7.27.2010

The IP Crowd

Ip Man (2008)

Ip Man is a highly-acclaimed martial-arts action flick from 2008 starring the world's most boring action superstar Donnie Yen as Ip Man - who, in his later years, became Bruce Lee's master, mentor and teacher. Focusing on Ippy's life prior to and during the Sino-Japanese war (1937-1945), this handsomely mounted period epic is in the Once Upon A Time in China vein. A huge hit in Asia, the film garnered a dozen or so nominations and took home the best picture award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It isn't perfect and plays fast and loose with some historical facts, but if you're in the mood for a cool martial arts flick you could do far worse than this one. The Ipster's Kung Fu is strong.
 
Post Script: Apparently in 1945 the Japanese surrendered to the Chinese because the Ipilator kicked a Japanese General's ass in mano-a-mano combat. No mention of the American's gigantic atomic bombs (and to whom the Japanese actually surrendered, according to my round-eye propaganda-ladened history books), but if you're willing to forgive a little Sino-supremacy and reworked history, ass-kicking fun is to be had here. Once again, forget the politics and focus on the fu.

Sporgey

1 comment:

the coelacanth said...

juuuuuuussssst ordered from krk. been waiting for this one for a R1 release of this for a lonnnnnng, lonnnng time. and if you know me (and my love for inglourious basterds), you also know i've got no bone to pick with revisionist history in film...can't wait!