personally i find Michael Bay’s blatant racism in Transformers far more “poisonous” than anything in Ip Man.

the nationalistic streak in Ip Man has a reason for being. and it’s the product of decades of frustrations. it’s nothing new in Chinese films from the region. there are some films where the nationalistic fervour goes even beyond ridiculous. but think about it. China’s former occupiers have time and again refused to apologise for the atrocities committed during WWII. not only that, they even deny anything like Nanking ever happened. Holocaust deniers are taken to task, so why should it be any different for Japan? so, from this point of view, it’s easy to understand why films like Ip Man are “over-nationalistic.” it’s a reaction.

I know how bad mainland cinema can get. I’ve seen far worse than Ip Man.

Still no excuse. Watch City of Life and Death, even Red Cherry - they can tone the xenophobia down and still make nationalist films that don’t come off as foaming at the mouth. I take your point about Transformers, despite my enjoying the film, and in some ways I’d even agree with you - but I liked Transformers regardless, whereas I simply couldn’t get over the fact there was no reason for Ip Man to exist beyond either DONNIEEEEEE or “the only good Nip is a dead Nip!”. The closeups when that one stooge is kicking the crap out of Gordon Lam… not to mention Gordon’s little epiphany and subsequent character arc - Jesus, straight out of a propaganda flick. I couldn’t believe it. I’d admit you can make a good argument the racism in Transformers is more dangerous in the long term if left unchallenged, but to me Ip Man is just an unbelievably crude slap in the face far more than it is any kind of decent cinema, and in the here and now the Twins and black guys being relegated to second string “Yassuh, bawse” roles simply don’t compare.

Maybe I’d see it differently if I was something other than a relatively average white guy? Serious question. I don’t know. But that’s how it struck me, either way.

i’m sure there are good films out there that tone down the jingoism, no doubt about it. but i tend to forgive it by keeping in mind what i mentioned above. even films like Once Upon A Time In China and Fearless seem unable to help themselves but go for the extremes.

the only thing that differentiates Ip Man from the others is like what Ard said - the action is just too good! it makes one easily overlook all the other flaws. but i disagree with the point that Ip Man has no interesting story apart from the action. there’s humour, there’s action, there’s the story of one man’s transformation (well, maybe TWO men) from someone who just wants to enjoy his wealth and live quietly, into someone who is forced into a sense of duty, not so much for country, but for humanity, helping the downtrodden, the weak and the victimised. and i think Donnie did a great job in his subtle change from a kind of “Zen-like slacker” to a man with a sense of purpose. i am very sure everyone watching that multi-opponent fight scene when Ip Man brutally unleashes his might with much anger must have felt really uncomfortable seeing how the calm gentleman demeanour could suddenly turn so ugly and violent.