Here's Michelle's review of The Grandmaster
The Grandmaster is a beautiful addition to the martial arts
film world. It somehow balances epic
fight scenes with an emotional storyline and expertly weaves both of them
together into a gorgeous tapestry.
Having seen many Hong Kong martial arts movies, I am not so easily
impressed these days, but The Grandmaster managed to wow me with its
presentation and attention to detail. It
is the biography of The Ip Man who was a Grandmaster of Wing Chun and more
famously Bruce Lee’s trainer. The
Grandmaster takes some dramatic liberties with his story but for the most part
remains historically accurate, much more so than the popular film Ip Man which
was also based upon his life.
The fight scenes were choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping, made
famous in the United States for his work on The Matrix films. They are exquisitely done and feature some
subtle “wire fu” as well. I personally
love wire work in kung fu films but I know some people prefer realistic style
fighting—the action scenes are a blend of both styles and it never seems over
the top. There is no shaky-cam syndrome
as these are actual martial artists and there are tons of wide frame shots to
let you see all the action.
Many styles of fighting are showcased and Wing Chun is a
particularly graceful art to see utilized.
There are lots of shots of people practicing their forms and it’s neat
to see the expertise on display. The
set-pieces are amazing as well with a rainy street and a snow-covered train
station being standouts. The dramatic
portions of the movie look great as well but are filmed in a more practical
manner which makes it seem a little stale after seeing the outstanding action
scenes.
I didn’t find the musical score of the film to be
particularly memorable, but it does complement everything nicely and uses some
choir music for an interesting contrast.
If you have seen Ip Man and are looking for a different take on the
story, The Grandmaster is an excellent alternative. It might be a little bit slow paced for
someone looking for non-stop action, but will most likely still keep their
attention throughout.
-Review by Michelle Kisner