Review of Ip Man (2008) by Darren M — 13 Jan 2013

One of the most incredible martial arts movies I've ever seen. Any flick where our hero can defeat a hotheaded opponent wielding a giant sword by using only a feather duster is alright with me. The story, the fights, and the visuals are all spectacular.

In fact, I was reminded of three of my favorite things in the entire world: Dragonball Z, Mulan, and The Good Earth. Like Goku, our hero smiles a lot, making his way into your heart; he also insists on eating a good meal before a duel. Like Mulan, the bravery of one underdog is enough to save all of China. And finally, like the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning novel, we are given an intimate look at Chinese family life during a difficult period, and the struggles to scrape by and earn even a bit of rice for one's loved ones, while still maintaining honor. Unlike the novel, our hero begins wealthy and has everything painfully ripped away from him, which is even more heart-rending than the opposite.

Did I mention the mind-blowing fight scenes? Impeccably choreographed for the action-buff looking for quality brutality, with plenty of substance for those seeking more depth. Highly recommend.