|
|
MASTER Z: IP MAN LEGACY
Director: Yuen Woo-Ping Cast: Max Zhang, Liu Yan, Kevin Cheng, Xing Yu, Michelle Yeoh, Dave Bautista, Chrissie Chau, Tony Jaa MPAA
Rating: Running Time: 1:47 Release Date: 4/12/19 (limited) |
|
Review by Mark Dujsik | April 11, 2019 A semi-sequel to Ip Man 3 and a spin-off to that series of films, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy sits in the shadow of its forebears. Those films told the life story of the eponymous martial arts master with plenty of dramatic license. This installment, which shows that it isn't just Hollywood that's obsessed with the idea of franchises, takes a fictional character, based on a real person, and tries to ape the narratives of its predecessors with what seems to be an entirely made-up story. Accuracy doesn't matter, as the previous films proved, as long as there's some sense of authenticity to the story. Those previous films possessed that quality, primarily because of the central performance of Donnie Yen (who served as a producer for this entry and appears ever so briefly in a flashback) as the martial arts master, whose philosophy on life and combat is repeatedly put to the test. The story of Cheung Tin Chi (Max Zhang), who was defeated by Ip Man during the climax of the last movie, is only authentic in its obvious desire to copy what has come before it. Some years after his defeat, Tin Chi has stopped practicing martial arts and has opened a grocery store on a market street in Hong Kong, where he lives with his young son. His dedication to living a simple, humble life is put to the test, though, after he saves Julia (Yan Liu) and Nana (Chrissie Chau) from some local gangsters led by Kit (Kevin Cheng). Kit, who's part of network of criminal gangs run by his sister Kwan (Michelle Yeoh), looks to get revenge on Tin Chi. This sets off an elaborate conflict involving drugs, police corruption, familial loyalty, and an American restaurant owner named Owen (Dave Bautista). There's a lot of melodrama here, but the actual drama revolves around the rhetorical question of whether or not Tin Chi will return to fighting to protect others. Obviously, he will, which means that the movie is less about the character, who seems like a more resentful version of the man who defeated him, or any philosophical ideas and more about the fights. They're effective enough (One, involving neon signs, is imaginatively choreographed). The storytelling of Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, though, feels like a rushed, hollow imitation, starring a character whose personality and philosophy are constantly overshadowed by the plot. Copyright © 2019 by Mark Dujsik. All rights reserved. |
Buy Related Products
|
