The Final Master

I went into this motion picture expecting more of a Kung Fu extravaganza (although the last showdown in the film was pretty bad ass).

When the movie opens and the lead actor explains that he is a Wing Chun master I was totally expecting a rip off of Ip man, but with swords instead of fist. Though the movie showcases that screeching sound two swords make during signature Wing Chun blade fights this movie does not hold a candle to the Ip Man Franchise.

Like Ip Man, it's both a drama and an action flick, but to both genres I felt Ip Man was far more compelling. As this movie try to do both it became unbalanced trying to sustain it.

I found the drama too dry and weak to want to pay attention to it. I thought the wing Chun was just OK due to fast cuts that make it seem like the movie had no one in it who was a master of the style. In fact the whole movie seem to be cut together at a pace that makes neither genre work well for me.

I did appreciate some scenes where it looked like the camera shot was paying homage to old school Kung Fu flicks and the art direction does really take you back to the 1920s, but honestly this movie moved too slow and had too much to take in to really entertain.

I'd like to bring to your attention a movie that I have recently had the pleasure of seeing that I'm sure will excite any fan of the martial arts movie genre..The film is called " The Final Master" by writer/director Xu Haofeng, which I believe is a classic and transitive martial arts film that will,if built upon, move the martial arts genre to another level. For the martial arts fight fan the film is filled with inventive and skillfully conceived martial arts action sequences that will excite, surprise and amaze you and for the average moviegoer presents the martial arts film aesthetic within a captivating story with powerful dramatic conflict and fascinating characters.that offers a great time at the movies that anyone can relate to.

Comparisons will be made to movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon , Hero and Ip Man but I believe it is superior to them all in the way it honors the martial arts movie genre while at the same time transcending it.Its foundation is a genre trope that fans know all too well. A martial arts master travels to a foreign city to make a name for himself and his style. While most martial films would stop at this point the writer/director Haofeng ventures much deeper to construct a multi layered tapestry of trust, loyalty, love, betrayal and personal struggle that vacillates between a delicate touch and a hammering iron fist. This range of conflict is what distinguishes it and gives this film its impact.

What I enjoy most about this film is how the director does an excellent job of blending dramatic conflict and martial arts action.so that every fight in the film is essential in propelling the story forward and sets the stage for escalating dramatic conflict that makes the fighting pay off in emotionally powerful ways.. And this does not take away from the spectacular action is that is on display here as the fight choreographers did a tremendous job of juxtaposing spectacular and complicated fight sequences with a seemingly true to life realism that elevates it above most martial arts exploitation fare. This is less a martial arts movie per se and more of a dramatic story with some of the most powerfully executed realistic looking martial arts you have ever seen on film, its subtle power is truly breathtaking..Oh yes .. I forgot to mention that most of the fights are done in close quarter with razor sharp blades.

Martial arts movies are oftentimes, and deservedly so, relegated to second class cinema, but with a compelling dramatic story and dynamic fight sequences blended together to form an organically entertaining cohesive whole, it is movies like " The Final Master" that will demonstrate why fans of the genre love these movies and why it is that films of this caliber that will keep the genre alive and growing for many years to come. The Final Master is a significant milestone in the evolution of martial arts cinema.

It doesn't happen too often to come across a historical martial arts action film that isn't based upon the usual suspects such as Ip Man and Wong Fei Hung. The Final Master falls into this refreshing category as it mixes fictitious and historical events. The story follows Grandmaster Chen who is the last surviving practitioner of the Wing Chun style of martial arts. He desires to open a school in Tianjin to save his family's reputation. He settles down as he discusses his ambitious plans with another Grandmaster, marries a local waitress and trains a talented disciple who must ultimately defeat representatives of the other schools. However, organized crime leaders, members of the other martial arts schools and a ruthless military officer soon see Grandmaster Chen as a potential menace. He isn't as noble as he claims to be however and has a vicious plan with many twists and turns to defeat his numerous opponents.

The Final Master convinces on numerous levels. The cinematography is gorgeous with calm and precise camera work, beautiful costumes and detailed settings. The electronic music soundtrack is quite unusual by contemporary standards but goes back to classic martial arts cinema of the seventies. The fight scenes convince with unusual techniques and weapons and especially the film's last quarter is quite impressive in that regard. The story comes around with numerous twists and turns as the different lead characters all manipulate one another.

There are few things to criticize. The first quarter of the movie is at times difficult to follow and we are thrown into a story with numerous characters who all have particular agendas which can be somewhat confusing. The first quarter also doesn't show too many martial arts fights and has a slightly dragging pace. Once the viewer has made it through the first half hour or so, the characters get more intriguing, the fight sequences get more rewarding and the plot comes around with interesting twists and turns.

In the end, The Final Master is a very good martial arts action film with historical and fictitious elements. The characters are intriguing, the plot is filled with surprises and the settings look gorgeous. Don't get fooled by the slow start because the movie ends up being quite rewarding towards the end.

...before i say anything about this fine movie..i like to say something about the first review which is also used by IMDb. Is this guy a communist agent under a false name? Obviously the person has so much hate towards the movie that one can fel the venom. Hahaha..we know you are a communist schmuck trying to undermine a good movie. What was wrong with this movie? you wouldn't know a good movie if it hit you in the face...Morrisstang..hahaha.

Obviously you are a state paid stooge trying to undermine a very good movie. Unfortunately...i don't think your efforts are going to hurt this movie...because it was a very good movie.

Now about this fine movie...beautifully shot...story was intriguing...actors n actressess were in fine form. Ohhh...the fights scenes were beautifully choreographed..n..for kung fu lovers..there was plenty of fights in this movie.

Although its nothing we have not seen in a Chinese kung fu movie, evrybody was in fine form n overall it was a fine watch. Loved that Shaw superstar..Chen Kuan Tai had a nice cameo fight scene in this movie. Morrissatang compared this to old bad Shaw Brothers movies..hahaha..plenty of people are admirers of those movies you schmuck.

By the way this is Shaw Brothers multiplied by 100..it was that much better then.

you wouldn't know a good movie if you got hit in the face by one. Keep watching the old commie b/w movies portraying fake heroes..hahaha.

Thats all i am going to write...people don't let morrisstang influence your decision on a very good movie. its won awards..just not in mainland china...thats all. Watch the movie and make up your own mind. If you are a fan of good kung fu movies n good movies in general...you'll be glad you watched it.

A Wing Chun master (Fan Liao of "Black Coal, Thin Ice") has to defeat eight martial arts schools to open his own school. At the same time, he has become a chess piece in the local power dynamics.

Right off the bat, anyone who loves good cinematography is going to appreciate "The Final Master". Director of photography Tianlin Wang brings with him a rich color palette that makes even the opening credits appear sharp and vibrant. The hues and crispness bring to life this time period in ways that only a great man behind the camera can. Accompanied by an interesting score composed of horns and strings (thanks to Wei An), we almost have a noir or mystery feel.

There is a fascinating mix of Asian and European cultures, with the Chinese embracing certain elements of upper class British culture. For those in the West, it is usually the American or Englishman in a story who wanders into the foreign land ("the Orient")… seeing things from the Chinese perspective is a nice switch. The inclusion of Belarusian dancers is also a nice touch, adding in a third component of cross-culture. Not only is there the dominant East-meets-West aspect, but a Soviet bloc piece, as well, which fits in neither one side or the other.

While the reviewer's knowledge of martial arts and its history is admittedly limited, there is something strange about the film referring to our hero as the last of the Wing Chun masters. Today, Wing Chun is known as the martial arts variant of Ip Man, Bruce Lee and even Robert Downey, Jr of all people. Perhaps this was lost in translation, but it defies belief that the ancient art was known by only one man in 1930 before becoming the most popular form of "kung fu" today.

Those looking for a classic, Shaw Brothers-style movie should be aware that the hand-to-hand martial arts is limited in this picture. However, the blade-on-blade action is intense and more than makes up for it. Every possible variation of sword, axe, dagger and more is utilized, including some that seem impossibly large to wield. In an era (1930s Tianjin) where guns were plentiful, it is fascinating that there is some level of honor about what is allowed in combat.

Historical nitpicks aside, this is a great film with beautiful cinematography and plenty of action. We also get a great supporting character in Madame Zou, played by Wenli Jiang ("Farewell My Concubine"). The movie was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 52nd Golden Horse Film Awards, as well as Best Supporting Actress and Best Choreography. It rightfully won in the latter category. North American audiences now get a chance to see the picture, as it screens July 16 at the Fantasia International Film Festival.