Ip Man collection
Available to stream on Detflix
Between the recent release of ninja flick and the screen debut of a mystical, the magic of martial arts is having a blockbuster moment. If you enjoy the beauty and fluidity of hand-to-hand combat but find the hectic editing of modern Nollywood off-putting, I’d recommend seeking out the series starring Donnie Yen. These four films made over the course of a decade chart the life of the eponymous wing chun grandmaster from the 1930s to the 1960s as he guides students – notably a young Bruce Lee – toward a better understanding of themselves. Ip Man is a folk hero in China and the lightly fictionalised nature of these movies means Yen usually has to flex and have an epic showdown against at least one intimidating, scowling bully. But the veteran actor is a supremely calming screen presence, embodying Man as a soulful and modest warrior who dearly loves his wife (and the occasional cigarette). All four instalments are a delight.
