The cinematic odyssey of Ip Man — the real-life master of Wing Chun and, famously, instructor of Bruce Lee — continues with “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy.” But don’t expect Donnie Yen to show up in this installment and don’t expect much in the way of historical fealty, narrative plausibility or serious examinations about human dignity or the ethics of kung fu.
Expect, instead, a spin-off about Ip Man’s rival from “Ip Man 3,” Cheung Tin Chi. After his secret defeat at the hands of Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi became a mercenary — so briefly that it barely impacts the story. After retiring, he sets up a tiny grocery and tries to raise his son in peace, but a chance encounter with opium dealers leads to one giant fight sequence after another.
The story of “Master Z” is frustratingly muddled, and Cheung Tin Chi has very little to do with it.
Expect, instead, a spin-off about Ip Man’s rival from “Ip Man 3,” Cheung Tin Chi. After his secret defeat at the hands of Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi became a mercenary — so briefly that it barely impacts the story. After retiring, he sets up a tiny grocery and tries to raise his son in peace, but a chance encounter with opium dealers leads to one giant fight sequence after another.
The story of “Master Z” is frustratingly muddled, and Cheung Tin Chi has very little to do with it.
- 4/13/2019
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Top-class fighting and fabulous production design overcome the stale plot of “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy,” a 1960s-set spin-off from the hit trilogy about the legendary Wing Chun master who trained Bruce Lee. With Max Zhang stepping capably into the spotlight as a former Ip Man challenger who wants to live peacefully but can’t avoid trouble, “Master Z” is professionally executed by veteran action director-choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (“Kill Bill”) and given a star-power lift by the casting of Michelle Yeoh and “Guardians of the Galaxy” team member Dave Bautista in villain roles. This expansion of the Ip Man Universe performed credibly in China and Hong Kong in early 2019 and has the required combination of grunt and gloss to repeat the feat when it opens April 12 on U.S. screens.
Since 2008, no fewer than seven Ip Man-related features have been released, including Wong Kar-wai’s “The Grandmaster” (2013). Following hot on...
Since 2008, no fewer than seven Ip Man-related features have been released, including Wong Kar-wai’s “The Grandmaster” (2013). Following hot on...
- 4/11/2019
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
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