Master Z (4 Stars)

Donnie Yen has finally stepped back from the Ip Man film series. After the second film he swore he wouldn't make any more films, but he was persuaded to make a third film. Now it's enough for him. "Master Z" is a spin-off from the series, continuing with the story of Cheung Tin-Chi, who was Ip Man's rival in the third film.

In the film his name is abbreviated to Tin, so that's what I'll call him in this article. The character is based on Sum Nung, a Wing Chun master who is still alive today and didn't want his name to be used. I don't understand why the film is called "Master Z". That name isn't used at all in the film.

It's not stated when the film takes place, but my guess is between 1965 and 1975, probably after Ip Man's death in 1972. Hong Kong is a place where corruption is unchecked. The British police are on the payroll of foreign gangsters. The Chinese police are honest, but they have to obey the wishes of the British police.

Tin hasn't just given up teaching Wing Chun, he no longer practises it. After a few years of work as a hired fighter, he uses the money that he's saved to buy a small grocery store. His moral integrity makes it impossible for him to stay out of trouble. When he sees drugs being sold on the street, first opium then heroin, he beats up the dealers, which leads to conflicts with the local gangs.

It's always a pleasure to see Michelle Yeoh in any film. She appears as the leader of the Cheung Lok gang, which she's trying to turn into a legitimate business. Her younger brother Tso Sai Kit opposes her and continues to sell drugs behind her back.

The fights are almost as spectacular as in the Ip Man films. I say almost, because there are brief occurrences of wire fu, something that the Ip Man films avoided, at least visually. I find the film's tone lighter than that of the Ip Man films. Its biggest disadvantage is that it doesn't have Donnie Yen, with the exception of a few flashback scenes.

Success Rate:  - 1.4

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