So I went to see the martial arts bio-flick The Grandmaster… a chinese film (with a wide theatrical release) about someone (or something) named Ip Man… I had no idea it was about him… or who he was (though there are a few other movies about him). So I went in with a fair amount of ignorance.

Anyhow, this is a beautifully shot film full of Important, a Dramatic, and Emblematic moments that I think were supposed to mean something to someone who knows the story this is about… but were lost on me because I had zero context for all this Important Stuff. A movie has to stand on its own as a good flick and also provide fan service so this failed on that level.

I’m not 100% sure it matters as something seemed very broken and confused about the storytelling… title cards kept popping up saying, “In 1939, the Japanese invaded China and then they were fought off and then Ip Man moved to Hong Kong” and I’m thinking… “Alright. If you say so, movie title cards. Sure wouldn’t want to see THAT movie!”

It was kind of a ponderous, inexplicable mess of a movie that had the good graces to look amazing, have some good kung fu action, and maybe if you know who or what an Ip Man is, you might like it… maybe.

Score: 62