Ip Man 2.

Rachel Pitzer

I wanted to watch Ip Man 2 to try and see if the director used the same techniques, but I did not find a lot to be similar. The plot was basically the same, but this time he was fighting a British boxer. The opening scene was a flashback of when the Japanese invaded their town, and it was in black and white and in slow motion. Then after that scene, it was the exact same as the opening scene in the first movie with him practicing on the wooden post. Also, he started his own school; after the first movie, Ip Man and his family fled to Hong Kong, and this is where this movie is taking place. Throughout this whole movie, the colors were very bright, so I got the sense that there was more hope in this movie than the first one. This time, however, when there was any kind of fighting, the coloring got very dull, and sometimes the lighting would get darker. In the first movie, there was no change in color or lighting when there was fighting taking place. There were a lot of flashbacks in this movie as well. When Ip Man was fighting the boxer, he had a flashback of when another Master fought the boxer and was killed; this gave him much inspiration to not give up and keep fighting. Also, when Ip Man saw his friend from the first movie, he discovered that he was shot in the head, and suffered severe brain damage which made him not remember anyone. During this time, the movie flashbacked to when his friend was shot, and then it made Ip Man flashback to when his friend was normal. For the fight scenes, there were still a lot of close ups like in the first movie. In this movie, Ip Man’s wife was pregnant with their second child. I think this symbolized a new beginning. She had the baby during his fight with the boxer. Then, after the fight was over, Ip Man’s friend that was shot heard Ip Man’s name on the radio and remembered him. When the fight was over, Ip Man ran home to see his wife and new baby. I think this baby symbolized that there was a new, bright beginning for them and the Chinese people.

Both Ip Man movies reminded me of American films because they were both about good defeating bad.

Ip Man.

Rachel Pitzer

For my first movie, I decided to watch Ip Man. This movie is about Chinese martial arts, and it is based off of a true story. The movie starts out with many students at a martial arts school. The one teacher—master—goes to challenge this very humble man, Master Ip; he is supposedly the best martial artist in the town. Although he is very good, he continually turns down offers to open up his own school and take in disciplines. Then, the Japanese army took over China, and killed much of the Chinese population. Martial arts was not practiced anymore, and people had to take up hard labor jobs, including the once wealthy Master Ip. However, the Japanese general that was in charge of their town would have fighting competitions. Master Ip decided to go one day after his friend had went and never returned. When he went to the competitions, he discovered how corrupt they were, and wanted to seek justice. He arranged to fight the general, and won. He did not fight to show who was better or stronger, but he wanted to fight to gain some respect back for his people.

The first thing I noticed when watching this movie is that Ip Man’s wife and the Japanese general were the tallest people in the film. I think the director made them the tallest people to show that they were the most influential people in his life. During one of Ip Man’s battles in the beginning of the movie, his wife was mad that he was fighting and did not want him to. When his opponent saw that Ip Man was hesitating on fighting because his wife was upset, he made the comment that Ip Man was scared of his wife. Ip Man came back with the comment “Men are not scared of their wives; they only show much respect for them.” This was very apparent throughout the whole movie. Ip Man tried to respect his wife’s wishes the best he could. He tried to make the best life for his wife and son, and when she presented him with a problem, he tired to accommodate to it as best as he could. So, I think the director made his wife tall to show that his decisions were made with his wife’s best interest in mind, and that she had a huge impact on his life. The general also had a huge impact on his life, but in a different way. When the Japanese invaded their town, he finally decided to start teaching so people could defend themselves.  Also, when he saw what the general was doing to his people, it made him realize what was really important, and that is why he started fighting again. Once he defeated the general, the people in his town took over the Japanese and got their lives back.

During the first half of the movie, the lighting and scenery coloring was very bright; you could tell life was good. However, when the Japanese invaded their town, the coloring became very dull and the lighting was darker. In the film, it showed the transition of when the Japanese took over. The director made this part of the film in black and white, and only the Japanese flags were in color. Also, this part of the film was in a slower motion. For the fighting scenes, there were song long shots of the camera to show the fighting, but there were a lot of close up shots of the fighters’ fists and kicking. In the very opening scene of the movie, Ip Man was practicing his fighting on this wooden post that kind of resembled a human with arms and legs sticking out. When he was fighting the general, it flashed back to when he was practicing, and the general looked like the wooden post. Ip Man fought the general the same way he practiced on the wooden post. When he would strike the general, it would flashback to the wooden post, and each time he would strike the general, he showed the exact same thing on the post.

Fearless

Jet Li's Frearless is a tale of redemption of a young up-and-coming Kung Fu master. We find the main character growing up in a competitive culture of fighters to see who can be the best fighter in the land. His rise to the top made him very prideful and foolish. At the top of his fame, he kills a rival master. Consequently his whole family is kill by the opposing side. Our hero retreats into the country side where he morns the death of the ones he truely loved. During this time he is taught by simple rice farmers the virtues of patience and self-control, which he takes back to his home region to regain his honor as Kung Fu master. He eventually forms the Jingwu Sports Federation and is challenged by Foreign Chamber of Commerce to see who is the best fighter in the world. Even though this fight will kill him, his virtues still prevailed in the end, making him the best fighter in the world.

This movie is stunning to watch. The camera captures the fluidity of the fighting along with the intensity and skill of the fighting. What we gather from just simply watching the film is a very up-close view of Kung Fu and how the fighters fought.  Also color is an important visual trope in this film. The first half of the film, though there is color, it is not vibrant at all. In fact I will argue that this was a careful choosing of the film makers to show the redemption process through out the main character's life. This is true when he is living and working in the village. The country side is much brighter and vibrant than the city, which gives the audience a inclination that there is some sort of change that will happen during his stay.

Another important visual trope in this film is the blindness of his caretaker. She was blind at birth but I know this shows a very definite truth in this film. Even though she was blind, she knew more about living and the values of life than our hero. We realize that our hero is the one who is truly blind and eventually regains his sight on what is important and what is the value of Kung Fu.

This movie is a wonderful example that Kung Fu is more than just a fighting style, is a disposition on life. Fighting is the expression of the discipline and self control of Kung Fu. This powerful film of redemption is a modern way of capturing the true essence of what particular fighting styles are for.

Globalization

When it comes to the globalization of film industries within the US and Asia, the martial arts play an important role. In the article “Martial arts and the globalization of US and Asian film industries” from Comparative American Studies, Christina Klein addresses the use of martial arts in film to reach a more global audience. The article talks about how the US and Asian industries are becoming more intertwined with one another. Both industries are moving toward each other, Hollywood is becoming more “Asianized” and Asia is becoming more “Hollywoodized.” I found this article to be extremely intriguing and important when it came in comparison to the movies that the group watched.

One major topic Klein addresses is that of Jack Chan. Chan had made an appearance in a movie that I watched, Robin-B-Hood. Chan has been popular among the Asian film industry since the 1970s and 80s with his break through to the Hollywood scene being in the 1990s. Years of hard work in the Peking Opera martial arts, self done stunts and the ability to tie comedy into it all made Chan the first Asian star to make it big in Hollywood. Another reason both US and Asian film goers find Chan so appealing is his refined athleticism and his creative use of props. There are many examples of this in Robin-B-Hood. In the movie Chan is able to make his way down a roller coaster (cars racing by him and all) while carrying a baby on his chest. Another example is his ability to make it down the side of a building by jumping from one air conditioner to another. It is this type of athleticism the Klein addresses in the article.

Another example Klein points out is the movie Hero directed by Zhang Yimou. Hero was widely accepted across Asia but exploded onto the western scene. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and was second to Titanic as the highest grossing film. The use of first class cinematography, beautiful costumes, extraordinary sets, internationally recognized actors (including Jet Li), and special effects set Hero apart from other Asian films. The elaborate fight scenes can draw in a wide audience. Klein also points out that the movie is deeply rooted in its East Asian culture but is also flexible so it can relate to a more global audience. It is this kind of movie making that can help tie together both US and Asian audiences.

Work Cited:

Klein, Christina. (2004). Martial arts and the globalization of US and Asian film industries. Compartative American Studies, 2(3), 360-384.

Four Dragons

Kinta, or better known in the United States as Four Dragons, is a visually stunning action martial arts film. Set back in the year 1881 in Kinta when large quantities of tin were discovered which was very profitable. As a result of this sudden tin discovery, hundreds of men migrated to this area in search of work and a better life. However, all these men quickly realized that they were no longer free men, but instead prisoners to Tin Sok, Master Hoong and Master Sam. Four key prisoners emerged named Dragon, Blaze, Ace and Tiger trying desperately to become free men again. This story contains elements of escape, betrayal and love intertwined perfectly throughout.

Within the first ten minutes, unique cinematic characteristics distinguish this film from other martial arts films. This film delivers a knockout punch in the area of visual effects and editing during intense fight scenes. The use of slow motion and bright, red colored blood in large quantities was utilized to make the fight scenes more intense and dramatic. I personally believe that director C.L. Hor did a terrific job of balancing the use of these visually stunning fight scenes showcasing blood. The picture below is a great example of the use of blood as a cinematic device while fighting.

Further into the film, the four prisoners, collectively known together as the four dragons, were ambushed from the order of Master Honng. This high-ranking evil official would not tolerate anybody trying to hinder his lucrative tin business. Each of the four dragons survived which led to the sudden questioning of several people. Dan Dan the daughter of Master Hoong became distant from her father because of how he was treating all of his workers. She however, falls in love with Tiger against her father’s wishes.

Blaze, who was raised by Tin Sok, eventually discovered in a letter that his father was Master Sam who abandoned him as a child. Blaze quickly grew attached with Master Sam and Master Hoong and their interests in expanding the tin business. As a result, Blaze killed his friend, Dragon, as a request from his father.

At the end of the film there is a fighting tournament with the belief that whoever is the last man standing becomes the new leader. Blaze threw himself into the cage fighting on behalf of Master Sam and Ace enters to challenge him. They both become knocked out which sets up two more contenders. The last fight scene is between Forest who is on Master Sam’s side and his opponent Tiger. Finally, Tiger who is being cheered on by Dan Dan overcomes all odds and defeats Forest to set all of the tin workers free.

Thinking that Tiger has successfully saved the day and also hundreds of lives is completely incorrect. By the year 1884, Kantin became the biggest exporter in the entire world of tin. So the unbalance of power, the struggles and hardships of all people will continue.

A narrator was used frequently throughout the course of the film, which is considered a narrative pattern. The narrator was able to provide more information pertaining to certain situations that otherwise would not have been understood. A second narrative pattern was the use of flashbacks that both Tiger and Dragon would have the night they were ambushed. These two characters would frequently dream about that night and how they barely survived.

The Warlords

If someone enjoys films that contain bravery, betrayal and dramatic action sequences then The Warlords is the perfect choice. This film begins in the year 1861 when the Taiping rebels have already obtained half of the China Empire. General Ho was the man in charge of the Taiping rebels. He and his soldiers quickly earned the reputation as being unmerciful and unintimidated. However, due to General Pang Qingyun (Jet Li) the reign of the Taipings would eventually come to an end. General Pang was determined to provide everyone with the ability to live as he or she chooses instead of being under the control of the Taipings.

In the opening scene of the film, all of the Ching soldiers were brutally killed by the Taiping rebels in battle leaving only one survivor. This one fortunate individual was General Pang. He avoided his death by pretending to be dead. He eventually found his way to a town of bandits where he became a blood brother with two other men, Er-Hu and Zhang. All three of these men took a sworn oath stating they would protect the lives of each other at all costs. When General Pang learned that the Taiping rebels had already overtaken both Nanking and Suzhou and were heading to Beijing, he knew that he and his blood brothers must overtake them. The picture below displays Pang, Er-Hu and Zhang after they have successfully become blood brothers.

As a result of General Pangs willingness and desire to defeat the Taipings, Lord Chen provided Pang with hundreds of soldiers and food. This event began several battles with the Taiping in various locations throughout China. The first battle depicted, between China and the Taipings proved to be very effective at utilizing cinematic devices. The Taibings were walking through a large canyon while Pang and his soldiers were the top of the canyon cliff looking down upon them. During this particular battle scene, the camera continuously switched angles from looking down to looking back up. In my opinion, the change in camera angles was very effective because I was able to visually see what each army was also able to see.

A narrative pattern was also depicted in this film when General Pang and his soldiers went to Nanking to take control. The screen displayed that three years had past since Pang and his troops had been at Nanking fighting. This allowed me as the observer to understand the time line of events.

Furthermore, at the start of the film General Pang is laying next to all of his dead his solders on the ground. Pang walks around and agonizes over all of the deaths that had been lost. Towards the end of the film Pang orders the assassination of more 4,000 unarmed civilians against the will or Er-Hu. After this slaughter Pang once again goes down and walks beside all of the dead bodies lying on the ground. These two scenes were a clear example of a visual trope used in the film.

However, decisions like the one just mentioned were a main factor in the blood brothers eventual betrayal of each other. Due to the Pang’s contradictions and his dishonest decisions, he was conflicted with Er-Hu and Zhang. After a shocking ending both Pang and Er-Hu died while Zhang survived suffering broken legs fighting Pang. On his way to become Governor of Nanking Pang was then killed. It was never explained what had happened to the Taiping rebels; nor did the film explain if Zhang had survived his fight with Pang.

Wu Shu Styles

During my research about Chinese film and martial arts techniques I found an article(that is the link that will take you to the article) taken from a book that I would like to share with you. It outlined a few of the basic parts of "wu shu" which is the adopted Chinese martial arts form. In this style you have the form of:

• "bare-handed exercises which include a long list of styles, such as shaoloin quan (which was used by Jet Li in his video Fist of Legend) zhaquan, huaquan,... monkey style, tiger style, eagle style, bear style and many others." This particular style I saw play out in many of the movies I watched, primarily it was present in Fist of Legend as well as in Kung Fu Hustle. Both of these movies utilized different styles in which they showcased throughout the movies.

• "Weapon exercises using spears(as seen in Legend of the Red Dragon), cudgels, swords, hooks, whips, staffs, darts, and others." This style was very visible in the movie Legend of the Red Dragon because in that movie alone, there were spears, swords, hooks, staffs, and darts used many times throughout the movie. Honestly I cannon recall a fight scene in that movie where a fight was done without weapons aside from the different times where the children were involved in the fighting.

• "Partner exercises with two ore more persons performing, either bare-handed or using weapons." This style really came to light in the movie Robin-B-Hood with Jackie Chan because of the choreographed fight scenes where Jackie would fight with his partner in the movie known as Octopus. The two men would use crazy acrobatics to make their adversaries look like fools while fighting them, which is normally the manner in which Jackie fights in his other movies which I have seen.
• "Group exercises by three or more persons, sometimes using music." This type of wu shu I observed in the movies Hero and in Kung Fu Hustle because both had some very large scale battles and a few of them did have people who were actually part of the scene playing musical instruments as an addition to the fighting
  

This clip which I am going to add from the movie Hero includes elements from both weapon exercises as well as from group exercises.


I found this article interesting because of all of the different styles that were listed of wu shu that I have actually been able to observe during my time of watching these movies outside of class. I found it pretty educational to me because in reading it I was able to identify some of the different styles and I was able to add more to my experience in watching the movies in doing so.