Ip Man

Name: Ip Man
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Released: October 1, 2010
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Donnie Yen, Ka Tung Lam, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan

2010

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 174 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 174 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Well Go | Release Date: October 1, 2010 | R

Starring: Donnie Yen, Ka Tung Lam, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan

Summary: Ip Man is the award winning film adaptation about the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. Set in Foshan, China, during the Sino Japanese War, Ip Man vividly brings to life the brutality of the infamous Japanese occupation, where once proud menIp Man is the award winning film adaptation about the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. Set in Foshan, China, during the Sino Japanese War, Ip Man vividly brings to life the brutality of the infamous Japanese occupation, where once proud men are forced to fight till their death for a precious bag of rice. Defined by courage and humility, one man rises to the fore, Grandmaster Ip Man, whose matchless fighting skills are revered all over China. Upon refusing to teach his beloved fighting art to the invading Japanese soldiers, he is forced to fight for the honor of his country in a series of battles that will culminate in a kill or be killed showdown with General Miura Japan’s greatest fighter. (Variance Films)… Expand

Director: Wilson Yip

Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, History

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Nick Schagaer

Like his narrative, Yip's aesthetics are more muted and traditional than those of well-known florid imports "Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Yet such modesty is in tune with his soft-spoken protagonist, and also provides clean, sharp views of Yen's awe-inspiring skills, which, in choreographer Sammo Hung's thrilling one-against-many skirmishes, make literal the term "fists of fury." Read full review

Noel Murray

As a slice of history, Ip Man is disappointingly simplistic. Yip, Wong, and Yen never develop any real tension between Ip's true story and the exaggerated myth-making of a martial-arts movie. But as an exaggerated, myth-making martial-arts movie, Ip Man is often thrilling. Read full review

G. Allen Johnson

Oct 28, 2010

It's a highly entertaining, big-budget, kick-butt kung fu movie, the best of its kind since Jet Li's "Fearless" in 2006. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

The highlights, of course, are the competitions and duels, choreographed by Sammo Hung. Read full review

Empire Dan Jolin

The action is enthralling even if the storyline doesn't always have the ring of truth about it. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

If you're looking for great action scenes, you've found them. But if you desire more than eye candy, such as character and plot development and historical accuracy, you'll have to look elsewhere. Read full review

David Fear

Everything from the direction of actors to the dialogue signifies the work of a filmmaker who favors easy audience-baiting reactions over dramatic momentum. Doesn't the man who would later teach Bruce Lee how to kee-yah deserve better than a chopsocky Punch-and-Judy show? Read full review

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User Reviews

Matty_K

Jan 15, 2012

One of the best kung fu movies ever made! Not only was there tons of great fighting scenes, there was also a FANTASTIC story line (which is rare in kung fu movies). Definitely recommend watching this.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

NoLifeGammer

Apr 4, 2015

Best movie to I see in decades ...the best trilogy of artial marts movie (for me ever!! ) I cant belive some people write bad reviews ...maybe hate wing chu style and think fight is just send punchs to the air ..lol

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RAEDALSDI

May 14, 2013

Frankly the film was one of the best films I've seen in my life which relates to the martial arts the director was creative in all choices he made in environment- the dialogue between the characters- actors in everything else I did not find obvious or large flaws in the film except forFrankly the film was one of the best films I've seen in my life which relates to the martial arts the director was creative in all choices he made in environment- the dialogue between the characters- actors in everything else I did not find obvious or large flaws in the film except for exaggerating of the strength of ip man and the film do not deserve this average evaluation by critics who seem to be enjoying more traditional films than inspiring films… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

josippekic

Mar 15, 2015

This movie is quite simple, but I have to disagree critics about character depthness. It's really not that bad. For those who haven't watch the movie I highly recommend it. This is a movie with soul and maybe it has a lack of plot in some parts but I guarantee that you won't sense it if youThis movie is quite simple, but I have to disagree critics about character depthness. It's really not that bad. For those who haven't watch the movie I highly recommend it. This is a movie with soul and maybe it has a lack of plot in some parts but I guarantee that you won't sense it if you let it overwhelm you… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Nov 13, 2017

This delightful surprise of a martial arts film is not just your traditional "good guy gets mixed up in a bad situation" type of joint (even though it does feature that fundamental storyline to a degree). Wilson Yip's "Ip Man" is also an incredibly important look at a period of historyThis delightful surprise of a martial arts film is not just your traditional "good guy gets mixed up in a bad situation" type of joint (even though it does feature that fundamental storyline to a degree). Wilson Yip's "Ip Man" is also an incredibly important look at a period of history that's gone forgotten by so many for too long - the Second Sino-Japanese War. The film delivers the harsh, yet necessary realities of what happened, whilst also depicting the incredible trials and tribulations that the titular hero undertook throughout this period of history. And that of course means fight scenes, and - dear God - are they incredible to watch. Donnie Yen is a master of his craft and the filmmakers at hand have no doubts as to how to shoot him when he's doing his thing. It all looks so amazing. Just a well-meaning film with great set pieces and an incredible true story to build so many crowd-pleasing moments with. Great stuff.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

clem666

Jan 19, 2021

'Ip Man' offers itself to us as a martial arts film more interesting and original than it seems at first glance.

The scenario (no spoil) allows the staging of a charismatic hero with an excessively powerful tempered character but who only uses his abilities when it is the only option open'Ip Man' offers itself to us as a martial arts film more interesting and original than it seems at first glance.

The scenario (no spoil) allows the staging of a charismatic hero with an excessively powerful tempered character but who only uses his abilities when it is the only option open to him. In this kind of film it is far too simple to put the hero on a pedestal and make the feature film a series of uninteresting and won fights. Fortunately, this is not the case with 'Ip Man'. The story has its roots in the Sino-Japanese pre-World War II conflict. The historical dimension is very important and brought in an interesting way. The acting is touching and precise, even if some characters are surprisingly undeveloped, such as the wife and son of the main protagonist. The choreographies are pleasant to watch, the impact of the moves is very well rendered with a few exceptions. The general lighting of the film is very good.

At the end we realize that the film has stirred up multiple values and stories, so that it seems to bring out less a moral than several morals to remember from the story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

strangerso

Apr 25, 2022

"Ip Man" fails to rise above the rest of the mediocre, poorly-written martial arts films.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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