Ip Man’s peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family’s honor. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man moves to Hong Kong and struggles to provide for his family. In the mean time, Gong Er chooses the path of vengeance after her father was killed by Ma San.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Ip Man: Tony Leung Chiu-wai
• Gong Er: Zhang Ziyi
• Razor: Chang Chen
• Ding Lianshan: Zhao Benshan
• San Jiang Shui: Xiao Shenyang
• Zhang Yongcheng: Song Hye-kyo
• Master Gong Yutian: Wang Qingxiang
• Ma San: Jin Zhang
• Jiang: Shang Tielong
• Gong Er Di Zi: Song Tao
• Uncle Deng: Lo Hoi-pang
• Iron Shoes: Cung Le
• Gong Clan Elder: King Shih-Chieh
• Chan Wah-shun: Yuen Woo-ping
• Master Yong: Lau Ga-Yung
• Master Rui: Shun Lau
• Primo: Julian Cheung
• Sister San: Zhou Xiaofei
• Brother Sau: Berg Ng
• Dark Spirit: Lo Meng
• Gong Er Stand-in: Fang Chengcheng
• Women of the Gold Pavilion: Jeana Ho
• Young Gong Er: Wu Yixuan
• Gong Clan Elder: George Wang
• Mr. Hung: Elvis Tsui Kam-Kong
• Master Ba: Wang Man-Cheng
• Cho Man: Cho Man-Keung
• Brother Ping: Siu Ping-lam
• Foshan Martial Artist: Tony Ling Chi-Wah
• Peking Opera Singer: Li Jing
• Brother Shui: Water Hung
• Funeral Procession Leader: Tong Han
• Ma San’s Disciple: Ni Haifeng
• Gold Pavilion Client: Yuen Cheung-Yan
• Razor’s Disciple: Yin Chunxiong
• Zhang Yongcheng (voice): Charlie Yeung
• …: Benz Kong To-Hoi

Film Crew:

• Screenplay: Wong Kar-wai
• Director of Photography: Philippe Le Sourd
• Original Music Composer: Shigeru Umebayashi
• Producer: Jacky Pang
• Music: Nathaniel Méchaly
• Compositors: Erik Classen
• Screenplay: Xu Haofeng
• Executive Producer: Dai Song
• Executive Producer: Chan Ye-cheng
• Martial Arts Choreographer: Yuen Woo-ping
• Executive Producer: Megan Ellison
• Co-Producer: Cheung Hong-Tat
• Co-Producer: Ng See-Yuen
• Story Consultant: Ip Chun
• Co-Producer: Ren Yue
• Music Consultant: Steve Macklam
• Co-Producer: Michael J. Werner
• Screenplay: Zou Jingzhi
• Makeup Artist: Kwan Lee-na
• Associate Producer: Johnnie Kong
• Art Direction: William Chang Suk-Ping
• Art Direction: Alfred Yau Wai-Ming
• Costume Design: Shandy Lui Fung-Shan

Movie Reviews:

• CinemaSerf: I’m a fan of Wong Kar-Wai’s films but I reckon that I still prefer Wilson Yip’s 2008 version of the Ip Man story. Set amidst the turbulent times in China that saw the end of the rule of Manchu dynasty, the embryonic republic established and then the Japanese invasion, we meet a man (Tony Leung) who lives peacefully in the small town of Foshan until he meets Wing Chun grand master Gong Yutian (Qingxiang Wang) who is looking for a successor. That is the beginning of a journey that will see him become a grand master of the martial art himself, whilst meeting, marrying and surviving! It’s a superb looking film but for me just a little too over-stylised. The combat scenes are creatively choreographed but the use of the slowed-down visual effects didn’t always work. Leung and the director are clearly on the same wavelength, and the story itself is a fascinating look at the rise of one culture through the wreckage of an ancient one. It’s also clear that women too had their place in this society – and it wasn’t always where stereotype might assume. A strong contribution from the adept and nimble Ziyi Zhang (Gong Er) demonstrates that well as battle lines between the old and new, the powerful and the aspirational are drawn and a good old dose of ancient tribal warfare sets up a proud story of heritage, loyalty and skill. Though a little soporifically scored at times, this is an enjoyable mix of history with touch of romance and plenty of action, and is well worth a couple of hours.