I thoroughly enjoyed watching Ip Man!

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2011)

**SPOILER ALERT** Ip Man is a movie that was released in 2008, and has received 12 wins and 10 nominations on different film festivals and film awards. It was directed by Wilson Yip, who is also the man behind the films The White Dragon, Dragon Tiger gate, Flash point, Bio Zombie, and many more. The film stars Donnie Yen who is Ip Man, and other famous movie stars like Simon Yam, Lynn Hung, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, and Fan Siu- Wong.
The film is set in Fo Shan, China, in the 1930s, when martial arts was very popular in the area. The movie is very much about martial arts, and we see a lot of fights throughout the movie that illustrates why it is called an art form.
It is a semi-biographical film, which means that it to some degree dramatizes the life of an actual person, in this case Ip Man (in reality Yip Man, who was the famous Bruce Lee's teacher, amongst others). It also has a lot of action, which obviously makes it an action movie also. There are also some parts of the movie are humoristic, but there is not enough humor in it to call it a comedy – by far.
The story builds up already from the beginning, when we see Ip Man fighting with Master Liu. It makes us know that this movie is going to be about a lot of fighting, and showing off martial art. The story always build up to some climaxes, like when Ip Man is fighting against ten people in the Japanese house; when the robbers come back to fight at the cotton mill the final time; and of course the "point of no return", when Ip Man wins the fight against the Japanese general.
I felt that the music in the movie was varied. Some parts had typical Chinese music, while some had more of a western feel to it, like when Ip Man and Master Liu ate dinner in the beginning of the movie. There was one time in the movie where I felt that the sound editing was a bit off, and that was when Ip Man was fighting with a feather duster against Master Jin who had a sword, and the sound when they were fighting was the sound of metal-against-metal, although Ip Man's "weapon" was made of tree. But the audio editing the rest of the movie was really good, and I particularly liked the one time when Ip Man was fighting against Jin and Yuan at the cotton mill, and he hit Jin in the ear with a stick, and there was a sharp screech, like I was hit in the ear myself.
I believe the movie also brings up morals throughout the story, and I think that there was one moral specifically stood out; the importance of being loyal to your family and country. One example is when Ip Man learns that the former Chinese police officer, Li Zhao, is now an interpreter and works for the Japanese. Ip Man smacks him in the face, because he is angry and disappointed that Li Zhao has betrayed his country, and refers to that he was watched his fellow countrymen get beaten to death in the fighting matches arranged by the Japanese general, and is on their side. I think this moral is also emphasized when Ip Man talks to Yuan after the fight at the cotton mill, and says "You are robbing the Chinese" and later "Everyone needs to find their own path", expressing that he is disappointed that he has chosen to go against his own people. And again the moral is highlighted at the end of the movie when the text tells that "Ip Man refused to be subjugated by the Japanese army, and used his fists to call forth the unity of the Chinese people." It shows that Ip Man would never betray his country, and would do whatever it takes to keep it united.
Through all the things that happen in the movie, Ip Man always makes sure that his family is safe, and away from harm, for example when he makes his family move, because the Japanese might come back and get them. Family comes always first for Ip Man!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. It offers good quality action scenes, with a lot of fighting that is not "over the top". It also follows a defined storyline, and builds up to several highlights. The movie also follow two different stories, the one with the robbers that is attacking the people working at the cotton mill, and the one with the Japanese army that has invaded China, which makes the movie varied and never boring. I can sincerely recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys watching martial arts, or wants to watch an action movie. This movie will not let you down!