is less well known than his activities after relocating to Hong Kong in 1949, most significantly the tutelage of the teenaged Bruce Lee that cemented Ip’s reputation as one of the great masters of Wing Chun martial arts. The scenario plays fast and loose with the facts, as is customary with screen biographies. Ip’s infant son, Ip Chun (whose real-life counterpart served as the movie’s adviser) does not age between 1935 and 1940 and remains a cutesy presence throughout. And there’s no mention of younger brother Ip Ching, born in 1936, who grew up to found his own martial arts association. Ip’s wife (Lynn Xiong) is beautiful but one-dimensional in her role of supportive spouse. The picture starts out promisingly due to Ken Mak Kwok-keung’s impressively ostentatious art direction in the exterior street sets and interiors of Ip’s lavish home. Sammo Hung Kam-bo’s martial arts choreography is enjoyable as the wealthy, educated Ip good-humouredly takes on challenges from those foolhardy enough to think they can beat the mild-mannered master. A ruckus with northern Chinese ruffian Kam Shan-chau (Louis Fan Siuwong) is lighthearted, as is the introduction of crafty cop Li Chiu (Gordon Lam). Matters shift into ultra-serious and sentimental mode after the Japanese invasion. For all its lip service to the horrors of war, the film shows little feel or understanding of the era. Forced to move from his mansion to a storeroom, Ip nonetheless lives in immaculate surroundings, the hovel’s courtyard even enjoying such amenities as electric illumination. More egregious is the pandering portrayal of the Japanese and the whitewashing of Chinese complicity. No one will contest the horrible atrocities inflicted by the imperial army, but the obviousness of the sadistic officers, including kungfu ace General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), is more cartoonish than credible. On the other hand, quislings and criminals such as cop-turned-interpreter Li or ruffian-turnedbandit Kam, men who terrorise the local populace, are all but absolved of moral responsibility. Nor does Ip raise questions on how good friend and commercial partner Chow Ching-chuen (Simon Yam) manages to keep his factory so well supplied during the occupation. The finale goes a step further by elevating Ip to messiah-like status. After nobly refusing to eat a “collaborationist” meal prior to a crucial bout with Miura, he not only wins but survives multiple gunshot wounds when the Japanese prove to be not just bad people but bad sports. As it taps into the mood of a vast segment of mainland moviegoers, such tactics will probably prove to be anything but bad box office. Ip Man opens on Dec 18. http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c519a7862602e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=Film&s=Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SimonMW Posted December 12, 2008 Member Share Posted December 12, 2008 Multiple gunshot wounds?! WTF. I knew they'd take some liberties, but that sounds like they went too far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 15, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 15, 2008 "Ip Man" Grabs 1.4 Million Yuan on First Day The Hong Kong action movie "Ip Man" took in about 1.4 Million yuan on Friday, the first day of its release. The Hong Kong action movie "Ip Man" took in about 1.4 Million yuan on Friday, the first day of its release, the Tianjin-based Morning Post quotes the movie's production side as saying. The film also has won acclaim from audiences and critics over the weekend. A review published in the Beijing Times said the calm and graceful Ip Man played by Donnie Yen, was even more charming than Li Mubai (Chow Yun-fat) in the award-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." "Ip Man," directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Wilson Yip, retells the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of Wing Chun martial arts, who is known internationally as Bruce Lee's teacher. http://english.cri.cn/6666/2008/12/14/1221s432864.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member gunswordfist Posted December 16, 2008 Member Share Posted December 16, 2008 Fan Siu Wong is the star of STORY OF RICKY, STONEGAGE WARRIORS, and was the Ray Ban wearing teenage thief that helped Cynthia Rothrock and Yuen Biao's characters in RIGHTING WRONGS (aka. ABOVE THE LAW). He's been in a lot of stinkers, but IMHO he's a very talented martial artist, and a good actor too. Thanks Kingofkungfu2002 for that great poster shot. I never seen any of those (dying to get my hands on Righting Wrongs/Above The Law) If Donnie Yen says he's the future (even above Wu Jing) then I'll keep my eye on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member gunswordfist Posted December 16, 2008 Member Share Posted December 16, 2008 Positive Responses at Ip Man Test Screening -- Ip Man -- Test screening for Ip Man was held in Beijing on Dec 4. Based on the survey sheets returned by the audience, it's an unanimous recommendation. Donnie Yen's portrayal of Yip Man was billed as the year's best performance. Donnie Yen has acquitted himself well as a great master, besting his two other works this year. High marks were also given to Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung, and Lynn Hung. The first half of the film is filled with more laidback, humourous moments, amply showing Ip Man's kungfu. The second half is thoughtful, stirring and nationalistic, amply showing Ip Man's grandmaster spirit. As a traditional kungfu film, Ip Man's martial arts scenes were awarded 8 to 9 out of 10 by 85% of the audience, while full marks were given by the rest. Ip Man premieres on December 14 and opens in theatres on December 16. http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/604-Positive-Responses-at-Ip-Man-Test-Screening.html That's the very first time I heard of a % from an audience. lol If they showed it in theters in USA, it would get 115% lol We barely get good movies here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member enteeq Posted December 16, 2008 Member Share Posted December 16, 2008 im going to watch it tomorrow! haha il let you guys know hows it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 17, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 17, 2008 "Ip Man" Grabs 1.4 Million Yuan on First Day The Hong Kong action movie "Ip Man" took in about 1.4 Million yuan on Friday, the first day of its release. The Hong Kong action movie "Ip Man" took in about 1.4 Million yuan on Friday, the first day of its release, the Tianjin-based Morning Post quotes the movie's production side as saying. The film also has won acclaim from audiences and critics over the weekend. A review published in the Beijing Times said the calm and graceful Ip Man played by Donnie Yen, was even more charming than Li Mubai (Chow Yun-fat) in the award-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." "Ip Man," directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Wilson Yip, retells the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of Wing Chun martial arts, who is known internationally as Bruce Lee's teacher. http://english.cri.cn/6666/2008/12/14/1221s432864.htm The total gross of opening day is 14 million yuan btw. The link has the wrong numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Milkyway Posted December 17, 2008 Author Member Share Posted December 17, 2008 In Mandarin with English & Chinese subtitles Genre: Drama/Action/Biopic Director: Wilson Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam, Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung, Wong You Nam, Calvin Cheng, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi RunTime: 1 hr 47 mins Released By: Cathay-Keris Films & InnoForm Media Rating: PG Opening Day: 18 December 2008 Synopsis: The movie is adapted from the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of Kung Fu and Sifu (master) of legendary Kung Fu superstar Bruce Lee. Ip Man - martial art’s unyielding follower, whole-heartedly devotee to the free learning of Wushu. The fight to be top between the Wushu schools in the southern and northern regions of China did not stop him from goodwill matches with other practitioners. Nationalistic bad feelings and racial hatred did not lessen his respect for Japanese Kung Fu warriors. In a great era of hate and tragedies, Ip focused only on Wushu. His enthusiasm for martial arts saw led to devastating street fights with various elite practitioners. To this date, neither movies nor publications about Ip Man exist. This movie is the first important record of the master’s life. Ip’s persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect for Wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. Movie Review: I’ll begin by saying this- Donnie Yen is to Ip Man what Jet Li is to Wong Fei-Hung. And accordingly, Ip Man the movie is a thrilling martial arts flick about the legendary Wing Chun master that is set to join the league of classics like the Once Upon A Time in China series. Indeed, Ip Man and Wong Fei-Hung are in fact similar in more ways than one. Like Wong Fei-Hung, Ip Man was born in Foshan, China (albeit about 50 years apart). Like Wong Fei-Hung too, Ip Man found himself in a position to inspire the hearts and minds (and fists) of his fellow countrymen. While Wong resisted the imperialism of the West in the middle to late 1800s, Ip Man defied the invasion of the Japanese during the late 1930s. When we first meet Ip Man, he is living a comfortable existence in his own sprawling bungalow with his wife (Xiong Dai Lin) and son. It is mid-1930s and Foshan is a hive of martial arts activity as various clubs and societies set up schools to recruit disciples and pugilists go about challenging one another in friendly duels. Not so for Ip Man, who prefers a more private life and repeatedly refuses requests to take on any disciples. But let not his humility fool you- one confrontation with an arrogant bandit from the North (Fan Sui-Wong) which Ip Man promptly disposes with brutal efficiency will convince you that he is probably the most powerful pugilist of them all. Fast forward a few years and Foshan has since fallen into the oppressive hands of the Japanese. Its citizens live in abject poverty and Ip Man is no exception, resorting to menial work to eke out a living for his family. Meanwhile, a certain Japanese General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) has taken to organizing fights pitting the Chinese against his fellow Japanese for his amusement. Ip Man’s curiosity is piqued when one of his close friends, Lam (Xing Yu), disappears after volunteering for one such fight. Seeing his fellow countrymen trodden by the Japanese at the arena, Ip Man is moved to take to the mat. Impressed by Ip Man’s skill (he takes on 10 Japanese fighters at one go), General Miura invites Ip Man to a public showdown that pits the might of the Japanese aggressor against the dignity of the oppressed Chinese. While biopics sometimes bite off more than they can chew, this movie is focused intimately on Ip Man’s beginnings as a teacher of Wing Chun that eventually sowed the seeds for the flourishing of this form of martial arts the world over. And this is both the movie’s strength and weakness- strength because it helps the audience connect with how Ip Man found his calling to teach and weakness because it says little else about the life of Ip Man. Fortunately, the movie succeeds because both Donnie Yen and director Wilson Yip have made this journey touching and heartfelt. In what is definitely a career highlight, Donnie Yen turns in one of his best performances as the legendary Ip Man. There is none of the usual overacting detractors have often accused him of; instead, Donnie Yen brings gravitas and authority to the role of the dignified Wing Chun master. Kudos also to director Wilson Yip- he captures both the thriving pre-war Foshan and the wretched wartime state skilfully such that the peace-war transition is truly a humbling sight to behold. Of course, the highlight of any martial arts flick are the fighting sequences and to his credit, Wilson Yip has assembled a great team including action director Sammo Hung, choreographer Leung Siu-Hung and the eldest son of Ip Man, Ip Chun as wing chun advisor. The result of which are several gripping fight scenes that definitely will not disappoint any hardcore martial arts fan. Each of the rousing sequences executed flawlessly by Donnie Yen are an authentic tribute to the nature of Wing Chun- characterized by aggressive close range combat most aptly demonstrated in the vertical punch (thrown with the elbow down in front of the body) in quick succession. If the spirit of martial arts is just as important as its form, then this movie captures perfectly both the spirit of the master Ip Man as well as the art of Wing Chun. Indeed, Ip Man the movie is not just thrilling and exciting, it is moving and affecting. It belongs right up there with the classic martial arts flicks of yesteryears. Movie Rating: 4/5 (Nothing short of a classic, and probably Donnie Yen’s best performance to date.) http://moviexclusive.com/review/ipman/ipman.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.