1930年代の中国。北の八卦掌のグランド・マスターであるゴン・パオセンは引退を決意し、その地位と南北統一の使命を譲る後継者を探していた。候補は弟子のマーサンと、南の詠春拳のグランド・マスター、イップ・マン。パオセンの娘で、奥義六十四手をただ一人受け継ぐゴン・ルオメイも、父の反対を押し切り名乗りを上げる。だが、野望に目が眩んだマーサンがパオセンを殺害。ルオメイは父のため仇討ちを誓う。後継者争いと復讐劇が絡み合う、壮絶な闘いの幕が切って落とされたー。
製作費: $38,600,000 (58億円)
興行収入: $64,076,736 (96億円)
推定収支: $25,476,736 (38億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
監督: ウォン・カーウァイ
音楽: 梅林茂 / Stefano Lentini
撮影監督: フィリップ・ル・スール
制作会社: Sil-Metropole Organisation / Annapurna Pictures / Block 2 Pictures / Jet Tone Production
I'm a fan of Wong Kar-Wai's films but I reckon that I still prefer Wilson Yip's 2008 version of the Ip Man story. Set amidst the turbulent times in China that saw the end of the rule of Manchu dynasty, the embryonic republic established and then the Japanese invasion, we meet a man (Tony Leung) who lives peacefully in the small town of Foshan until he meets Wing Chun grand master Gong Yutian (Qingxiang Wang) who is looking for a successor. That is the beginning of a journey that will see him become a grand master of the martial art himself, whilst meeting, marrying and surviving! It's a superb looking film but for me just a little too over-stylised. The combat scenes are creatively choreographed but the use of the slowed-down visual effects didn't always work. Leung and the director are clearly on the same wavelength, and the story itself is a fascinating look at the rise of one culture through the wreckage of an ancient one. It's also clear that women too had their place in this society - and it wasn't always where stereotype might assume. A strong contribution from the adept and nimble Ziyi Zhang (Gong Er) demonstrates that well as battle lines between the old and new, the powerful and the aspirational are drawn and a good old dose of ancient tribal warfare sets up a proud story of heritage, loyalty and skill. Though a little soporifically scored at times, this is an enjoyable mix of history with touch of romance and plenty of action, and is well worth a couple of hours.
