Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Aug 19, 2023

It’s all quite conventional... and nonetheless rousing. Yen, a master martial artist who learned Wing Chun for the role, is a model of martial grace and physical control...

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Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse Jul 24, 2022 7.5/10

“Ip Man” is a truly great film, a masterpiece of the genre, and a true classic of HK cinema.

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Nov 28, 2020 7/10

A superbly action-oriented kung fu epic.

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Ed Travis Hollywood Jesus Apr 9, 2020

I am finally aboard the Donnie Yen train, and Ip Man punched [my] ticket.

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Brian Costello Common Sense Media Sep 12, 2018 4/5

Excellent martial arts biopic on man who trained Bruce Lee.

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G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle Oct 28, 2010 3/4

A period piece filmed on obvious but eye-pleasing studio sets with wall-to-wall kung fu and a simplistic, philosophical message.

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Joseph Jon Lanthier Slant Magazine Oct 7, 2010 3/4

An explosive exercise in bare-knuckled myth-biography.

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Simon Abrams New York Press Oct 6, 2010

It remains an inexplicable, contextless bit of kung fu historicosploitation -- albeit a very satisfying one.

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Diva Velez TheDivaReview.com Oct 3, 2010 4/5

Not only is it one of the most entertaining and exciting movies out of Hong Kong for many years; Ip Man is a bona fide martial arts classic.

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Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Oct 2, 2010 8.67/10

A dazzling, exhilarating, refreshingly character-driven and thoroughly captivating experience that must be seen on the big screen. It's unlike any martial arts film you've seen before.

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Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com Oct 1, 2010

Wilson Yip has crafted a gripping, rousing, beautifully structured yarn, built around a calm but charismatic star performance by Donnie Yen and magnificent action sequences choreographed by the legendary Sammo Hung.

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Daniel Eagan Film Journal International Oct 1, 2010

First-rate martial-arts film about Bruce Lee's real-life teacher.

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Mike Hale New York Times Oct 1, 2010 3/5

The fanboys and girls won't notice such failings amid the displays of wing chun kung fu--the extras and body doubles do some truly impressive acrobatics--and those with a taste for big historical tearjerkers will be happy as well.

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V.A. Musetto New York Post Oct 1, 2010 2/4

If you're looking for great action scenes, you've found them. But if you desire more than eye candy, such as character and plot development and historical accuracy, you'll have to look elsewhere.

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Noel Murray AV Club Sep 30, 2010 B

As an exaggerated, myth-making martial-arts movie, Ip Man is often thrilling.

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David Fear Time Out Sep 29, 2010 2/5

Yen's handful of duels do delight; it's everything surrounding them that feels tired and trite.

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Nick Schager Village Voice Sep 28, 2010

Legend trumps fact in Ip Man, a kickass fictionalized biopic of the titular grandmaster of Wing Chun martial arts and mentor to Bruce Lee.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Sep 21, 2010 A

The astonishing fight scenes are some of the most exciting ever filmed in a martial arts movie that raises the bar for the genre. For any martial arts fan, "Ip Man" is mandatory viewing.

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Jeffrey Chen ReelTalk Movie Reviews Aug 9, 2010 8/10

The movie is clearly hagiographic, but this aspect and its general function as a martial arts movie are supported greatly by Yen.

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Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com Jun 27, 2010 50/100

First and foremost, Ip Man is an excuse for Yen to demonstrate his newfound mastery of the Wing Chun style. On that front, the film succeeds brilliantly.

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