The Grandmaster - 一代宗師

The Grandmaster (一代宗師) is an 2013 film out of Hong Kong. The movie is directed and written by the acclaimed Wong Kar-Wai. The film stars Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi. The supporting cast include Chang Chen, Song Hye-kyo, Wang Qingxiang, Zhang Jin, and Zhao Benshan. Cung Le makes a brief cameo in a fight under the rain. There are three version of the film. I have seen the Hong Kong and US versions.



Ip Man is in Foshan in 1936. A northern master has come south to retire and handing the reigns to his disciple Ma San. However, Ma San goes overboard and hurts combatants. Ip Man is to represent the Southern masters in one last duel with the Northern master. The two come to a non-physical duel. The duel is of ideals for martial arts. Ip Man wins by his philosophical ideal of expanding martials arts beyond the border of northern and southern Zhong Guo. Gong Er is the daughter of the defeated Northern master. Gong Er and Ip Man duel to pretty much a stand still before a Ip Man breaks a step. The terms of the duel were that nothing would be broken by the winner. Gong Er and Ip Man are than separated and long to reunite for another duel. Do the emotions they have for each go beyond their reverence for martial arts? The Sino-Japanese war lands in Foshan and Ip Man is forced to live in poverty for much of the remainder of his life. 1950 is here and Ip Man relocates to Hong Kong and sets up shop to spread Wing Chun.



This movie was not an action film. It was a Wong Kar-wai film. If you paused the film, it would look like a photograph you might hang on a wall. It was a beautiful film. The way Wong gets his films to look the way they do is amazing. 6 years was way too long from his last film, My Blueberry Nights.



The Hong Kong and US versions of the film were like watching two different films. The Hong Kong version was clocked at 130 minutes and the US one at 108. Another international version shown at the Berlin film fest was 123 minutes. I think only the HK and US version will be available to the general masses.



I liked the Hong Kong version better. It was classic Wong. The scenes were filled with flashbacks to an earlier times in the beginning moments. The non liner presentation made me long to know what was next. All along, I was pressed into the current scene and the grand emotions there. The dialogue was also pretty amazing. The Hong Kong version I watched was completely in Mandarin, I didn't have subtitles to distract me. I was able to focus on the faces, the scenery, the movie! Zhang Ziyi is still a beauty. During the Golden Palace scenes, she was plain and seemed to be without make up. While the other women all around her were made up and had fancy clothes on. BUT Zhang Ziyi was still heads above more beautiful than the rest of them. A testament to her natural beauty. The teahouse scene in Hong Kong between Zhang Ziyi and Tony Leung still resonances. From their philosophical chat and to Zhang's utter look of being defeated by life.

The US version was more linear and tried to tell a story from start the finish. Leaving out whole sub plots and inserting some scenes not in the HK version. I also enjoyed it and I recommend it to my US based friends as well. It's more digestible for the folks on this side of the pond. Marketed as a film about Bruce Lee's master, it left out the two main fight scene from Chang Chen's baji style.

In both films, the way Chang Chen's story was only a little of adding how the martial arts world had moved to HK was a disappointment. Knowing that rumors of an original 4 hour cut was around, I would have been very happy if Wong split the films into two!

The Man With The Iron Fists - 鐵拳

The Man With The Iron Fists (鐵拳) is an 2012 film. The movies stars RZA. With a rather large ensemble cast that include Rick Yune, Jamie Chung, Russel Crow, Lucy Liu, David Bautista, Cung Le, and Byron Mann. With special cameos from Pam Grier, MC Jin, Daniel Wu, Grace Huang, Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Bryan Leung, Zhu Zhu, and Terence Yin. Film primarily in Zhong Guo, you'll see a lot of actors based in HK show up in the film with "english speaking" roots.

RZA plays an iron smith that makes weapons for the different clans of Jungle Village. He is trying to save enough to buy the release of his brothel girlfriend, played by Jamie Chung. However, just as he was about to leave, a lot of gold comes through town. Bringing with it outsiders and the locals seeking to steal it. Lots and lots of fighting happens and the man with the iron fists must bring order to the town.

This movie was fun to watch. From both an "Asian American" POV and also from the POV of someone whom watches a lot of stuff from Zhong Guo, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It had me thinking the whole film. I was looking at all the familiar faces. Wondering whom in the cast grew up or spent time schooling in the USA, Canada, or Australia. Did they come from Singapore? The set pieces also got me thinking a lot. Would this set appear in an wuxia series or movie produced by locals? Lots and lots of thoughts. This is one of the few movies that had me pausing and rewinding alot.

The movie itself as a whole was good. Entertaining. I'd prolly have repeat watches of this if it shows up on cable. I however would not rent or buy this film (I rented this time). Also, all those questions I had were hard to overlook. Which might have caused me to not enjoy the film as much. I don't know if I could have avoided this due to the casting and my personal background.

The movie ends on a cliff hanger for a sequel. With its box office performance dismal, I highly doubt we'll see one. It was a fun ride for RZA, but we'll prolly see him making an "american" film next time around.

Dragon Eyes - 龍眼 - Upcoming

Dragon Eyes (龍眼) is being release today in limited release. Originally set for a straight to video (DVD/Blu-ray) release. It's seeing life on the big screen. The movie stars Cung Le with Jean-Claude Van Damme (JCVD). Set in New Orleans, this may be JCVD's first movie since Hard Target with John Woo (I can't confirm that). Seems to be a lot of gangsters, fighting, and kick @$$ in the movie. I am in! When it gets to DVD/Blu-ray.

True Legend - 蘇乞兒

True Legend (蘇乞兒) is a 2010 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Vincent Zhao, Zhou Xun, and Jay Chou. The supporting cast include Cung Le, Michelle Yeoh, Andy On, Guo Xiaodong, and David Carradine. The movie was directed by Yuen Woo-Ping.

The movie starts with a rescue mission of a prince of the Qing Dynasty. Vincent Zhao as Su Qi Er is the head of the mission and seemingly sacrifices himself so the others can take the prince to safety. Back at the camp now, the prince is confident the Su is still alive. Andy On plays Yuan, Su's adapted brother. Su is also married to Yuan's younger sister, Ying, played by Zhou Xun. However, Su's father killed Yuan and Ying's father 15 years earlier and adapted them into his household. Yuan still holds a grudge. Ying has moved on and is now a devoted wife and mother. Yuan is given a governor position in the Hubei region and goes back to Su's hometown for revenge. Yuan gets his revenge and kills Su's father and succeeds in eliminating Su's household. Su and Yuan fight for an extended period of time. But Yuan's five vemon technique is too much for Su. Su is thrown into a running river and Ying follows to save him. Yuan captures Su's son, Feng. Ying rescue's Su and takes him to Beido mountain, where they meet Yu, played by Michelle Yeoh. Yu is a expert doctor and cures Su of his wounds from the five venoms. Su's right arm is severely injured, but nurses it back to health. Su also starts to go a little mad and practices with a Wushun, a God of martial arts. After 3 years, he is fully recovered and goes back to save Feng from Yuan. But due to his madness, Ying goes ahead to save Feng. Yuan buries Ying when Su arrives. Su and Yuan battle again. This time, Su wins, but Ying suffocates from being buried. Su goes mad again and becomes a beggar. Feng and Su now travel from town to town looking for food as beggars. Su is drawn into a fight with the foreigners and wins.

Yuen Woo-ping directs his first film in more than 10 years. And its a doozy. The film has 3 main story arcs that cover Su's life. The calm, the suffering, and how he became a legend. In each arc, it feels very familiar. LIke comfort food. But it also throws in very modern elements. Like the drunken fist being half break dancing.

Jay Chou was blamed for this movie not doing well at the box office. Jay's character is barely in the movie and is part of Su's imagination.

If you're a fan of old skool and like the new skool martial art movies, True Legend gives you both and the fighting is quite entertaining. The movie is long due to the 3 storyarcs.

Fighting - 打出頭

Fighting (打出頭) is a 2009 out of the US. The movie stars Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, and Zulay Henao. Cung Le makes a special appearance as a fighter.

Channing Tatum is Shawn MacArthur, a street hustler selling fake iPods and Harry Potter books. In the front of Radio City, a crew led by Terrence Howard as Harvey Boarden, starts to mess with Shawn and eventually steal some of his materials and money. Shawn runs into Harvey's crew in a diner while passing by and demands his money. Harvey strikes up a relationship with Shawn and becomes his manager. Harvey gets Shawn more fights and each fight is more money. Shawn fights and fights his way up. While getting the girl too.

The movie was very predictable and the fighting wasn't very fluid. Too many edits and shaking going on. I think they need to do that to disguise the actors sake. Cung Le was in the "Asian" fight and again, the fight wasn't great due to the quick edits and shaking.

The Asians in the movie were played up to exotic or weird and in red. What's up with the stupid stereotypes. It played the Chinatown syndrome stereotypes to the max. Yet, later on, it was referenced as a Korean establishment. Yikes! Racist Hollywood at work. And I am only talking about the "Asian" scenes.