Jackie Chan gets a lifetime pass on whatever dodgy shit he wants to make in his old age. I can even have empathy for a guy who maybe doesn't wanna make films where he
falls three stories onto his frigging head anymore. To be fair, old man Jackie
still has some of his magic left.Speaking of Chinese pain-dealing,
Ip Man 2 is currently playing a highly limited theatrical trip through America and its damn near essential viewing. I liked it a good deal more then the film its a sequel too, perhaps its because I got to see this in a theater rather then my TV, but I suspect its also because its on balance, a better film. If anybody here thought Ip Man 1 was like Rocky IV (me included) then Ip Man 2 takes the formula even further into Drago territory, as the main villain ends up being a foreigner boxing champ who communicates exclusively in sneers and vicious beatdowns. There's even a heroic/tragic "Don't throw in that towel even though I'll die" scene.
Even the acting is better in this film, Donnie Yen is nobody's idea of a great actor, but he's believably humble in this film, which for a guy who's fostered a wildly successful career based on being the most awesome guy in every film he's in, is quite amazing. Sammo Hung has a big supporting part, and despite some occasionally wonky wire fu, makes a convincing case for his continued career in action films. There's still the jingoistic "us against the ev-vil foreigners" storyline of the first film, but here it doesn't feel nearly as gratuitous as Ip Man 1, probably because the enemity is focused on a handful of bad guys instead of an entire nation, that's a positive change. Its still not a great film, but as an action melodrama its superior stuff, and the best vehicle Donnie Yen has had in years.
Ip Man 2 outgrossed Iron Man 2 in China and Hong Kong. I'd say they made the right choice.
***1/2