The martial arts movie is a balance of elements, as filmmakers have to have actors who are skilled hand-to-hand combatants while also crafting the type of story that would require intense combat. Sometimes a film can veer into the ludicrous, like Kung Fu Hustle. Other times, a filmmaker could have a genre-defining hit on their hands, like Game of Death. Martial arts fans now have a chance to see one of the best action franchises ever put to the screen, as the Ip Man films are now available to stream on Netflix.
The Ip Man films follow the life of the titular martial artist, played by Donnie Yen, and chronicle his life’s story. They also manage to balance intense action sequences with deep emotional moments, resulting in the rare action film that both thrills its audience and causes them to think. That was by design; Yen explained how each film in the series covers a certain theme as it relates to Ip Man’s life. While Yen’s take on Ip Man is hardly the first film franchise to focus on the Wing Chun grandmaster, it’s become one of the most iconic, thanks in no small part to the people behind the scenes.
The ‘Ip Man’ Movies Serve as a Showcase for Donnie Yen’s Fighting & Acting Skills
The Ip Man films feature the same creative team for all four films, with Wilson Yip as director and Edmond Wong contributing to the screenplays. This has the effect of actually feeling like a continuous narrative. The film industry rarely allows for one unbroken vision, unless you’re Chad Stahelski or Christopher Nolan, so to have the same filmmakers guiding this take on Ip Man will make the viewers feel like they’re watching one single story instead of four separate films.
This extends to the fight scenes, which feature some of the most stunning choreography ever put to the screen courtesy of Yen, Sammo Hung, and Tony Leung Siu-hung. One of the best fight scenes in the Ip Man series takes place in the first film, where Ip Man demands to fight ten practitioners of karate who’ve achieved the black belt level. What follows is a graceful, yet deadly sequence that features him effortlessly dispatching the black belts with brutal punches and head stomps. Yen is considered to be one of the most skilled fighters in the world, and Ip Man gives him
What makes the Ip Man films stand out, apart from the excellent fight scenes, is Yen’s performance. He gives off a calm, collected demeanor, letting his actions speak for him. In Ip Man 2, when a young Bruce Lee (portrayed by Danny Chan) tries to convince the Wing Chun grandmaster to train him with an impressive display of speed. Without a word, Ip Man turns and opens the door, signaling Lee to leave.He’d have to try his best to understand the thoughts of Yip Man, to be him, and to fit in within the past,” Wilson Yip said when Yen was first cast. The success of the Ip Man films more than proves Yen succeeded at the task.
A Fifth ‘Ip Man’ Is In The Works
The Ip Man saga came to a close with Ip Man 4, yet Donnie Yen announced a fifth film in 2023 via Instagram. This was a surprise for a number of reasons, with the most prominent being that Ip Man 4 hews close to history and displays the Wing Chun grandmaster passing away after a battle with cancer. Details about this upcoming fifth film are scarce, but in the meantime action fans can still enjoy the Ip Man series if they want a bold, brutal and badass tale that centers on one of the world’s greatest martial artists being played by one of the world’s greatest martial artists.
- Release Date
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December 12, 2008
- Runtime
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106 minutes
- Director
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Wilson Yip
- Writers
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Edmond Wong, Tai-Lee Chan
- Producers
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An Xiaofen
