Tag Archives: Martial Arts

Is it The Finale for the Ip Man franchise?

8 Jan

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Playing in select theatres across North America

Spoiler Alert

Distributed by WELL GO USA

Twelve years is not much of a wait to see Ip Man: The Finale. Thankfully, it’s shorter than following the saga of the Skywalkers in Star Wars, but that’s besides the point! Donnie Yen plays the seminal master of a style of Kung Fu known as Wing Chun. Unnecessarily aggression (charging at your foes) is not part of the way. Those who practice any style of martial arts knows it’s more about defence than outright aggression.

Ip Man is introspective. An Asian chivalric code exists. While we don’t know all the rules, those who are indoctrinated knows them and respects it—even when Ip Man has to fight with one hand. The battles he faces are often not by his choice. It’s to defend honour. Challenges are normal between schools to see who is the ultimate fighter, and usually it does not mean ending an opponent’s life.

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The Rise of the Kung Fu Dragon Master Kickstarter Breaks Demand with a …

12 Nov

RotKFDM_CVR.jpgDue to popular demand, the soft launch of the Rise of the Kung Fu Dragon Master on Kickstarter is getting a print edition. The digital-only option remains $20, while a print and digital tier has been added for $30. “You spoke, we listened,” said writer Chris Mancini.

All tiers above the $30 level, including the digital comics collections of Starburns Press and of Mancini and artist Fernando Pinto’s previous releases, will receive this and along with the print edition of the new book, the campaign now also features physical add-ons that can be purchased through Backerkit–including The Comedy Film Nerds Guide to Movies, Mancini and Pinto’s previous graphic novel Long Ago and Far Away, and DVD copies of Mancini’s film Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary.

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The Future is Frightening in Kung Fu League

17 Sep

Available for purchase on Amazon

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Distributor:
Well GO USA

Release Date:
Sept 17, 2019

Be prepared, humble students of Kung Fu League (功夫联盟)! This film is an enjoyable silly romp where real life and fictional legends Wong Fei-Hung (Vincent Zhao, Once Upon a Time in China), Ip Man (Dennis To, Wu Dang), Chen Zhen (Danny Chan, Kung Fu Hustle) and Huo Yuan Jia (Andy On, Black Mask 2) are plucked out of time to help manhua artist Fei (Ashin, Lead vocalist of the Taiwanese rock band Mayday.) have the courage to ask Bao’er (Madina Memet) out for a date. He’s had a crush on her for the longest time but his insecurities get the better of him.

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On Ne Zha and a Sequel?

5 Sep

nullBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世) is Dragonball Z on steroids. This title is the name of a movie about a rascally young boy (voiced by Lü Yanting) who does not have the makings of the divinity Chinese people highly respect today. You don’t want to let him in your home just yet. He needs to earn his reputation. When the world is about immortals battling for positions of power–to be one of the 8 Golden Immortals–in Heaven, I question how easy life is in Ancient China when they live amongst humanity and the battles are fought here than in the safety of the Aether.

This animation is laden with a lot of moments worthy of an Avengers: Age of Ultron, Infinity War and Endgame mashup dressed in oriental garb. It offers very little in the charm of extolling Eastern philosophies. Where this story shines is with the premise that destiny can be challenged and reshaped.

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