MASTER Z: THE IP MAN LEGACY

Hong Kong, 2018, 108 minutes, Colour.

Jin Zhang, Dave Bautista, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa, Brian Thomas Burrell, Chrissie Chau, Kevin Cheng, Yan Liu.

Directed by Woo-Pinig Yuen.

For a period of over 10 years, audiences enjoyed films, featuring Donnie Yen as Ip Man, which traced his career from prewar years, the war period and Hong Kong after the war.

In 2018, a character from these films, Cheung, who had been a martial arts teacher and had rivalled Ip Man but in a private fight with him, lost and decided to retire.

This is his story, along with his son, in rather drab Hong Kong in the postwar years, trying to make a living as a shopkeeper, giving up on his past and his martial arts skills and teaching. However, it is a period of gangsters and the triads, of these characters throwing their weight around, setting fire to businesses as revenge, groups of thugs ready for fights.

By chance, as he is making shop deliveries, Cheung encounters two women being pressurised by a sadistic Kit, brother of the head of the triad (who is played by Michelle Yeoh, always dignified and a strong presence, and having the opportunity for some martial arts herself). The incident means that Cheung has to fight, but Kit orders his shop burnt and he and his son are given refuge by one of the women whom he saved earlier, whose brother runs a significant bar in Hong Kong.

Which means then that there will be further encounters, quite a number of interestingly choreographed fights, chilling with Kit’s thugs, Julia’s brother, Fu, also fighting, and an encounter with an expatriate, Owen Davidson, played by Dave Bautista, charming with his restaurant and cooking, a high reputation as he supervises an auction for charity, but, actually, a drug dealer who pays off the police (a very unflattering picture of British police force in colonial domineering attitudes).

There is quite some sentiment in the relationship between father and son. There are some comic moments. But, eventually, there is a buildup to a confrontation with Owen Davidson and some more fighting – and an expose and the turning of the tables against the corrupt British police.

Very entertaining in its way.

1. Memories of Ip Man? His legacy? The films? This film as a spin-off?
2. Hong Kong, the postwar period, the local population, British rule? Corrupt police? The triads? The world of gangsters, business, moneymaking? Pressure on ordinary citizens? And the tradition of martial arts, teachers?
3. The background of Cheung, the flashbacks to past films, his skills, a teacher, the fight with Ip Man, defeat, withdrawing, with his son?
4. Setting up in Hong Kong, the shop, his business, the deliveries, the bond with his son, happy, joking, breakfast? Buying the toy for his birthday? The chance encounter with the young women, his defence of them, the thugs, the confrontation with Kit? The police, corrupt, arresting everyone, the interrogations, the officials letting the men go? His eventual release? Getting dressed up for the dinner, too late, the encounter with Owen Davidson, his promise of a good meal?
5. The choreography for the fights, their insertion into the action, with Kit and his thugs, eventually with Owen Davidson, the fight with Fu, Fu fighting and his death? The culminating fight, in the streets? The fight with Kwan?
6. The fire, Kit and his thugs, the son taken to hospital, Julia and her help, taking them to the club, Fu, accommodation, Cheung working as a waiter, the dominance of the foreign visitor?
7. The triad, Kwan, matriarch, traditions from her father, dealing with Kit, the board meeting, declaration that they would go to legitimate, the discussions, the vote of the board? Her trying to control Kit? Going to the auction, buying the vase, her being denounced? The visit of the club, the discussions with Cheung, the cheque in payment, his reaction? The later confrontation and martial arts fight with her?
8. Owned Davidson, the host, his cooking, the birthday party? The auction, his chairing? The reality of his drug dealing, the money to the police chief, kit and the heroine, the buildup to the confrontations? With Fu, the fight? Killing him? Attempting to leave, Cheung and his accosting him, the fight, in the streets, his being killed by the hitman on behalf of Kwan?
9. Cheung, a man of integrity, his memories of the past, the relationship with Julia, trying to help and Nana, her being overwhelmed by Kit and his men and her dying? The bond with Fu, the fight? His death? Preserving his son?
10. Ultimate action, the confrontation with Kwan and Kit, his losing his arm? He and his sister leaving?
11. The happy ending for Cheung and his son?