Beginning with the storyline of the film, writer Edmond Wong does an excellent job picking interesting elements to tell the story of Ip Man, without becoming burdened with the slower pacing that usually bogs down a biographical production. From the storyline to the choreography, there wasn't a single element that struck me as out of place or subpar, which is a rarity in Hong Kong cinema. If I had to summarize Ip Man in one word, it would be 'polished'. When Ip Man realizes his fellow comrades from Foshan are fighting for more than simply a bag of rice, he takes it upon himself to restore dignity to his people, regardless of the cost. As it turns out, the Japanese General (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) in charge of these contests is an expert in Karate, which he believes to be superior to any form of Chinese martial art. Ip Man is reluctant initially, but when a young friend of his agrees to the challenge for one bag of rice and never returns, he takes it upon himself to investigate. All of this changes when he and his fellow co-workers are invited to participate in private martial arts tournaments against Japanese practitioners. Recognized by the supervisor of a local coal mine, the martial arts master does what it takes to get by, hoping to weather the Japanese occupation and get back to the life he once had. That is until 1937, when the Japanese invasion of China leaves Ip Man and his once wealthy family in ruin, forcing him to take any work available. This talent occasionally leads to challengers from the North (brutes who lack refinement), but the townsfolk know they can always relay on Ip Man to restore their honor. Much to the dismay of his wife (Cheung Wing-Sing), Ip Man rarely turns fighters away without at least a modest display of his abilities. Periodically, students or grandmasters of these rival disciplines will visit Ip Man to stage a friendly contest, knowing he is regarded by many as the best among them. The main hub of the city-center is dominated by various martial art schools that co-exist in the name of friendly competition. Set in the Chinese city of Foshan, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) is a martial arts practitioner with immense respect among his peers.

Unfortunately, despite Donnie Yen's excellent performance and the high box office returns during its domestic run, Ip Man never landed a theatrical release on western shores, making this Blu-ray edition the first introduction most of us have to the critically-acclaimed film. To prepare for the physical demands of his role and make the production as authentic as possible, 45-year-old Donnie Yen underwent intense physical and mental training, culminating in some of his best martial arts work to date, (further cementing his status as one of the strongest leads in Hong Kong cinema).

In a nutshell Wing Chun focuses on the stability and balance of a practitioner's body, utilizing a skill set that incorporates deflections and counterattacks in close-range combat. Among his most famous students was a well-known film star by the name of Bruce Lee, who later assimilated the teachings of Ip Man into his own martial art called Jeet Kune Do.

For those unfamiliar with the background or relevance of Ip Man, he was the first practitioner of Wing Chun to openly teach its principles and methods to students all over the world. Released in 2008, Ip Man spans a 20 year period in the life of Yip Kai-man or 'Ip Man', the renowned grandmaster of a martial art known as Wing Chun. Reviewed by Dustin Somner, August 9, 2010 Sporting some of the greatest action choreography in recent memory, Ip Man should not be missed.

Download film ip man 4 bluray