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IP MAN: THE LEGEND IS BORN (HK/China)

 ABOUT THE MOVIE

Genre: Action/Martial Arts/Biography
Starring: Dennis To Yu Hang, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Fan Siu-wong, Rose Chan, Hung Tin Chiu, Xu Jiao, Lam Suet, Huang Yi, Ip Chun
Director: Herman Yau
Rating: PG (Fighting Scenes)
Year Made: 2010

 


 SPECIAL FEATURES

- Trailer
- Making Of
- Photo Gallery

 


 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Languages: Mandarin
Subtitles: English/Chinese
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Region Code: 3
Distributor: InnoF
orm Media

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

This movie serves as a prequel to Ip Man's life before becoming the Master of Wing Chun. It depicts Ip Man's younger days in Hong Kong as a student and returning to Foshan, China where he spends his formative years training training to become the ultimate martial arts legend. The movie stars Ip Chun, the eldest son of Master Ip Man, as Leung Pik, Ip Man's second Wing Chun master, Dennis To Yu Hang, the youngest World Kung Fu Champion of Hong Kong who plays the young Ip Man and Fan Siu Wong who also performed in the Ip Man series.

MOVIE REVIEW:  

Perhaps one of the reasons why producer Checkley Sin picked Herman Yau as the director of "Ip Man: The Legend Is Born" is because Yau is an efficient worker. In fact I believe he is one of those rare HK filmmakers left in the industry. He shoots cheap. He shoots fast and he can attempt any genre, be it horror (Troublesome Night), gruesome thriller (Human Pork Chop), comedy (All’s Well End’s Well 2010), drama (True Women For Sale) and now martial arts to his long-running resume. And did I say he is also an accomplished cinematographer.

Despite his capabilities, Yau is not exactly known for his magical cinematic touch. "Ip Man: The Legend Is Born" is a serviceable prequel to the wildly successful Donnie Yen/Wilson Yip’s franchise. Although touted as a true story detailing the roots of Wing Chun, one must watch this with an open mind as the filmmakers has taken one too many unbelievable liberties with the real Ip Man.

The movie opens with a young Ip Man being accepted under the tutelage of Wing Chun master Chan Wah-Shun (Sammo Hung). However, Chan has grown feeble as a result of an illness. His second oldest disciple Ng Chung-Sok (Yuen Biao) thus took over the reins after his passing. Years later, when Ip Man left Foshan to further his studies in HK, he met Leung Bik (Ip Chun), the estranged second son of Chan’s teacher, Leung Jan who taught him another form of Wing Chun, a move that greatly upset the traditional Ng.

A certain Erica Lee is credited for the story and I believed she at least did a credible job adapting the semi-biographical account to the big screen for the first half. Unfortunately, this unofficial prequel has to include a clumsy love triangle and a subplot that feature "Ip Man" regular Fan Siu Wong as the stepbrother of Ip Man which greatly deter the essence of this martial-arts movie.

It doesn’t help that Dennis To’s acting is as stiff as a wooden dummy and lacks the emotions to portray a man that is dealing with both an enemy and a love affair. Despite that, if you are keen on the action sequences, you shouldn’t be too disappointed. Although lacking the fancy moves seen in the Donnie Yen’s version, the moves here are swift and decently choreographed. Dennis To might need to brush up his acting but when it comes to the action department, he is more than equate to spar with veteran action star Yuen Biao, Master Ip Chun and the underrated Fan Siu Wong.

Strictly speaking, the production values here are closer to a period TVB drama serial than a proper theatrical release if you compare this to the original Ip Man franchise. Herman Yau might not be exactly the man who is up for the job but in the end, do give the man some credit for at least delivering a watchable martial-arts movie on such a short timing and budget.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Making of
runs at a brief 13 minutes and covers some behind-the-scene shots and mainly cast interviews. The DVD is round up with a Trailer and a Photo Gallery.

AUDIO/VISUAL:


The overall visual transfer is of acceptable level, not exceptionally detailed but can be better for such a new title. The sole Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack offered here lacks a certain level of oomph especially during the sparring sequences though the dialogue is listenable.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING:



Review by Linus Tee

Posted on 1 September 2010


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This review is made possible with the kind support from InnoForm Media


 

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