There’s a new Ip Man movie out. I’ll always associate Ip Man with Donnie Yen’s portrayal in four movies but the legendary Wing Chun teacher is always a good subject for martial arts movies
As fictional stories starring Ip Man go, Kung Fu Legend is basic. Gangsters are strongarming the martial arts schools and frame Ip (Dennis To) for murder so he fights a lot. Beginning with an elegant fight involving lit candles and a dragon dance fight and builds to a prison melee.
In 4K UHD that dragon fight is in an open courtyard at night with moonlight and lantern light. That prison fight finds lush dark corners of shadow.
Sound envelops with swooshing fists and feet. Impacts echo behind you. The prison bars clank in the rear too and the sprinkler fills every speaker during the riot.
This is actually To’s fourth movie as Ip Man, and he’s also played different characters in Yen’s series. So I’ll probably go back and watch his other ones to see more kicking and teaching.