Film review of Yip Man

Rating: 7/10 (12 May 2011)

During the study week, I have re-watched a Chinese movie called Yip Man again. I think it is a film really worth watching and here is my film review about this movie.
Yip Man is a Chinese film released at the summer of 2008. The leading actor is Donnie Yen who acts a Chinese Kung Fu master of Wing Chun. The film was directed by Wilson Yip and action director is Sammo Hung. The combination of these three people helps Yip Man to win the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film in 2009.
Yip Man is a Kung Fu movie which uses the history of Sino-Japanese war as background, and utilizes the changes of people's lives before and after the war as main line of the story. The story happens at Foshan in 1930, Yip Man, played by Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen is a martial master who only plays his art at home. Since one day, Master Liu comes to challenge him. He defeats the Master Liu without injury finally which make him famous in the Foshan. But the Sino-Japanese war begins, the Chinese people suffering bullying from the Japanese, including the Yip Man, the life of fellow of Guangzhou martial arts become harder and harder, a lot of martial arts become mine workers and many of them has become the slaves for Japanese martial arts training. The Chinese people have no the dignity and life in that case, the Yip Man has to come forward and defeat ten Japanese Samurais and three Japanese soldiers to defend the Chinese martial arts and his wife. Finally, he defeat the Japanese General in the contest to call on the Chinese people to unite to resist foreign invaders.
This film is a Semi-Biography film. This film is based on a true story that shows audiences the real life of a Chinese martial art master. Yip Man is a real man in the real life, he was born in the year of 1893, and he learns Kung Fu from famous Master Chen at seven. When he grows up, Yip man creates special martial art which is called Wing Chun. During the Sino-Japanese war, he has to go to Hong Kong to teach Wing Chun, and then he has many apprentices, including the Kung Fu superstar Bruce Lee. This film introduced a part of Yip Man's early life. There are some real people or story about Yip Man in the film. For instance, Zhou Qingquan, the boss of yarn factory, he was real friend of Yip Man, and after Yip Man won the competition, Zhou Qingquan helped Yip Man move to Hong Kong. What's more, after Foshan was occupied by Japanese army, Yip Man becomes poor from rich because Japanese army took up his property.
This movie is not only a semi-biography movie，but also is a Chinese Kung Fu action movie. The action director of this film is Sammo Hung, his design for these action scenes reflect in the change of rhythm directly. The comprehensive use various means including change of the camera position, use of speed camera and the selection of action points which make the Kung Fu scenes of this film to be the model of action film scenes. Coupled with strong specific actors, the 12 fight scenes throughout the film is very exciting and some of them have each style.
For instance, at the opening, when Yip Man and Boxing Master Liu learn from each other in Yip Man's home, the space for moving and dodging is limited, and there is no danger of life and death. Therefore, Hung tends to focus on the details. Many false martial arts haven't point out, and there are only a little direct front performances, he emphasizes more on the characteristics of Wing Chun that shaking more than a dozen fists within the few seconds. I think the settlement of Hung make those fight scenes very interesting which can bring deep feelings to the audiences.
The music of Yip Man makes a particular ambiance of the background in order to achieve visual and aural impression. The famous Japanese musician Kenji Kawai is the composer of this film. The background music he dubbing in the film is well received. The background music base on require of performance to change their structure at any moment. The music style of this film often changes by specifically activity and environment, thus, can increase the expressive force. In addition, the music of this film also makes a connection with scene, characters and words. Then, the music highlights the characters and plots. For example, at the first half of movie, the director uses soft music to reflect the lightness atmosphere. Then, the atmosphere become heavy combined with different music style.
In a word, Yip Man is a excellent Kung Fu movie. This film has shown not only the spirit of Yip Man of martial arts as a master but also the real life of the Master. There is no doubt for this movie to be a highly recommended masterpiece.