Review of The Grandmaster (2013) by Matt L — 11 Sep 2013

Wong Kar-wai writes and directs The Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as the legendary Wing Chun martial artist, Yip Man (or Ip Man). The film chronicles the life of the man most well-known for training the legendary Bruce Lee - taking place mostly during the 1930s. However, long before he trained Lee, Yip Man lived a once peaceful life with a wife and children. But, when a grandmaster, Gong Yutian (Wang Qingxiang), retires, a martial arts civil war breaks out between North and South China. Yip Man is chosen to represent his country in the South, eventually defeating the master, which prompts his daughter, Gong Er (Zhang Ziyi) to reclaim her family's honor by facing-off against Ip Man. The two are intrigued with one another, and attempt to stay in contact. Eventually, the Japanese invade China and force him to abandon his comfortable life, choosing to face down a life of poverty and become a martial arts teacher. Chang Chen, Zhao Benshan, and Song Hye-kyo also star in supporting roles.

To be honest, this is a film that will try your patience as a movie lover in more ways than one. Since this is a Chinese film, the film is completely subtitled (that's not a knock, just a vital piece of information that you should be prepared for, especially if subtitles aren't your cup of tea). Aside from the subtitles, this is a film that bounces around quite a bit as a great deal of information is covered and interpreted in a relatively short amount of time (depending which cut of the film you see - since there are three). The film focuses mainly on Ip Man, but also intertwines with Gong Er - portrayed by the emotionally-engaging Zhang Ziyi. From the get-go, The Grandmaster describes how each martial artist uses his or her own fighting techniques, often incorporating more than one style - and adapt it to their own. This vital information (seeming irrelevant at times) is vital to the overall understanding of these historical figures. In the event that you're not familiar with martial arts (and I'll happily admit I was pretty clueless), this film can be unexpectedly difficult to follow.

Admittedly, The Grandmaster can quickly lose your attention with its scattered plot and quick movements, and it's understandable if you end up checking your watch a few times. But, just when you think it's lost its way - the martial art action kicks in to save this film from the abyss. In fact, the opening sequence is by far the most enjoyable sequence of the film as Yip Man quickly squares off against an endless amount of "bad guys" - in the rain, no less. It will quickly feel reminiscent of the fight sequence between Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix: Revelations - only without the endless amount of buildings being destroyed. Regardless, this sequence is a wonderful piece of choreography (as is the entire film), which highlights the attributes of the film's star - Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. Ip Man is portrayed as a cool, calculating, and absolutely confident in his skills - all of which are lightning quick, not to mention lethal.

The most outstanding element of this film (behind the acting of Tony Leung) is the soundtrack, composed by Shigeru Umebayashi, Nathaniel Méchaly and Stefano Lentini. With so many different details in modern films, the music has lost a great deal of recognition - unless it includes a big name musician singing a song at the end of the credits. It seems to be a rarity that music score stands out, but in this case, the music sets the tone for this film. From the Chinese opera to the exquisite themes throughout, the music contributes the constant shift in mood and tone. Most film scores are simply average, but this particular film thrives largely because of such an emotional musical composition - so much so that it wouldn't be the worst idea to add this soundtrack to your music collection (assuming you're into classical music).

Over the years, there have been several interpretations of Ip Man's life, including a handful of popular films, including Ip Man, and Ip Man 2 - not to mention several TV projects. This film focuses on the intertwining characters that defined the important moments of Ip Man's life. Thankfully, it balances dramatic turmoil with a significant amount of action - which should be enough to attract causal fans of martial art combat. Although the film is choppy and quick paced (from year to year), it has the ability to briefly enlighten movie-goers about the man responsible for training an entire generation of martial artists - one of which is Bruce Lee. However, Lee's characterization in this film is brief and only as a child, so those hoping to see that portion of Ip Man's life will be disappointed. Regardless, if this film had to be described by using only one word, the word would be elegant. And, if nothing else - The Grandmaster will show you the importance of a button (yes, a button).

GRADE: C+.