Ip Man 4: The Finale

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
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$1.46 M USD in 5 days in North America

I saw this last night. I planned to go to the 6:20 showing after work but it was SOLD OUT. On a Thursday! I went to the 9:10 showing and the only seats available were in the front row. I’ll have a review later on this.

Friday, January 3, 2020
Chinese martial arts film Ip Man 4: The Finale grosses 1.46 mln USD in 5 days in North America
Source: Xinhua| 2019-12-31 11:13:20|Editor: Wang Yamei

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) – Ip Man 4: The Finale, the latest installment in the Chinese martial arts film franchise Ip Man, has grossed more than 730,000 U.S. dollars in its opening weekend in North America with a five-day total of 1.46 million dollars through Sunday.

Ip Man 4: The Finale was released by Well Go USA Entertainment in Chinese and English with English and Chinese subtitles in select North American cities including Sacramento, New York and San Francisco.

According to studio figures released on Monday by U.S. analytics firm Comscore, the biographical martial arts film earned 737,718 dollars from 70 locations with a strong per-theater average of 10,539 dollars, ranking 16th among 73 films on the North American weekend box office chart. It landed in second on Comscore Specialized Top 10 Weekend Box Office Actuals Chart for films released in fewer than 1,000 locations.

Directed by Wilson Yip, the new film sees Donnie Yen reprising the title role as the legendary Wing Chun kung fu master. In the film, following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to the United States in order to ease the tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, and gets involved in a dispute between local armed forces and a Chinese martial arts school in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

The U.S. review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives Ip Man 4: The Finale a score of 90 percent based on 21 critics’ reviews and 1,521 Internet Movie Database (IMDb) users have given a weighted average vote of 7.6 out of 10 for the film to date.

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Our newest exclusive fight-focused movie interview

When Karate meets Wing Chun. READ Right On Time: Chris Collins and IP MAN 4: THE FINALE by Kurtis Fujita

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Not the first forum review since we published a KFM review

I went two weeks ago with our copy editor and my long-time Kung Fu brother Gary Shockley. We planned to catch the 6:20 showing but you know what? It was sold out. WTH? Usually we go to Chinese flicks and there’s only like a dozen attendees at most. Glad to see this doing so well on a Thursday. The next showing was 9:10 and the only seats available were front row. But we went for it. It actually worked out well because it gave us like 3 hours to chat over dinner at the Great Mall food court.

The finale was solid, actually a better franchise conclusion than Skywalker but that had so much more baggage to resolve. It was heartfelt and Donnie was on point dramatically and martially, under the masterful direction of Yuen Woo Ping. Engaging story, fine fight choreo. Danny Chan owns Bruce Lee. Always good to see Lo Meng and Kent Cheng as they reprise their supporting roles from previous installments. Chris Collins and Scott Adkins deliver as evil gwailo whitey racist *******s, over the top and yet not so in 2020 (Trumper snowflakes will hate it - the only redeeming non-Chinese is black). It’s set in SF Chinatown where there’s always lion dance. It almost looked like they used the same set for Bruce’s Oakland school from Birth of the Dragon. it’s got that Chinese filial nationalism so pervasive in Chinese film today. But ultimately, it delivers as a Kung Fu film with good action and pacing between the fight scenes - quite satisfying.

Catch it in the theaters if you can.

24

Our newest exclusive fight-focused movie interview

‘It’s about determination.’ READ Ready For Whatever Arises: Scott Adkins and IP MAN 4: THE FINALE by Kurtis Fujita

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I’ll have to see it when the DVD comes out. I missed its brief theatrical run, and have pretty much stopped going to movie theaters anymore.

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Chinese coverage

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2020-01-26 15:45
2020-01-26 15:53
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Facebook/@dennisleevt


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Wing Chun’s master Ye Wen second son Ye Zheng died of illness at the age of 83
Written by: Chen Baiyu
2020-01-26 15:45
Last updated:2020-01-26 15:53
Ye Chun, the grandfather of Wing Chun Boxing, asked Ye Zheng, who died at the age of 83 last year. Brother Ye Zheng, in an interview with the media, confirmed that his brother had died at 11 pm and pointed out that the other party had been ill for a while, and Li Yuchang, chairman of the Hong Kong Wing Chun Sports Association, also commented on his Facebook page: I am pleased to announce that Master Ye Zheng died peacefully last night. "

Ye Zheng has been studying Wing Chun with his father Ye Wen since he was 7 years old. Ye Wen went to Hong Kong in 1949. Ye Zheng stayed in Foshan with his mother Zhang Yongcheng and elder brother Ye Jun until 1962. Ye Zheng went to Hong Kong with his brother Ye Jun. It is rumored that Ye Jun and Ye Zheng were dissatisfied with his father’s falling in love with a Shanghai woman and gave birth to an illegitimate child, Ye Shaohua. Therefore, the two often went out early and returned home late, with little communication with their father. After Ye Wen’s death in 1972, Ye Zheng also left Wu Guan and opened a factory in the New Territories. He taught Wing Chun to others in private at home. In 1994, Ye Zheng was apprenticed to the Chinese academy class opened by the Wing Chun Sports Club, and occasionally taught Wing Chun Quan.

The role of Ye Zheng also appeared in the film series of “Ye Wen” starring Zhen Zidan, and played by Wang Shi and Ye He in “Ye Wen 3” and “Ye Wen 4” respectively.

From left: Li Yuchang and Ye Zheng. (Facebook / @ dennisleevt)

“Ye Wen 4” is played by mainland actor Ye He. (Still photos)

THREADS
RIP Grandmaster Ip Ching 1936-2020
Ip Man 4

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Respect!

‘China will win the coronavirus battle’: Ip Man star Donnie Yen donates HK$1 million to frontline medical workers in Wuhan
The 56-year-old star and film producer posts a 28-second video clip on Weibo thanking frontline medical staff
The Hong Kong actor’s donation comes at the back of two successful movie releases lately
Unus Alladin
Published: 5:50pm, 19 Feb, 2020


A sombre Donnie Yen thanks medical workers in his 28-second video clip on Weibo. Photo: Weibo

Ip Man star Donnie Yen Ji-dan will donate HK$1 million to medical staff working on the frontline in the fight to eliminate the coronavirus. And he believes China will win the battle.
Yen has been in the news lately with his finale of the Ip Man franchise bringing the curtain down on a highly successful series. His latest movie release, Enter the Fat Dragon, has also received positive reviews, giving him a solid foothold in the martial arts movie industry this year.


Donnie Yen gets serious in Ip Man 4: The Finale. Photo: Mandarin Motion Pictures

The 56-year-old Hong Kong martial arts star and film producer turned to a more serious note when he told thousands of his followers on Chinese website, Weibo, that he wanted to thank all medical workers in China in their fight against the coronavirus.
The Guangzhou-born star said paintings drawn by his two children, Jasmine and James, would also be donated to Wuhan to help “spread cheer” to frontline workers.
Wuhan is the epicentre of the coronavirus that has ravaged much of Hubei province and other parts of China. The deadly virus has spread to more than 25 countries.


Ip Man 4 is a fitting end to the franchise. Photo: Mandarin Motion Pictures

Speaking in Mandarin, Yen made a 28-second video which he posted on Weibo. A sombre-looking Yen said: “Hello everyone, I am Yen Ji-dan. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the medical frontline workers [in China]. In this critical moment, everyone please protect yourself well by wearing a mask and washing your hands more often. Distance yourself from the virus but don’t distance love. I believe our country [China] will win the battle against the virus and have the situation under control. Wuhan add oil [come on], China add oil.”
Ip Man 4 star Donnie Yen ‘very disappointed’ by Quentin Tarantino’s Bruce Lee depiction
12 Dec 2019

Having wowed movie audiences with the fourth and final instalment of the highly popular Ip Man series in Ip Man 4: The Finale, Yen has enjoyed a new lease of life with his latest movie, an action-packed buddy-cop comedy, Enter the Fat Dragon, which was released during the Lunar New Year holidays.


Donnie Yen in a still from Enter the Fat Dragon. Photo: Mega-Vision Pictures

Ip Man 4: The Finale broke box office records in several Asian markets such as Taiwan and Malaysia, ending the series on a bright note as one the most popular martial arts franchises in movie history.
His HK$1 million donation, which has been reported by the mainland media, triggered some positive love from his fans on Weibo. “Donnie is awesome and what he says is so warm and full of love!” said one Weibo user.
Yen is a well-known philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charity over the years.
In 2012, Yen and his wife Sissy Wang, co-founded Go.Asia, an online charity platform that encourages individuals to participate in charity work while serving local communities. Yen also served as an ambassador for the international charity Save the Children in 2015 and has supported other noble causes.
Yen is not the first Hong Kong martial arts star to help the Wuhan cause.
Fellow kung fu superstar Jackie Chan reportedly offered to pay one million yuan as a reward to whoever develops a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Unus Alladin
Unus Alladin is an award-winning sports journalist. He has covered the Hong Kong and international sports scene for more than 35 years, ranging from Formula One to the Olympic Games.

I’m going to see Enter the Fat Dragon tonight.

THREADS
Donnie Yen: Uber Awesome !!
Enter the Fat Dragon
Ip Man 4
COVID-19

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Hkfa 2020

May 6, 2020 2:31am PT[URL=“https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/better-days-hong-kong-film-awards-coronavirus-1234599252/”]
‘Better Days’ Dominant at Closed Door Edition of Hong Kong Film Awards
By Vivienne Chow


Goodfellas Pictures, Fat Kids Production

Chinese romantic crime drama “Better Days” directed by Hong Kong’s Derek Tsang, scooped eight awards at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, including best film, best director, best screenplay and best actress. Critically acclaimed elderly gay drama “Suk Suk” took the best actor and best supporting actress awards, organizers announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Winners, however, were unable to give acceptance speeches on stage as the awards ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic. The results were announced instead via a 25-minute live streaming event hosted by awards chairman Derek Yee.

Dressed in black tie, Yee appeared to be sitting in a dimly lit VIP cinema among the awards statuettes, yet to be presented to the recipients. He said despite the cancellation of the star-studded awards ceremony, organizers kept the polling going and received 1,675 votes from industry practitioners, about 57% of registered voters.

“Better Days” was yanked by mainland authorities from the Berlinale last year, but later became a box office sensation. It also earned awards for acting star Zhou Dongyu and China pop sensation Jackson Yee, and for best original film song for “Fly,” written by Ellen Joyce Loo, the Hong Kong singer-songwriter who died of suicide in 2018, age 32.

Action drama “Ip Man 4: The Finale” emerged as the biggest winner of craft awards, with prizes for film editing, sound design and Yuen Wo-ping’s action choreography.

2020 Hong Kong Film Awards Winners
Best Film
“Better Days” Produced by: Jojo Yuet-chun Hui

Best Director
Derek Kwok-cheung Tsang (“Better Days”)

Best Actor
Tai Bo (“Suk Suk”)

Best Actress
Zhou Dongyu (“Better Days”)

Best Screenplay
Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yimeng (“Better Days”)

Best New Performer
Jackson Yee (“Better Days”)

Best New Director
Norris Wong Yee Lam (“My Prince Edward”)

Best Costume & Makeup Design
Dora Ng (“Better Days”)

Best Art Direction
Cheung Siu Hong (“***ara”)

Best Film Editing
Cheung Ka Fai (“Ip Man 4: The Finale”)

Best Cinematography
Yu Jing Pin (“Better Days”)

Best Supporting Actor
Cheung Tat Ming (“i’m livin’ it”)

Best Supporting Actress
Patra Au Ga Man (“Suk Suk”)

Best Action Choreography
Yuen Wo Ping (“Ip Man 4: The Finale”)

Best Visual Effects
Yee Kwok Leung, Ma Siu Fu, Leung Wai Man, Ho Man Lok (“The White Storm 2: Drug Lords”)

Best Sound Design
Lee Yiu Keung George, Yiu Chun Hin (“Ip Man 4: The Finale”)

Best Original Film Song
“Fly” (from “Better Days”). Composer: Ellen Joyce Loo. Lyrics: Ellen Joyce Loo, Wu Qing Feng. Vocal artist: Yoyo Sham.

Best Original Film Score
Eman Lam (“My Prince Edward”)

Best Asian Chinese-Language Film
“An Elephant Sitting Still”

THREADS
HKFA
covid
Ip Man 4

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Finally saw it. I liked it more than I thought I would. IMO, its the best sequel of the Ip Man franchise.

Interestingly, Chris Collins, who plays the senior karate guy, is portrayed as a white racist, but actually looks half or part-Asian himself.

Scott Adkins, as the marine sergeant, gave the most expressive acting performance Ive ever seen from him.

The Ip Man franchise does little to make Chinese martial arts look good. In fact, except for Ip Man himself and the Wing Chun style, the Ip Man movies make CMA look really bad, for the most part. All the CMAists from all the other styles always get decimated by the non-Chinese martial artists, and its up to Ip Man to fight for their honor. I especially feel bad for Lo Meng. In all three of the Ip Man movies hes appeared in, hes gotten his butt handed to him, easily. He was great in his Shaw Brothers/Venoms days, but in the movies now, hes what the pro wrestlers call a jobber; a guy who is always scripted to lose to make everyone else look good. I get that hes old now, but come on. If youre still going to cast him in movies, at least let him shine once in a while and not look totally inept.

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Three upcoming Donnie Yen projects

Ip Man 5 among three Donnie Yen films revealed at Cannes (exclusive)
BY SILVIA WONG 17 MAY 2023

SOURCE: MANDARIN MOTION PICTURES
IP MAN 4: THE FINALE
A trio of action films led by martial arts superstar Donnie Yen have been revealed by Hong Kong-based Mandarin Motion Pictures at the Cannes market.

The company will introduce Ip Man 5, Flash Point Resurgence and Misjudgement to buyers at the Marché this week.

Yen, who was most recently seen in John Wick: Chapter 4, is well known for his role as the eponymous Ip Man, the real-life Wing Chun grandmaster who was a teacher of Bruce Lee. The previous instalment, Ip Man 4: The Finale, generated more than $176.3m at the worldwide box office following its release in 2019.

Flash Point Resurgence is developed from 2007s Flash Point, which also starred Yen and Louis Koo. No directors have yet been revealed for the projects but all four Ip Man films and Flash Point were directed by Wilson Yip.

The third title, Misjudgement, has Chinas Huace Pictures as a co-investor.

Plot details have yet to be revealed.

Cannes
SPL-aka-Sha-Po-Lang-aka-Flashpoint
Ip-Man-4-The-Finale
Misjudgement