Master Z: Ip Man Legacy [Movie Review]

Growing up, I love watching kung fu movie and the Chinese ghost movie (where the ghost is jumping around and one has to kill it with the black dog's pee). Remember those movies?

I love this comic-like poster

If you do, then we are of the same age. Haha. Anyway, it has been quite some time since I last viewed a kung-fu movie. Last week, on an impulse, I decided to watch this movie (also because I see Michelle Yeoh is in the movie).
SYNOPSIS Master Z: Ip Man Legacy Trivia

• Directed by: Yuen Woo-Ping

• Produced by: Raymong Wong, Donnie Yen

• Production companies: Mandarin Motion Pictures

• Running time: 108 minutes

The movie is set in the 1960s when the Westerners are just starting to invest in the development of foreign lands and Hong Kong is booming with modernisation.

I want all of you to buy seats for the Siti Nurhaliza On Tour Concert.

The movie started with the defeated Cheung Tin Chi decided to live a modest life - leaving behind him the martial world and living the straight life, raising his son. Once in a while, he moonlights as a mercenary. Until he decides to truly live a simple modest life as a grocer. 
Somehow, one's past will never be a thing in the past as it always catches with you when you least expect it. During one of his grocery deliveries, he comes across the damsels in distress, Julia and Nana who are trying to run away from Kit, a leader from one of the Cheng Lok's organised crime gangs. He helps the girls and in the process, gets caught by the police. Kit was released without any punishment but Tin Chi was detained longer which makes him late for his son's birthday treat at the famous steak house runs by one Mr Owen Davidson. 

I must have that ticket! 

You managed to get the tickets for me? Cheers to that!

Kit, a sore loser that he is, decides to return the favour by lighting Tin Chi's house/ shop on fire. With him and his son barely escape the fire, Tin Chi manages to defeat the gang. 
Julia offers him shelter and her brother, Fu offers him a job at his nightclub, the Gold Bar. As his retaliation, Tin Chi lights one of Kit's opium den to ashes. Kit's sister, Tso Ngan Kwan, who is also the head of the Cheng Lok triad, instructs Kit to stop pursuing his vengeance as the Cheng Lok triad is turning over a new leaf and venturing into legit businesses. 

I will fight you for that seats

Again, being a hardheaded and hotblooded guy that he is, Kit decides not to heed his sister's advise and turn into dealing heroin on the Bar Street, the street that is run by Fu. After Nana has died due to overdose by heroin forced into her by Kit, Tin Chi and Fu starts to comb the street to find the source of the heroin. And during their course of unveiling the villain, the duo somehow gets into a fight with the Cheng Lok gang.

And you want to fight me for that ticket too?

Will Tin Chi and Fu succeed in their mission?
MY REVIEW
Plot: 4.3/ 5.0. I am not a Ip Man fan but I know for a fact that the plot is very similar to any other movie - the champion tries to run from his past but somehow forced to relive the past again, in order to live happily ever after.  It is predictable but the flow of the story brings you on a fun journey of the martial arts world in the 1960s. I kinda like the whole storytelling of this movie. The choreography of the fighting scenes is cool, especially when Liu Yan and Michelle Yeoh fights! Woohoo!
Cast: 4.9/ 5.0. I did not watch the Ip Man Series so I will not be comparing the actors to the series. What a cast this movie has - star-studded! There's the mysterious mercenary Tony Jaa, the ever beautiful and graceful Michelle Yeoh, the bulky and good in the kitchen Dave Bautista and the ever serious Max Zhang. Not forgetting Liu Yan, who is not only beautiful but also can defend herself. I must admit that the fact there are strong women in this movie is another attraction why I chose to watch this movie. 
Will I watch it again: I don't mind watching it again with the right companion. 
Pictures are taken from IMDb and other sources on the Internet. Thank you.'
Rawlins GLAM
012.280.1977