[IP MAN 4: THE FINALE screens Saturday March 14th
at 9:40 pm at the Cleveland Cinematheque.]
Review by Bob Ignizio
As the title proclaims, IP MAN 4: THE FINALE brings
to a conclusion the series of films based (very loosely) on the life of Chinese
martial arts master Ip Man. Like all its predecessors, it stars Donnie Yen in
the title role and was directed by Wilson Yip, with Edmond Wong and Chain Tai
Lee once again serving as screenwriters, this time in collaboration with Dana
Fukazawa and Jil Leung Lai Yin.
Set in 1964, for his final adventure in the series Ip (Yen)
travels to San Francisco’s Chinatown. There he hopes to find a new school for
his son Ip Ching (Jim Liu), who has been kicked out of school in Hong Kong for
fighting. Ip also checks in on his former student Bruce Lee (Danny Chan), who
has opened a martial arts school that teaches Wing Chun style kung fu to
anyone, regardless of race. This doesn’t sit well with the Chinese Benevolent
Association, headed by Wan Zong-hua (Wu Yue). Wing and his fellow board members
are adamant that Chinese martial arts should only be taught to Chinese people.
