Okay. Time for some real news from me today and this news warms my heart oh so much.
Though he was behind the scenes in the first Ip Man film HK martial arts acting legend Sammo Hung will be stepping in front of the camera for the sequel. Oh hell yes. The sequel takes place in 1949 after Yip Man arrives in Hong Kong and begins to teach Wing Chun. Sammo Hung plays a Hung Gar master. Hung Gar is a southern Chinese martial art whose most famous practitioner was Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung. Another famous practitioner of this martial art is another HK martial arts film legend Lau Kar-leung [Drunken Master 2, The Spiritual Boxer, Eight Diagram Pole Fighter]. Ooh. I don't know who to root for.
Above all, martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung... will be playing a Hung Gar master in the sequel, and will again be going toe to toe - or rather, finger to finger as the case might be - with Donnie Yen since SPL. Sammo Hung says, "As boss didn't pay me in the first, I wouldn't appear in front of the screen. This time I'm getting paid, so I'll be playing a role too." In Hong Kong, Wing Chun, as taught by Yip Man, is being viewed as a kungfu meant only for girls, while Sammo Hung's Hung Gar is being seen as a macho form of boxing, resulting in exchanges, conflicts and rivalry between the two, with major clash between the two screen titans being main highlight of the sequel.
So I don't expect this major clash to be as hardcore as the climax fight in Sha Po Lang given that the martial arts in Ip Man are more traditional while SPL had a lot more grappling and throws but with the level of awesome martial arts already demonstrated and Ip Man it will still rule like lords. Bring it! Ip Man 2 is still in the scripting stages and will commence filming in August.
This face-off reunion brings a tear of joy to my eye.
i am going out to sign up for Wing Chun classes today!
I'm hard already.
Donnie Yen has always been my fav martial artists actor, the only problem I see in almost ALL his recent fights..its jus too damn one sided..PLEASE make this a tougher fight for yen of course.. Other then that, Im gonna buy it on dvd when it comes out jus like I did for the first yipman.
indeed sammo + donnie = our last hope.
this just inspired me to make "prodigal son" a mandatory screening at my wake :P
Donnie is by far the best out there right now and I've been a fan of his forever. Now that Sammo Hung has come aboard in an acting role in the sequel to the most amazing MA film I've seen in years I have something to really look forward to. I'd like to thembrng in some other old school talent like Yuen Biao and Leung Kar Yan, I wonder if they still havethe right stuff
best news that just brightened up my day!
Tony jaa is a little ahead of Yen in terms of action movie star right now...
[quote]Tony jaa is a little ahead of Yen in terms of action movie star right now…[/quote]
I agree but it's because Jaa has got more exposure theatrically around the world compared to Donnie whose movies are barely shown to the mainstream overseas.
But if we were to speak of groundbreaking MA choreography, then Donnie is definitely leading the bunch of veteran and rising screenfighters. Just look at the level of intensity and variation in Flash Point. To this day, no other movie has topped it.
That is the best news I've heard this year.
I think I've shot my load. lol
Yo know the fight is going to be awesome.
As for Tony Jaa. He is great, he just needs a film to be as enternining as his fights. That were Donnie's got the upper hand.
Ong Bak 2 was a OK film. Just not as good as the last 15 mins.
@ cpa314
Jaa brings a fresh style into his screenfighting. When he's rumbling, he's a stunner to watch, you quickly forget about the choreography. It's true, you watch him beating up guys, so it's not much interaction there.
Donny's style is somewhat similiar to that of Jackie and Sammo, where it looks like a "real-situation" fight.
Conclusion: Tony Jaa needs an equal Opponent. As I said before-Donnie has Sammo.
Cuttermaran - to an extent yes. The guy is talented. I think he may just need a better choreographer. Im just not on the Jaa bandwagon yet. Actually, Donnie and Tony would make for a great action scene.
cpa314- True, it would be interesting to see Tony perform a HongKongActonPiece.
But still Panna Ritikrai is not bad by all means. I'm thinking about Cory Yuen or even Sammo.Sammos realistic style would fit Tony perfectly.
Who will be the young Bruce Lee?
Donnie Yen has always been a skilled screen martial artist, I think a lot of people were turned off to how 'cocky' he came across though. But I've always been a fan of his regardless. From watching the extra features on the Ip Man discs I am happy to see Yen 'mature' this late in his career-I think he's still got a lot of good movies left in him. But Donnie please more Ip Man & SPL and less Dragon Tiger Gate.
no one will. there is no young bruce lee in ip man 2. DTG wasnt THAT bad. DTG > Twins Effect or whatever
Hmm, didn't love Ip Man, but hey, why not?
i love jaa's actions sequences, and jeeja's in chocolate are good, too, in a slightly different way.
but as far as action cinematography, yen's easily in a class of his own.
SPL fight sequence, Yen versus Jing Wu, anyone?
Check out http://howtobeaflyasian.com/2009/03/30/the-five-fly-est-asian-fighters-right-now/ for the best, current Asian fighters.