Ip Man 2 (2010) ****

Ip Man 2 Ip Man 2 picks up just about where Ip Man (the first movie) left off. It’s the 1950’s and Ip Man, grandmaster of the Wing Chun style, is residing with his family in British colonial Honk Kong. Unable to find a job, Ip Man decides to start a martial art school. As with Ip Man – the first movie, Ip Man 2 is also divided into two distinguished parts. In the first, more credible part, Ip Man must fight other local martial art masters in order to gain a place of his own in the otherwise crowded by other martial art clubs space he moved into. In the second part, the film gets drenched in nationalism... Having gained reputation, Ip Man is yet again called to the flag, protecting the name of the Chinese culture, this time against an evil British boxer. Here too, stereotypes damage what is otherwise an engaging film. But as with the first Ip Man movie, the film is saved by superb martial arts scenes and excellent acting on the part of Donnie Yen and the other supporting cast members. As with the first film, attention is given to recreating the period and atmosphere. A node is given at the end to the young Bruce Lee, still years away from his time of glory.