Dragon

Dragon - Dir. Peter Chan (2011)

Donnie Yen doesn't have the instant recognition of his more renowned peers, Jet Li and Jackie Chan, but his output lately has been very impressive. Ip Man is one of the best martial arts flicks to be released in recent years. He's also starred in Flash Point, SPL, and Bodyguards and Assassins. His newest film is Dragon, which was originally released overseas as Wu Xia, the broad term used to define the genre of period martial arts films. In spite of the generic titles, Dragon  is hardly a traditional action picture.

Set in 1917, Yen stars as Liu Jin-xi, an unassuming paper maker married to Yu (Tang Wei from Ang Lee's Lust, Caution), a farm girl with two sons, one from a previous marriage. By sheer dumb luck, Liu manages to thwart a robbery by two brutal thieves, killing both in the process. Anyone who has seen A History of Violence or read the graphic novel it was based on will see where this is headed. The investigating detective, Xu Bai-ju (Takeshi Kaneshiro), believes there is far more to Liu than meets the eye. He deduces that Liu is a highly skilled martial arts master, but why he is living an anonymous life in a tiny rural village is the real mystery.

As a young officer, Detective Xu showed leniency on a young boy who stole from his adoptive parents. Xu never foresaw that the boy would poison him and his parents. The couple died and Xu barely survived. He uses his knowledge of physiology and acupuncture to stave off the effects of the poison as well as his own emotions. By suppressing his own empathy, Xu remains utterly objective and unyielding; the Inspector Javert to Donnie Yen's Jean Valjean. He uncovers Liu's past as a member of the 72 Demons, a clan of assassins responsible for the grisly murders of a butcher and his family.

Dragon comes from director Peter Chan and screenwriter Aubrey Lam, who previously collaborated on The Warlords, a 2007 epic starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Kaneshiro. Chan has dabbled mostly in the romantic comedy, including his one and only Hollywood production, The Love Letter with Kate Capshaw and Tom Selleck. Chan does his most interesting work on Dragon, which pays homage to the classic movies of the genre while using slick and modern techniques. The opening half of Dragon plays out like an episode of CSI with Xu reconstructing the crime scene and analyzing clues.

The third act unfolds more like a standard kung fu film as the focus shifts to Liu as he battles the 72 Demons. What makes the finale so special is the presence of two actors from the Shaw Brothers' stable, Kara Hui and Jimmy Wang. Hui is best known for her roles in My Young Auntie and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, which were both directed by Lau Kar-leung, who also helmed two more seminal entries in the genre, The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin and Drunken Master II. Wang is a coup for the production since he hasn't appeared in a movie in nearly two decades. He was one of the biggest stars in Hong Kong cinema during the late-60's and 70's with his most renowned films being The One-Armed Swordsman and Master of the Flying Guillotine.

It should be noted that approximately 18 minutes of footage has been trimmed for the American release by Anchor Bay and the Weinstein Company. Having not seen the international release, I cannot attest to which version is better.

Despite a few slow spots, Dragon gets a recommendation due to a few unique elements and strong fight scenes.

Rating: *** (*****)

Bodyguards and Assassins

Bodyguards and Assassins - Dir. Teddy Chan (2009)

Don't be fooled by the title. Bodyguards and Assassins isn't some genre-bending mash-up like Cowboys & Aliens. This big-budget Chinese production mixes hard-hitting action, political intrigue, and historical context with an all-star ensemble to craft a memorable martial arts epic. It wasn't easy though. Director Teddy Chan (The Accidental Spy) and producer Peter Chan (The Eye), no relation, have been trying to make this film for over a decade. Originally titled, Dark October, Bodyguards and Assassins was plagued by numerous delays from the SARS epidemic, government censorship, and the suicide of an investor a day before filming was scheduled to commence.

Bodyguards and Assassins is set in 1905 against the backdrop of the coming revolution against the Qin Dynasty. Revolutionist Dr. Sun Yat-Sen is planning a trip to Hong Kong to meet with other movement leaders to overthrow the corrupt government. Armed with this knowledge, the Empress Dowager has dispatched an army of assassins under the command of General Yan Xiaoguo (Hu Jun). The only one who can protect Dr. Sun is Li Yutang (Wang Xueqi), a wealthy businessman trying to straddle the fence on both sides. Li finances an anti-government newspaper run by his friend Chen Shaobai (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), but doesn't want to get personally involved in the revolution. He is also adamantly opposed to his son, Chongguang (Wang Po-Chieh), participating in any shape or form.

Fang Tian (Simon Yam), a former military officer for the empire has arrived in Hong Kong, accompanied by his men, who are disguised as a Peking opera troupe. But, Gen. Yan intercepts them and their brutal murder inspires Li to put together his own band of highly skilled warriors to safeguard Dr. Sun. First among them is A-Si (Nicholas Tse), Li's long-time rickshaw driver. What A-Si lacks in fighting skills, he more than makes up for in unwavering loyalty. Li also recruits a gigantic Shaolin monk nicknamed Stinky Tofu (former NBA star Mengke Bateer), who left the monastery to sell stinky tofu on the streets. Next is Liu Yubai (Leon Lai), a once mighty martial arts master who has become a scraggily beggar over the love of a woman (Michelle Reis). Also joining them is Fang Hong (Li Yuchun), Fang Tian's daughter, who has vowed revenge against her father's killers. Completing the group is Shen Chongyang (Donnie Yen), a corrupt police officer with a gambling addiction and a willingness to do any dirty deed for the right price. Shen's former love, Yue-ru (Fan Bingbing), is now married to Li. Initially hired to spy against the seditionists, Shen is convinced by her to protect Li instead.

Bodyguards and Assassins sports an expansive cast and a myriad of subplots. It can be a bit hard to follow, especially for those forced to rely on subtitles. The film takes its time to develop these characters. In fact, the entire first half of the movie is devoted to introducing the main players and moving them across the cinematic chess board. The pace is slow and the dialogue is packed with filibustering about sacrifice and ideals. Thankfully, these moments are saved by the strong performances of the main cast. While Donnie Yen is given the lion's share of the publicity, he only plays a supporting role. The true hero is Li Yutang. Wang Xueqi, whose long career includes Warriors of Heaven and Earth and Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth, brings a serious gravitas to the role and serves as the anchor of the story. In a clever move, the opening prologue features Jacky Cheung as a teacher and revolutionary who is assassinated by General Yan. Cheung is a renowned actor and pop star in Asia and his death lets the audience know that no one is safe, despite their star status.

The second half of the movie is devoted entirely to the arrival of Sun Yat-Sen in a convoy of rickshaws, which are flanked by Secret Service-esque bodyguards. Their objective is to escort him from the harbor to a safe house with assassins attacking from nearly every alleyway and rooftop. This extended chase sequence is reminiscent of The Gauntlet or 16 Blocks. Various fighting styles are highlighted with the best fight scene belonging to Donnie Yen and MMA competitor Cung Le.

The production designers have also done a fantastic job in recreating the Hong Kong of 1905. Bodyguards and Assassins looks and feels genuine, rather than world created entirely on a studio set.

Bodyguards and Assassins was originally released in Asia in December of 2009. It received eighteen nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards winning in the categories for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Action Choreography among others. It's not as stellar a martial arts film as Ip Man, but it's a solid actioner.

Rating: ** ½ (*****)

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster - Dir. Wilson Yip (2010)

Before Ip Man was released to theaters in the fall of 2008, a sequel was already announced with Donnie Yen returning to the titular role of Wing Chun master. For those of you arriving to the party late, Ip Man was a master of Wing Chun, whose biggest claim to fame was as the teacher of Bruce Lee. In fact, the second movie was initially planned to revolve around the relationship between a young Bruce Lee and his mentor. However, the producers were unable to come to terms with Lee's estate.

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster takes place in 1949, years after Master Ip’s violent confrontation with the Japanese in Foshan. He has since relocated to the British-occupied Hong Kong with his pregnant wife Cheung Wing-sing (Lynn Hung) and their son Ip Chun (Li Chak). Ip Man plans to open a martial arts school, a business venture that starts off humbly enough. He practices on the rooftop of his tenement building amidst clotheslines full of laundry hung out by his neighbor. His first student is a brash and cocky young man named Wong Leung (Huang Xiaoming), who recruits other students after experiencing Master Ip's skills the hard way. Unfortunately, Ip Man doesn't find the same camaraderie with his fellow masters in Hong Kong that he did in Foshan.

Ip's school is threatened before it even starts when it grabs the attention of the local martial arts association headed up by Master Hung (Sammo Hung). Ip Man must fight the other masters to prove his abilities are worthy. He must also pay protection money to the association in order to remain operational. In turn, the money paid to the association goes to Wallace (Charles Mayer), a corrupt superintendant on the Hong Kong police force. Events build to a one-on-one battle for national pride between Ip Man and Wallace's champion, a professional boxer known as Twister (Darren Shahlavi).

Ip Man 2 isn't much of a departure from the original film. In fact, it's not much of a departure from many other martial arts films. The sequel follows a familiar formula with the heroic protagonist defending the honor of his fellow Chinese against the hateful foreigners. The storyline is something that's been seen in pictures like Once Upon a Time in China, Bruce Lee's The Chinese Connection and its remake Fist of Legend. It also seems to borrow liberally from Rocky IV so much so that you half expect Twister to scream, "I must break you." Both Twister and Wallace are portrayed in a cartoonish, moustache-twirling manner as uncouth and prejudice.

Despite a weaker story compared to its predecessor, Ip Man 2 still manages to wow in the action department. Wilson Yip returns as actor and Sammo Hung, in addition to his supporting role, once again takes up duties as fight choreographer. This is extraordinary as Hung underwent heart surgery before principal photography and still showed up to act, perform his own stunts, and put together the action sequences. Hung had previously faced off against Yen in Sha Po Lang which saw the big man in a rare turn as a villain. In Ip Man 2, Hung isn't an outright villain, but a begrudging antagonist. In their rematch, Hung and Yen test each others' kung fu while attempting to balance on top of a teetering table top. Yip allows the action to unfold without breaking it up with unnecessary camera tricks or rapid editing. It's a lesson many Hollywood directors have yet to learn.

Donnie Yen puts on another strong performance as the cultured Ip Man, who imparts wisdom on others when he's not pounding them with piston-like punches. In a welcome return, Fan Siu-wong reprises his role of the boisterous Jin Shanzhao, a former highway robber who reformed after his last encounter with Ip Man. Hong Kong movie vet Kent Cheng, who played sidekick Lam Sai-wing opposite Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China, has a brief role as a liaison between the masters and Wallace. As Ip Man's wife, Lynn Hung doesn't have much to do other than look forlorn. However, the actor who is wasted the most is Simon Yam as Ip Man's long-time friend, Chow Ching-chuen. Here, he's been rendered brain damaged and puts on a ridiculous performance that Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder would describe as "full on retard."

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster isn't quite up to the level of the first film. It replaces the pathos of the original story with a formulaic plot revolving around jingoism and xenophobia. Still, the sequel is elevated by the performances of Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung as well as its exciting action scenes and slick production values.

Rating: ** (*****)

Ip Man

Ip Man - Dir. Wilson Yip (2008)

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

If I've learned anything from John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, it's that you should never let the truth get in the way of telling a good story. Many famous martial artists have become folk heroes in China and have had their lives turned into action flicks. Wong Fei Hung is probably the most popular and has been portrayed on screen by both Jackie Chan (Drunken Master & Drunken Master II) and Jet Li (in the Once Upon a Time in China series). In fact, Jet Li has played other folk heroes like Fong Sai Yuk (the eponymous Fong Sai Yuk I & II) and Huo Yianjia (Fearless).

Ip Man stands as the first film based on the life of Ip Man, a master of the Wing Chun style, who trained many students in the martial arts. Without a doubt, Ip Man's most famous pupil was a fellow you might have heard of by the name of Bruce Lee. The star of Enter the Dragon wasn't just about kicking butts on screen; he was an ardent believer in teaching the philosophies behind martial arts. It's easy to see who instilled these ideals in Lee. As portrayed by Donnie Yen, Ip Man is a highly skilled master, but he is first and foremost, a man of great generosity and modesty. He prefers spending time with his family and practicing Wing Chun in solitude.

Trivia note: Legend has it that Wing Chun was developed by its namesake, a woman named Wing Chun, who learned the style from a female monk. The story inspired a movie naturally titled Wing Chun with Michelle Yeoh in the title role and Donnie Yen as the love interest.

Ip Man opens in the 1930's in the Southern city of Foshan where Master Ip is widely respected by ordinary citizens and martial arts instructors alike. When a rival, Master Liu (Chen Zhihui), issues a challenge to Ip Man, he reluctantly accepts and even invites Liu to have dinner beforehand. Ip Man doesn't extend the same courtesy to Jin Shanzhao (Fan Siu-wong), a loudmouthed fighter from the north who believes his skills are superior to everyone in Foshan.

Things take a turn down a darker path when the Japanese invade China in what would be known as the Second Sino-Japanese War. Ip Man's home and wealth are taken from him. He is forced to eke out a meager living shoveling coal. Circumstances eventually lead Ip Man into a climactic showdown with General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), the commander of the Japanese occupation force.

Ip Man marks the highest profile role for action star, Donnie Yen, who got his start in the Hong Kong film industry at the age of 19. Western audiences will probably know Yen for a bit role as a vampire warrior in Blade II or as the villain in Shanghai Knights. Devotees of martial arts films will know Yen for memorable turns in Once Upon a Time in China II and Hero. Though he’s had plenty of starring roles before, Yen has usually taken a backseat to Jet Li and Jackie Chan. Here, he finally gets a chance of shine in his most critically lauded role and his biggest box office success. As Ip Man, Yen is more than just a man of action, but a refined and intelligent individual. The scenes of Ip Man’s hardships add a layer of pathos that isn’t regularly found in most kung fu flicks.

Also good are Simon Yam as a close friend of Ip Man’s who runs a cotton mill and Lam Ka-tung as a police inspector who works for the Japanese as a translator.

This being a martial arts movie, most fans are probably more interested in the action than the acting or drama. The film was directed by Wilson Yip, who previously worked with Yen on Dragon Tiger Gate and Flash Point. The fight choreography was handled by Sammo Hung, who co-starred with Yen in Sha Po Lang (released in the U.S. as Kill Zone), which was also directed by Yip. Yen trained for months before production to learn the Wing Chun style. He impressed many with how quickly he excelled, including the real Ip Man’s son, Ip Chun, who served as a technical consultant. One of the film’s best fight scenes sees Yen holding off a sword-wielding Fan Siu-wong with nothing more than a feather duster. The other highlight features Yen tackling ten Japanese fighters with a blurring barrage of lightning fast punches.

Ip Man is one of the best martial arts films to come out of Hong Kong in recent years. It's a great mixture of drama, action, and comedy anchored by a great performance by Donnie Yen. It's a must-see for kung fu fans and an excellent primer for newbies.

Rating: *** ½ (*****)