The Grandmaster(2013 - August 30)
Action | Biography | Drama
Chinese: English subtitles
2 hr 10 min
Rated: PG-13 Brief language, brief drug use, some smoking and violence | Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+. Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Kar Wai Wong
Writers: Kar Wai Wong (story), Kar Wai Wong (screenplay), Jingzhi Zou (screenplay), Haofeng Xu (screenplay)
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ziyi Zhang, Jin Zhang | See full cast and crew
Directed
by acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, THE GRANDMASTER is an epic action
feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary kung fu master,
Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the
fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war that was
also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of
stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast
China and the subtropical South, THE GRANDMASTER features virtuoso
performances by some of the greatest stars of contemporary Asian cinema,
including Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.
The visuals and cinematography for this film are absolutely awesome! Scene after scene fills the screen artistic images of grace and beauty. The Kung Fu combat scenes (and I am not at all a Kung Fu movie fan) are stunningly directed, staged, executed and photographed. It is the true story of Martial Arts Grandmaster Ip Man (who trained the legendary Bruce Lee) and the woman he loved and respected as an equal.
I have not seen the 2008 film Ip Man which is said to be more informative and interesting although not anywhere near as artistic as The Grandmaster.
This film is not for everyone, not everyone likes reading their movies, the English version is about 20 minuets shorter than the Chinese original, the editing of which may account for the uneven pacing of this film. The original spends more time on the relationship between Ip Man (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and Gong Er (Ziyi Zhang).
The opening scene (above) where Ip Man takes on about 20 men in the down-pouring rain is very impressive.
Equally impressive is the match between Gong Er and Ip Man. They agree at the onset that if either of them breaks a piece of furniture...they loose. I won't give away what happens, but I will say that the choreography of the fight is superb. Gong Er is the daughter of a Grandmaster and an expert in her own right, Ziyi Zhang, in her depiction of Gong Er, has never been trained in Martial Arts but is a trained dancer and incorporated her dance moves into her combat scenes and she does so beautifully. She looks exquisite and her screen presence is formidable. It is difficult to evaluate the acting abilities of Ziyi Zhang, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jin Zhang and their co-stars when you can't understand the language, but visually they looked good and convincing in their portrayals.
The photo above isn't in itself very impressive but you see lots of shots like this one throughout the film showing the foot movement in the combat scenes. If you have seen more than a few Chinese films you may already, like myself, expect a beautiful film, the Chinese due to their culture have an innate sense for balance, harmony and beauty.
There are two incidences of profanity in the English sub-titles but not much else offensive, save the violence of the Kung Fu fight scenes and that is unavoidable. With the uneven pacing, due probably to the trimming of 20 minuets for the English version, I had to pull back a bit on The Grandmaster's grade but I do recommend it.
I don't quite get just why they have Rapping as the soundtrack to this third trailer...there is nothing like that in the movie itself. Just some stupid marketing decision I suppose.
Cast
I have not seen the 2008 film Ip Man which is said to be more informative and interesting although not anywhere near as artistic as The Grandmaster.
This film is not for everyone, not everyone likes reading their movies, the English version is about 20 minuets shorter than the Chinese original, the editing of which may account for the uneven pacing of this film. The original spends more time on the relationship between Ip Man (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and Gong Er (Ziyi Zhang).
The opening scene (above) where Ip Man takes on about 20 men in the down-pouring rain is very impressive.
Equally impressive is the match between Gong Er and Ip Man. They agree at the onset that if either of them breaks a piece of furniture...they loose. I won't give away what happens, but I will say that the choreography of the fight is superb. Gong Er is the daughter of a Grandmaster and an expert in her own right, Ziyi Zhang, in her depiction of Gong Er, has never been trained in Martial Arts but is a trained dancer and incorporated her dance moves into her combat scenes and she does so beautifully. She looks exquisite and her screen presence is formidable. It is difficult to evaluate the acting abilities of Ziyi Zhang, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jin Zhang and their co-stars when you can't understand the language, but visually they looked good and convincing in their portrayals.
The photo above isn't in itself very impressive but you see lots of shots like this one throughout the film showing the foot movement in the combat scenes. If you have seen more than a few Chinese films you may already, like myself, expect a beautiful film, the Chinese due to their culture have an innate sense for balance, harmony and beauty. 
I don't quite get just why they have Rapping as the soundtrack to this third trailer...there is nothing like that in the movie itself. Just some stupid marketing decision I suppose.
Cast
Ip Man Gong Er Ma San
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