Ip Man (film)

Infobox Film
name = Ip Man


caption = Teaser poster
director = Wilson Yip
producer = Raymond Wong Bak-Ming
eproducer =
aproducer =
writer = Edmond Wong
starring = Donnie Yen
Simon Yam
Lam Ka-Tung
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = flagicon|Hong Kong Mandarin Films Distribution Co. Ltd.
flagicon|Singapore Cathay-Keris Films
released = December 18, 2008
runtime =
country = flagicon|Hong Kong Hong Kong
awards =
language = Cantonese
budget = HK$40 million
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.ipman-movie.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 1220719

"Ip Man" (zh-tspcy|t=葉問|s=叶问|p="Yè Wèn"|cy="Yip Man") is an upcoming 2008 Hong Kong biographical martial arts drama film loosely based on the life of Yip Man, the martial arts master of Bruce Lee, and the first to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun openly. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the titular role and co-stars Simon Yam, Lam Ka-Tung, Xing Yu and Long Fist gold medalist To Yu-Hang in his film debut. The film's fight choreographer, Sammo Hung, will make a cameo appearance in the film.

During filming, conflict arose over the film's title as the film was originally titled "Grandmaster Yip Man", a title that Wong Kar-wai wanted to use for his take on Yip Man. To settle the dispute, filmmakers decided to use their original title, "Ip Man". [http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/kaijushakedown/WKW-VS.-RAYMOND-WONG WKW vs. Raymond Wong] ]

Yip Man's two sons and several Wing Chun practitioners will also appear in the film. Ip Chun, Yip Man's eldest son served as a consultant for the film. [ [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/369-Yip-Man-is-No-More-A-Legend;-Production-Begins-in-March.html Yip Man is No More A Legend; Production Begins in March - Wu-Jing.org ] ] The film is slated for a December 18, 2008 release in Hong Kong. [ [http://www.gscmovies.com.my/cs_mvpg.asp?search=ipman GSCMOVIES.COM.MY] ]

Plot

"Ip Man" is adapted from the life story of Yip Man, the grandmaster of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and "sifu" (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This film will be the first important record of the master's life. Ip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. "Ip Man" is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it represent a new peak in Hong Kong's wushu movies.

=Cast=

Production

"Ip Man" is the first film to be based on the life on the famous martial artist Yip Man. It also marks the fourth collaboration between director Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen after 2007's "Flash Point." The two also reunite with Simon Yam after 2005's "". Mandarin Films will produce and distribute the film, with Shanghai Film Group serving as a co-producer. Yip Man's eldest son, Ip Chun, served as a consultant for the film. The film's budget is an estimated HK$40 million. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/plugin/tag/donnie+yen/P3.html]

Development

The film was originally conceived in 1998, when Jeffrey Lau teamed up with Corey Yuen to bring the story of Yip Man to the big screen. Donnie Yen signed on to the project in hopes of playing Yip Man, with Stephen Chow as Bruce Lee. Yen had signed the contract and received part of the acting fee. However, the studio producing the original project folded resulting in the project being abandoned. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/46-Mandarin-Film-Plans-Yip-Man-Film.html Mandarin Films Plans Yip Man - Wu-Jing.org ] ]

In December of 2007, plans to make a new Yip Man films was announced with the filmmakers researching the life of Yip Man in Foshan. Collin Chou was also said to be a part of the cast. Producer Raymond Wong Bak-Ming stated that the film would take on a similar look and feel as "SPL". [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/plugin/tag/donnie+yen/P4.html]

Filming

Production began in March of 2008, and wrapped up by the end of August. 90% of the film will focus on events surrounding Yip Man that took place in Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s. Since the buildings in today's Foshan are architecturally different from the ones in the past, the filmmakers decided to shoot the film in Shanghai instead. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/369-Yip-Man-is-No-More-A-Legend;-Production-Begins-in-March.html Yip Man is No More A Legend; Production Begins in March - Wu-Jing.org ] ] [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/548-Its-A-Wrap-For-Ip-Man.html#extended It's a Wrap For Ip Man]

Fight Choreography

The martial arts scenes were choreographed by Sammo Hung, who will make a cameo appearance in the film. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/531-Martial-Arts-Director-Sammo-Hung-Has-A-Cameo-In-Ip-Man.html Martial Arts Director Sammo Hung Has a Cameo in Ip Man] ] When asked how he would work with Yen to direct the action scenes, Hung replied matter-of-factly, "With my mouth."

Yen spent months preparing for the role, by going on a strict diet which consisted of mainly vegetables, training in Wing Chun, and learning more about Yip Man through his two sons, all in hopes of portraying an erudite and cultured Yip Man, as well as bringing out the special traits of Wing Chun. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/500-Grandmaster-Yip-Man-Plot-Revealed-at-Shanghai-Press-Conference.html Grandmaster Yip Man Plot Revealed at Shanghai Press Conference - Wu-Jing.org ] ] [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/plugin/tag/donnie+yen/P2.html]

While rehearsing a fight scene, Yen was reportedly injured when an axe wielder accidentally slashed the side of his left eye. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/plugin/tag/donnie+yen/P2.html] Yen also admitted to having a masseur on set as he could not physically raise his shoulder for the fight scenes. [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/548-Its-A-Wrap-For-Ip-Man.html#extended]

Japanese actor Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, who holds a black belt in Judo, described it to be "difficult" working under Hung's command. In one scene, he suffered a mild concussion after receiving four blows continuously. [ [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/533-Hiroyuki-Ikeuchi-Challenges-Donnie-Yen-in-Ip-Man.html Hiroyuki Ikeuchi Challenges Donnie Yen in Ip Man] ] Hung later praised Ikeuchi for his acting abilities, even though the Japanese actor was not trained in Chinese martial arts and was not given a lot of complex moves.

Film Title Controversy

The film gained controversy over its film title, which was disputed by film director Wong Kar-wai, who announced plans to make his own film on Yip Man with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai while filming "2046". Producer Raymond Wong wanted to name the film "Grandmaster Yip Man", which was the title Wong Kar-Wai wanted to use for his film. [http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/kaijushakedown/WKW-VS.-RAYMOND-WONG WKW vs. Raymond Wong] ]

After Raymond Wong announced his title, Jet Tone, Wong Kar-wai's production company, issued a statement saying that they had exclusive rights to the Chinese title of the film and that it is "shameful" that Raymond Wong was using it. They also denied Donnie Yen's claim that ten years ago, Wong Kar-wai and Jeffrey Lau asked him to play Yip Man.

To settle the dispute, Raymond Wong publicly expressed the film title: [http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/520-Y-Ip-Man-Stripped-Of-Grandmaster-Status.html Y Ip Man Stripped Of Grandmaster Status?] ]

Original Film Titles

* "The Legend of Yip Man" (zh-t|t=葉問傳)
* "Yip Man"
* "Grandmaster Yip Man" (zh-t|t=一代宗師葉問)

References

External links

* [http://www.ipman-movie.com/ Official Website]
*
* [http://mandarinfilms.com/chi/movies/ipman/ipman_eng.html "Ip Man" at MandarinFilms.com (English)]
* [http://mandarinfilms.com/chi/movies/ipman/ipman_chi.html "Ip Man" at MandarinFilms.com (Chinese langauge)]
* [http://www.donnieyen.us/dymb/index.php?page=44 Donnie Yen.us]
* [http://www.gscmovies.com.my/cs_mvpg.asp?search=ipman GSCMOVIES.COM.MY]
* [http://sg.movies.yahoo.com/Ip+Man/movie/14815/cast/ Ip Man (2008) - Cast & Crew - Yahoo! Singapore Movies]
* [http://www.wingchunnews.com WingChunNews.com]