I have to make sure you know that Ip Man
, directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen, was recently released on collector's edition DVD from Well Go USA. Based on the story of real-life Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, it is, hands down, one of the greatest martial arts movies of the last decade. Here's the DVD trailer: It's a kickass movie of the highest order, with awesome fight scenes, great production values, and a healthy dose of the little guy rising up against imperial oppressors. Here's the official back-of-the-box synopsis:
Wing Chun grandmaster Ip cements his reputation after defeating a roving band of kung fu masters who have come to his village to challenge him and the other martial arts masters. But his devotion to the martial arts results in tension and discontent with his wife. When the Japanese occupy his hometown of Foshan during the Sino-Japan war, Ip is forced to work as a coolie in a factory and participate in brutal sparring matches for the enemy's amusement. He demonstrates his superior fighting skills by defeating his opponents despite being heavily outnumbered and wins the admiration of the Japanese Colonel, Mr. Miura, who challenges Ip to a championship fight. The outcome of the match inspires the Chinese villagers to rise up and defeat their oppressors.Did I mention that this is the guy that would later be teacher and mentor to a dude named Bruce Lee? If you love martial flicks, you must see this movie. And if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. I'm already really looking forward to watching Ip Man 2. You can watch that (non-subtitled) trailer here.
