IP Man 2 (2010)

IP 2

Huang Xiaoming as Wong Leung

The sequel to the hit 2008 movie “Ip Man” Donnie Yen reprises his role as the Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man. This time the movie focuses on Ip Man’s life in Hong Kong in the 1950’s.  The thing to remember is that the films (Ip Man 1-3) are loosely based on the real life folk hero and there have been many complaints about its inaccuracies one of which was from Ip Man’s own son Ip Chun. However as an entertaining story this is by far one of my favorite Ip Man movies.

Personally I found the film engaging and entertaining. Donnie Yen’s performance was good, Sammo Hung is always a delight to see in any movie.  The acting all around was descent, the sets and costumes believable.  The fight choreography is absolutely astonishing!  Which comes as no surprise with the legendary Sammo Hung as the Action Director.

IP 1

Left to Right: Donnie Yen as Ip Man and Sammo Hung as Hung Chun-nam

Donnie Yen (Seven Swords, An Empress and the Warriors, Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny) as Ip Man, the sole practitioner of the martial art Wing Chun. He arrives in Hong Kong with his family during the 1950s to settle there and set up a Wing Chun school.

Sammo Hung (A Touch of Zen, The Prodigal Son, 14 Blades) as Hung Chun-nam, a Hung Ga master who suffers from asthma. Initially, he is Ip Man’s nemesis, but later becomes his friend.

Huang Xiaoming (The Banquet, The Guillotines, The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom) as Wong Leung, Ip Man’s first student. This character is based on Wong Shun Leung (a Chinese martial artist from Hong Kong who studied wing chun kung fu under Yip Man).

Lynn Hung (Ip Man, Ip Man III) as Cheung Wing-sing, Ip Man’s wife.

Simon Yam (Young and Dangerous 1-3, The Storm Warriors, 7 Assassins) as Chow Ching-chuen, Ip Man’s friend who appeared in the first movie. He roams the streets of Hong Kong as a beggar with his son.

Darren Shahlavi (300, Kick Boxer: Vengence) as Taylor “The Twister” Miler, a British boxing champion. His Chinese nickname is “Whirlwind”.

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