Review of Ip Man (2008) by John J — 04 Aug 2012
A predictable kung fu movie with standard genre structure and scenes. The action is hot, but the entire story serves as little more than neo nationalist Chinese jingoism. Ip Man is cast as a martyr for modern China and a living embodiment of indomitable Chinese spirit.
Predictably, the Japanese are craven, psychopathic, and described as implicitly spiritually flawed. Considering Ip Man was actually vehemently opposed to the Communist Chinese party (the real reason he fled to Hong Kong, not in fear of the Japanese), the co-opting and rewriting of the historical character renders the movie and its nationalistic ending unsatisfying.
This review of Ip Man (2008) was written by John J on 04 Aug 2012.
Ip Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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