The Legend Is Born: Ip Man

Tracing the legend of Bruce Lee's master, Ip Man, back to the beginnings in Foshan, China, Ip Man: Legend is Born tells the true life story of this grandmaster of Wing Chun, played by 2010 World Wushu Champion, Dennis To, and features some of the best martial arts choreography ever captured on screen as well as ranking as one of my top ten martial arts movie of all time and also incorporating what can easily be deemed one of the best five story lines in a martial arts film. This movie has it all -- martial arts training as a disciple, the challenge from different schools (in this case a misnomer, as the challenge actually comes from the Japanese), the defence of Chinese pride against disrespectful foreigners, love, betrayal, intrigue, and an historically accurate spy story thrown in.The story revolves around the lives of two boys, one the son of a rich man and the other an adopted son whom their father had found abandoned in the blind downpour of rain; and as the movie proceeds, they are introduced to the grand master of Wing Chun, Chan Wah Shun, portrayed by Samo Hung in a cameo appearance, who passes away within an extremely short span of time. Then, the story turns to Ip Man leaving Foshan for Hong Kong to pursue tertiary education and sees him defending the Chinese against foreign aggressors, by the way of a British teen who calls the Chinese pigs during a football match, and having challenged the foreigner, who further insults the Chinese by calling them the sick old man of Asia, they engage in a duel that sees Ip Man breaking the foreigners hand, and having taught the British a lesson through that feat, sets the bone straight again. Following this encounter Ip Man's reputation in Hong Kong grows and, searching for medication for his new found friend, the foreigner, Ip enters a Chinese medicine shop where he is challenged and badly humiliated by Leung Bik, played by Ip Chun - the real life son of Ip Man, who had broken away from the traditional school of Wing Chun as founded by his family, thereby, cementing a conflict with his brothers Ng' Chung So and Chen Wa Shun, who are considered the orthodox school of Wing Chun; and, having been so humiliated, accepts Leung Bik as his master and begins training as Leung Bik's disciple. When he returns to Foshan, he demonstrates and proves the superiority of Leung Bik's style over traditional Wing Chun and is punished by his master, played by Yuen Biao, who had taken over the reins from Chan Wah Shun.Meanwhile, the Japanese have challenged Yuen Biao's school, and having been defeated by the Ip Man's adopted brother, who we will later be made to realize was a Japanese agent who had been sent to Foshan as a child to infiltrate Chinese society so that the Japanese could further their imperial ambitions in China, seeks to convince Yuen Biao's school to accept the Japanese as disciples.The movie culminates with Ip's adopted brother finally being made ,by the Japanese, to slaughter everyone at Yuen Biao's school of martial arts, and the climactic battle between the two which is one of the most exhilarating fight sequences you will ever see on film.Highly recommended.

This was a weird one especially considering this came out right around after the second film with Donnie yen. I already thought it was weird but they also casted exceptionally well with younger Ip Man. Out of these type of films I will definitely say this is actually genuinely my favorite but clearly the first film wins.

The immense popularity of the two Ip Man movies, starring Donnie Yen and directed by Wilson Yip, made inevitable a sequel. But this is actually a fanciful prequel, starring charismatic martial arts expert To Yu-hang, also known as Dennis To, as Ip Man (1893-1972), the famous martial artist and teacher of Wing Chun kung fu. As a boy, Ip Man is advised to always focus on what you feel, not what you see. He is obviously gifted and is sent for his studies to Hong Kong. There he receives lessons in Wing Chun techniques from eccentric elderly coach Leung Bik, played by Ip Chun, real-life son of Ip Man. The young man resolves to start his own school of mixed martial arts techniques after graduation. But upon his return, his master (Yuen Biao) is outraged by his student's improvisatory kung fu, which seems to him undisciplined. These issues and personal problems must be put aside, however, due to an invasion by Japanese spies and ninjas: issues of family sacrifice and betrayal so central to HK cinema come to the fore. The climactic sequence with action choreography by Bruce Leung must be seen to be believed. Director Herman Yau masterfully oversees both the narrative arc and the eye-popping combat sequences, which will be thoroughly enjoyed by all fans of martial arts techniques. This combination Blu-Ray and DVD has supplements featuring brief interviews with cast members. In Chinese with English subtitles.

Greetings all, I hope you are well. I have seen Daniel (Yu-Hang) To in the other Ip Man movies (Ip Man, Ip Man 2, both are excellent movies) and he did a solid job in those movies with smaller roles. I was a bit surprised to see him as the main featured actor in a role as Ip Man but he does a very good job, both with humility and pride. I appreciate the fact this movie focuses on the development / advancement of Wing Chun, portrayed by Ip Chung, an "authentic" Wing Chun practitioner and son of the actual Ip Man. Ip Chung plays the role of Leung Bik and portrays him well for the brief amount of time he appears on screen.Like the previous Donnie Yen featured Ip Man movies, The Legend Is Born centers on the Japanese invasion of China, and the response of the Chinese people. There are civil wars as well as struggles to unify China versus Japan. The martial arts action is quite good, intentionally amusing at various times, and not over the top with their usage of wires for some of the stunts. Overall I recommend this movie to anyone who likes action movies, martial arts movies, and / or is interested in the martial art of Wing Chun.

EXCELLENT movie with an English DIALOGUE. If you are a fan of the IP Man movies than you will definitely enjoy this movie. I would consider this the 1st movie before the 1st Ip man movie. This was Ip man growing up to become an adult and learning martial arts. This was definitely an EXCELLENT purchase and although Donnie yen is not in this movie it still a very good movie. Thankyou