Jeremy LoContrary to what the past 2 Ip Man films starring Donnie Yen suggested, the real Ip Man never took on 10 Japanese karate fighters, or a British world champion boxer.
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man is the unofficial prequel to the first 2 films and takes place before the events of Ip Man, revolving around the childhood and teenage years of the legendary Wing Chun master. It has also sold itself as a more true-to-life take on Ip Man’s life, going as far to cast Ip Chun, the eldest son of the master himself in the movie.
However, despite all that, it definitely isn’t an accurate depiction of Ip Man’s history, going way off with fictional characters and events.
The movie begins in Foshan, southern China, in 1905. Ip Man (Dennis To) and adopted stepbrother Tien-Chi (Fan Siu-Wong) become students of Wing Chun Master Chan Wah-Shun (Sammo Hung, once again in an Ip Man film). When the master passes away a year later, the school is taken over by his old friend Ng Chun-Sui (Yuen Biao).
In 1915, Ip Man captures the heart of Cheung Wing-Sing (Crystal Huang) while defending her in a fight, prompting jealousy from his childhood friend and fellow student Lee Mei-Wai (Rose Chan), who is secretly in love with him.
Later, Ip Man travels to Hong Kong to further his studies at a university. There, he meets old Wing Chun master Leung Bik (Ip Chun), who teaches him new and powerful moves never seen before in Wing Chun. However, Ip Man is subsequently punished as these new moves were deemed “heretical”.
In the meantime, a group of Japanese smugglers led by Japanese businessman Kitano (Louis Cheung) stir up trouble, and Sino-Japanese tension reaches boiling point when the president of Tien-Chi’s company is assassinated, with Ip Man identifying his adopted stepbrother as the main suspect.
For the lead role of protagonist Ip Man, Hong Kong director Herman Yau cast Dennis To, who was apparently chosen because he looks like the character in his youth. Ask Ip Chun, the eldest son of Ip Man, and he also agrees.
Sammo Hung, the movie’s action director and choreographer, also makes an appearance as Chan Wah-Shun, Ip Man’s master and teacher, at the beginning of the movie. This makes things a little confusing for those who have watched Ip Man 2, in which he plays martial arts Master Hung.
Speaking of the fight scenes, there are lots of them scattered throughout the movie, demonstrating some of Wing Chun’s lesser-known moves, like wrestling and leg moves. Other branches of martial arts like Karate, Jiu-Jitsu and boxing were also displayed, all brilliantly choreographed by Hung.
While the fight scenes are entertaining, the entire plot of the movie might be cheesy to some. It is almost a “boy meets girl” scenario, where Cheung Wing-Sing, the deputy mayor’s daughter, is smitten by Ip Man after he protects her from harm in a street brawl. She then goes tries to court him against the wishes of her father, but her efforts are hindered by Lee Mei-Wai, who has a crush on him.
Apart from the redundant love story, the rest of the plot is entertaining and well paced, except for the ending, which feels slightly rushed and rather clichéd.
Title: The Legend is Born: Ip Man
Opens: 24 June
Language: Chinese with English subtitles
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Genre: Action
Director: Herman Yau
Cast: To Yu-Hang, Sammo Hung, Ip Chun