"The Legend Is Born – Ip Man" Japanese Theatrical Poster
AKA: Ip Man 3, Yip Man 3, Yip Man Prequel
Director: Herman Yau
Cast: Dennis To, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Fan Siu-wong, Huang Yi, Ip Chun, Kenya Sawada
Running Time: 100 min.
By HKFanatic
Viewers would be forgiven for thinking that “The Legend is Born” is a legitimate prequel to Donnie Yen’s “Ip Man” series. Not only was it erroneously marketed as “Ip Man Zero” in order to capitalize on the success of Yen’s films but it also stars Sammo Hueng and Fan Siu-Wong (“Ricky-Oh: The Story of Ricky“), who both had major roles in the “Ip Man” movies. However, “The Legend is Born” is not part of the same series.
The temptation, then, is to see this as a cash-in on the part of director Herman Yau, a way to make a profit off the newfound popularity of Bruce Lee’s mentor Yip Man; and this film is at least part of the reason why Donnie Yen has abandoned development on “Ip Man 3″ for the time being. But after watching the film myself, I can say it’s actually pretty good. To put it another way: I doubt Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, two martial arts legends in their own right, would have signed on for this movie if they thought it was crap.
I don’t envy any actor who has to fill Donnie Yen’s shoes. But that’s just what young martial artist and actor Dennis To has to do in “The Legend is Born,” as he steps into the role of a young Ip Man. Dennis acquits himself rather nicely in the film’s many fight scenes but his acting leaves something to be desired. He comes across as a bit flat and unemotional, but then again there’s a point in the movie where another character actually compares him to a wooden training dummy so perhaps his stiff manner was intentional. He simply lacks the charm and warmth of Donnie Yen in the role but I wouldn’t write this kid off just yet.
“The Legend is Born” traces another fictionalized arc in the Yip’s life, following his first journey to Hong Kong for educational purposes and the development of his Wing Chun skills. I’m not sure if the real Yip Man had a half-Japanese brother – probably not – but this angle is played up for maximum conflict. The real problem with the film’s screenplay is that it often feels like a montage of Ip Man’s early life, a ‘cliff notes’ take on its protagonist, whereas Donnie Yen’s films excelled at choosing a period in Ip Man’s life and telling a complete story from there. There are times when “The Legend is Born” feels entirely superficial in comparison to the first “Ip Man,” and the low production values certainly don’t help.
But fortunately “The Legend is Born” excels where it counts: the fight scenes. Despite a slow stretch towards the start of the third act, this film is fairly packed with action. The choreography is by Tony Leung Siu Hung, an underrated action director who has worked on many classic Hong Kong films and helmed the 90′s Gary Daniels flick “Bloodmoon.” Dennis To practiced Wing Chun for six years before his break into acting (he even had a brief appearance in “Ip Man 2“), while anyone who’s seen “The Story of Ricky” or the first “Ip Man” knows that Fong Sai Hung can kick ass. Toss in some fight scenes for Yuen Biao and a surprise cameo from the actual Yip Man’s real life son, Ip Chung, and “The Legend is Born” has the chance to win over even the most staunch Donnie Yen fan.
This is not the first movie about Ip Man and it won’t be the last – Wong Kar-Wai has his own take on Master Yip coming sometime next year. Donnie Yen’s achievements may tower over “The Legend is Born” but there’s enough about this would-be prequel to recommend. Even with a slightly un-involving performance from Dennis To, supporting turns from HK veterans like Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao help color the film, and the fight choreography from Tony Leung Siu Hung is topnotch. If you’re curious to learn more about the life of Ip Man, albeit in a highly fictionalized and exaggerated context, then “The Legend is Born” should prove enjoyable.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10
By Mighty Peking Man
“The Legend is Born: Ip Man” is truly forgettable. It doesn’t suck major ass, nor is it any good, it’s just stuck in so-so land.
Not sure how closely it’s tied with the Wilson Yip/Donnie Yen movies, but much of the same crew and talent (with the exception of the obvious) worked on it. Some say it’s an official title in the series, others say it isn’t. A number of people who worked on both films have openly stated that it’s not, but maybe that’s their way of relieving themselves of critical pressure surrounding their “prequel.” Official or not, I classify it as “usless without Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen.”
Considering the film’s budget, which seems to be fair, I feel like the result could have been a lot better. The slickness is present, but there’s something messy about the film’s structure. For being the ‘movie land’ story of a teenage Ip Man, it could have worked 1 of 2 ways: Total training movie, with mindless action scenes thrown in; or mindless action movie, with training scenes thrown in
As it stands, the story had too many signs of forced theatrics: twists, spies, romance, love triangles, and New Fist of Fury-esque Japanese villains. It’s a cluster fuck if you ask me, especially for being a “prequel.”
The fight scenes aren’t bad, but they feel weak compared to Sammo’s choreography work in the other “Ip Man” films. They never reach the peak or come satisfyingly close (and don’t give me that “but he’s not an established master yet” bullshit).
“The Legend is Born: Ip Man” is directed by Herman Yau, who has produced and directed more than 70 movies. He’s mostly known for the cult favorites, “The Untold Story” and “Ebola Syndrome.” Since I’ve only seen a couple of his films, I have no clue how far his talent goes, but it would be safe to assume that “The Legend is Born: Ip Man” isn’t one of his best. Despite his diverse (and edgy) filmography, a “Ip Man” film seems like the last thing I’d give this guy to tackle.
As far as Dennis To (Ip Man)… well, better luck next time, fella. His performance is acceptable, but any brilliance this guy has is overshadowed by the disorganized production; not only that, but come on, you’re up against Donnie Yen for Christ’s sake — that would be like some unknown playing the lead in a prequel to “Enter the Dragon” a few months after the original was released.
By the way, I could give a rat’s ass about Ip Chun (actual son of the real life Ip Man) making an appearance. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the guy, but I’d rather watch a good movie without him, than a half-assed one with him. My point is: don’t think Ip Chun’s cameo gives this film any kind of credability. The same can be said about Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao’s appearances. I’m just being honest.
If this were a non-Ip Man movie that stood on its own, I think it would have worked a little better. I know the comparisons are getting old, but this is what you get when you try and make your own Ip Man flick based on the popularity of the other two.
Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 5/10
