Ip Man 2008

Ip Man (traditional Chinese: 葉問; simplified Chinese: 叶问; pinyin: Yè Wèn) is a 2008 Hong Kong martial arts semi-biopic that is based on the life of Ip Man, the celebrated martial arts master of Bruce Lee, and the first to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun openly. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the prefecture-level city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung. Ip's two sons, Ip Chun and Ip Ching, along with several Wing Chun practitioners also appear in the film.

Ip Man is the first film to be based on the life of the martial artist. After a first attempt to portray Ip's life on screen resulted in the project being abandoned, producer Raymond Wong developed his own film with full consent from Ip's sons, and had filmmakers head to Foshan, to research Master Ip's life. Ip Chun, Ip Man's eldest son served as a consultant for the film. Donnie Yen, who was set to star in the abandoned film project, received a star fee and was invited to join Wong's production after a successful collaboration with director Wilson Yip on the 2007 film Flash Point.

From March to August 2008, principal photography took place in Shanghai, which was used to architecturally recreate Foshan. During filming, conflict arose between producers and film director Wong Kar-wai over the film's working title, Grandmaster Yip Man (一代宗师葉問). Wong had intended on making his own film based on the life of Ip Man tentatively titled The Great Master (一代宗师). To settle the dispute, filmmakers of Ip Man changed their title, and it was later revealed that Wong's five-year rights to make the Ip Man biopic had expired.

Ip Man was released in Hong Kong on 18 December 2008, [1] receiving widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. The film was also released in New Zealand, and was the first country to release the Cantonese version due to time zone differences.

In the 1930s, Foshan thrives as the hub of Chinese wushu, with various sects actively recruiting disciples. They often compete against each other to prove their strengths. While Ip Man is an accomplished martial artist, he is unassuming and keeps a low-profile, and doesn't run any martial arts school, nor accept students. He only stays at home, quietly sparring with his compatriots in friendly competitions, swapping pointers with each other.

One day, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) is challenged by Master Liao (Chen Zhi Hui), who just set up a wushu school, in a closed match. Ip's teahouse owner friend (Wong You-Nam) who witnessed the entire fight, tells everyone about Master Liao losing. Seeing it as a public humiliation, Master Liao gets into disputes with Ip Man.

Henchmen of Jin Shan Zhao (Fan Siu-Wong) are going around challenging various wushu schools in Foshan. Martial Zealot Lin (Xing Yu) informs Ip Man, who was however, unable to go out and aid the masters because he respected his wife, Wing Cheng (Lynn Hung), who dislikes her husband fighting. Eventually, Jin Shao Zhao finds Ip's residence and challenged him. Ip dispenses him with ease using four Wing Chun Forms: fist, footwork, blade and cudgel.

Following Japanese invasion in 1937, everyone's life is adversely affected. Ip's property is confiscated and his family is forced to live in a decrepit house. Being one with strong pride, Ip refuses charity from his wealthy friend Zhou Qing Quan (Simon Yam), owner of a cotton mill, opting instead to work as a coolie at a coal mine to sustain his family.

One day, General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), together with his troops, arrives at the coal mine. As a fanatical practitioner in martial arts himself, he sets up an arena, offering rice as a reward. However, to another high-ranking Japanese officer Sato's (Shibuya Tenma) mind, they cannot afford to lose, they must preserve Japanese superiority and dignity.

Eagerly taking up the challenge, Martial Zealot Lin makes use of the opportunity to demean the Japanese, but was brutally beaten to death. After finding out that Martial Zealot Lin was killed, Ip Man is furious and he too, volunteers himself. In the arena, Ip Man makes a request; to challenge ten Japanese soldiers. He takes them out with ease. General Miura throws ten sacks of rice to Ip Man as a reward. He doesn't accept the reward, simply replying, 'I didn't come here for the rice'.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_Man_(film)