- Actors : Dennis To, Li Yaojing, Steven Dasz, Wang Wanzhong, Zhang Tingfei
- Subtitles: : English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- Language : English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), Mandarin Chinese (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), Mandarin Chinese (Dolby Atmos)
- Studio : Well Go USA Entertainment
- Aspect Ratio : 2.35:1
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 5.3 x 0.5 x 6.8 inches; 3.35 ounces
- Media Format : Blu-ray
- Run time : 1 hour and 38 minutes
- Release date : July 14, 2026
Ip Man is a
historical figure whose life has been pillaged so frequently for cinematic
inspiration that it would not be shocking to find that some believe him to be
fictional, if only due to the high level of spectacle often used to enhance
storytelling. While there have been a handful of biopics more dedicated to
facts and realism, just as many elevate the kung fu legend’s skills to
near-superhero levels, and Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend belongs to the latter
group. This is likely to be a good thing for those desiring an exciting kung fu
movie, while it may disappoint those more concerned with realism and historical
accuracy.
Not unlike a majority of the films
about the kung fu legend who went on to teach Bruce Lee, Ip Man: Kung Fu
Legend is an installment in an existing franchise, rather than a standalone
film. It serves as a follow-up to Ip Man: Kung Fu Master (2019), which
traced Ip Man’s transition away from being a police officer, though there is no
need to see the original to be able to follow along with the storyline. Besides
the continuation of several casting choices, including Yu-Hang To’s
performances as the title character, and returning director Liming Li, there is
little connecting the storyline of the two films. What does remain is director Li’s
approach towards the action sequences, which is sometimes a double-edged sword.
At the beginning of this second film
in To’s Ip Man franchise, the former police officer is attempting to start his
own martial arts school, resulting in a fun sequence where he must pass a
series of skill tests by the martial arts community. The actual plot moves on
to a storyline surprisingly similar to the first film, but the opening
sequences injects a few fun action scenes to start out with before foreigners
interrupt the community and Ip Man is framed for murder yet again. While the
first film follows Ip Man fighting against the Japanese army after being framed
for the murder of a gangster, Kung Fu Legend has him battling a British-backed
crime syndicate who frames him for murdering a fellow kung fu master.
While the plot is disappointingly
derivative, it matters very little to the actual experience of watching the
movie, which is far more interested in the spectacle of action sequences than
an original storyline. And for the most part, it succeeds at what it is
aspiring to be. Those who enjoyed the over-the-top kung fu choreography of the
first film, this follow-up provides more of the same. Unfortunately, it also
contains the same problems that the first film had thanks to the way director Liming
Li approaches filming and editing together the action scenes, which admittedly
remain the film’s greatest asset despite their flaws. The biggest problem seems
to be spatial awareness between shots when the action is edited together. Often
the use of close-up seems to hide the fact that the choreography doesn’t always
make sense, just like over-use of slow motion ends up making everything feel
overly melodramatic instead of being exciting the way it is when wider shots
allow us to see the choreography carried out at speed.
The Blu-ray release of Ip Man:
Kung Fu Legend doesn’t come with many special features. Aside from the
optional English language dubbing available for those who don’t enjoy
subtitles, there is only a trailer included as a bonus. The real reason for
seeing this on Blu-ray is the visual spectacle. It is also available on 4K
Ultra HD for those that want it to be even more impressive.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 3.5/10
Special Features: 1/10
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