O Grande Mestre 2

I somehow doubted that IP MAN 2 would compare to the general excellence of the first film, but to my surprise and delight it does! It's a cracking little action movie that tells an involving, true-life story that doesn't just repeat the same kind of stuff we saw in the first film. This time around, Ip Man must test his mettle against a series of Hong Kong martial arts masters before taking his talent to the world stage.

The film displays exactly the same kind of sumptuous production values as the original, with Wilson Yip's expert direction combining with Sammo Hung's beautiful fight choreography to startling effect. Hung himself appears as a rival master and his various bouts with Yen are awe-inspiring, and there's a mid-way set-piece in a fish market that has to be seen to be believed – one of the greatest large-scale fight scenes ever put on film. By the time we reach the events of the last reel, involving a nasty British boxer, I was fully behind the film and loving every action-packed minute. It goes without saying that Yen gives a seemingly effortless performance and that the film provides real heart as well as top-notch action. Outstanding!

Overall, Ip Man's series has been a very inspirational trip for me. I grew up with Bruce Lee and from the direction of the director, I see where the movie is going to, whether it's historic or not. Before anyone else say anything about the western boxer in this movie, I lived through the end 70's of Asian martial arts world and I must say it has has it's share of "to the death boxing matches". Growing up in asia, we have had our share of nonregulated matches where contestant signed papers which declared their fight to the death. So it is no surprise that in this movie such a scene would occur. Not having TV at that time, the thrill of hearing such a match from radio (I remember my first Ali match and it was also on Radio, not TV) I can sympathise for the director's broad representation of history.

On the whole, when Ip Man told his disciple Leung, that he wasn't trying to teach him how to fight but to teach him the values of "martial morals", reminded me of my martial arts training under my master. Movies reflect life and in this moment of the film, I totally understood what the movie was going to.

I can only say, seek the truth and not be blinded by what is presented.

Ever since "Ip Man" started making waves across Asia, a continuation/sequel was inevitable. People wanted more out of Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip. They wanted more of the same: martial-arts action-laden sequences carefully woven around an old-fashioned moral lesson about martial arts. And that is exactly what Yen, Yip and company have made here: a sequel which is surprisingly as solid as the first.

As per the first film, Donnie Yen once again proves that he can act AND fight at the same time. He is perfect as the wise sifu Ip Man and he acts rationally without ever losing control of himself. Even when he gets angry. Now that is a true man. His fighting skills prove that in spades.

The supporting actors are a mixed bag. On one hand we have the Chinese actors giving their best, including Sammo Hung in a memorable role as a fellow martial-arts master. However, the British actors are the ones I'm complaining about, some of their acting is just overdone and hammy. But the action still overlays this flaw. One part I did like about this sequel though; a villain in the previous film now becomes a like-able friend in this one. The reason? He found a family and humbled down, realizing his foolish mistakes in the past. This is proof that this movie is not all-action, but it has a big heart as well.

Again, the story is nothing new to write home about; it's basically the Hong Kong version of "Rocky IV", with Donne Yen playing "Ip Man" which is equivalent to Stallone's iconic character, and a very buffed-up Darren Shahlavi playing a British boxer which is the equivalent of Dolph Lundgren's "Ivan Drago" character. However the direction and the fight scenes are executed so masterfully that it makes the story easy to relate to.

Once again, his fists move like a chain-gun firing without reloading. And as for Sammo Hung, if you think that a fat guy can't fight, think again. Sammo Hung moves at breathtaking speed and it's a marvel watching Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung duking it out on the big screen. The martial-arts action sequences reaches new heights of excitement, and the adrenaline level of anyone watching them will be spiked. Then again, it has it's fair share of realism in it as well. Donnie almost gets the crap beaten up of him at one point, making his character all but human just like the rest of us.

Overall, it is a fine martial-arts movie, with good acting, a good ol' fashioned moral tale and lots of exceptional fight sequences that will leave you breathless. It's one Asian blockbuster not to be missed. And that last scene of the movie... a promise of things to come, like "Ip Man 3"?

Overall rating: 64/10

Ip Man (Donnie Yen), a master of the fighting style Wing Chun despite his smoking habit, has come to Hong Kong. But he meets some resistance, both from other masters of other fighting styles and then from the British authorities who rule. Can Ip Man overcome, or at least learn to live with, such obstacles?

Let me just get this out of the way: "Ip Man" is a terrible name for a movie, even if that was really the man's name. And having his nemesis be Master Hung? This is not how you sell a movie to American audiences. Marketing concerns aside, the film was amazing.

The choreography was excellent, the use of tables, chairs and pallets as props during fighting was wonderful. And the musical score was phenomenal, hitting all the emotional highs in just the right places, making the fight scenes even more epic than they already were.

I can see this film being popular, especially with the current MMA craze: this film features a Wing Chun master fighting a Western-style boxer. Of course, this is not real, but I still see this appealing to someone. Probably many someones.

The DVD is loaded with hours of extras, and the quality is amazing. You even have six audio options, so your stereo will get a workout, and you can watch in either Chinese or English (I watched in Chinese with English subtitles, but you may prefer to have your movies dubbed).

The quote on the cover called this "possibly the best martial arts movie", which I am sure is taken out of context, but it is also not a stretch. While I am not a huge fan of the genre, this film captivated me and I found it hard to look away. With the exception of Master Hung's repulsively ugly, fat son, this movie is pretty much perfect.

Donnie Yen returns as the titular kung fu grandmaster in Ip Man 2, with Wilson Yip reassuming his directorial duties and, most importantly, Sammo Hung back in his role as action director, and also as a main character.

The story picks up from where the first movie left off. Ip, having survived the war period in Foshan, moves to Hong Kong with his family and attempts to make a living teaching his beloved art of Wing Chun boxing. However, he is met with opposition and hardship in the form of rival martial arts schools and the atypical British oppressors, and finds that even his formidable martial arts prowess may not be enough to resolve these problems.

But the story aside, anyone with a little background knowledge of this film should know what to expect; a dose of intense Hong Kong kung fu film action. As the story begins to drag, at some point even a unsuspecting viewer should have realized that all the plot devices and dialogue serve little purpose other than as catalysts leading to the combat scenes. And at helm of the fight scenes is none other than the legendary Sammo Hung, in familiar territory choreographing the Wing Chun style, which he made a name for himself in movies such as The Prodigal Son in the 80s. With some creative input of his own, he manages to compose complex and graceful fight sequences that stays true to traditional kung fu styles, from Praying Mantis to Hung Gar Kuen. And who better to bring his imagination to life than the ever reliable Donnie Yen? What Hung designs, Yen executes with masterful control and precision. And in the movie when the former steps up to challenge the latter in a sparring session, we witness two of Hong Kong's greatest kung fu stars pushing themselves doing what they're best at in a brilliant exchange of strikes and blows. Absolutely a sight to behold.

In the end, the typical viewer is unlikely to be captivated by the highly borrowed storyline, save for some who still enjoy the cinematic display of Chinese pride that is rather blatant and unsubtle. But you will be blown away by the fights, you will be in awe of the moves, and, if you're able to, appreciate the action scenes not as the mindless, disposable portion of the movie, but rather the core of it, carefully thought out, executed, and filmed as a true form of art. With that, forgive the storyline, and enjoy the film for what it is.