Ip Man

Ip Man is the film that made Donnie Yen a global star and revitalized the martial arts biopic. Set during the Japanese occupation of Foshan in the 1930s, the film follows Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man — the man who would later train Bruce Lee — as he struggles to survive under brutal occupation while maintaining his dignity and his art. Yen’s portrayal is remarkable for its restraint: Ip Man is quiet, humble, and gentle, and the contrast between his peaceful demeanor and his devastating fighting ability creates tension that erupts in some of the most electrifying martial arts sequences of the 21st century.

The fight choreography by Sammo Hung is extraordinary. The sequence where Ip Man fights ten Japanese black belts simultaneously is the film’s showpiece — Wing Chun’s rapid chain punches and close-range trapping techniques are showcased with a clarity and ferocity that rival anything in Bruce Lee’s filmography. The final duel against the Japanese general is emotionally charged and technically flawless.

Ip Man spawned a franchise and introduced Wing Chun to a global audience, but the original remains the best. It is a film about quiet dignity in the face of oppression, expressed through the language of fists.