'The Grandmaster' tells the story of real-life kung fu innovator Ip Man
Tony Leung plays Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee, in 'The Grandmaster.'
Tony Leung Chiu Wai stars in 'The Grandmaster.'
The Weinstein Company
鈥淭he Grandmaster鈥� is a kung fu epic directed by Wong Kar Wai, better known for the ethereal lushness of films like 鈥淚n the Mood For Love.鈥� I鈥檝e never been a big fan of Wong鈥檚 phantasmagoric prettiness, but at least here it provides a welcome corrective to the usual martial-arts mayhem.
Tony Leung plays Ip Man, the real-life kung fu innovator who most famously trained Bruce Lee. His life takes in the upheavals in China from the 1930s through the 鈥�50s, including the Japanese occupation. The best fighting sequence, though, features Zhang Ziyi in a wintertime battle with a rival as a train just inches away from them roars in the background. Grade: B (Rated PG-13 for violence, smoking, brief drug use, and language.)