Ip Man 2

The sequel to the box office smash in its native China is designed as both a fight scene spectacular and an overt celebration of Chinese national identity. For these reasons it’s sure to please its domestic market again, while there’s plenty to like for our own local audiences.

As in any martial films, the hand-to-hand combat scenes take precedence. Individually, these are impressive, due to the skill of the combatants, but moreover they are nicely integrated into the bigger story. Each fight gains more importance and urgency than the one that came before it, while the choreography and settings match this by becoming more elaborate and imaginative as the grand finale, the ultimate clash between Eastern and Western fighting styles, nears.

Though the fight scenes are top notch, the East versus West elements aren’t as effective. The occupying British forces are the bad guys, but come across as two-dimensional characters with an unjustified hatred for the nation they occupy that borders on the ridiculous.

Other standbys of Chinese cinema are in evidence, from the heightened sense of melodrama to the syrupy score. But while these may put some off, their presence makes sense in a story about Chinese cultural pride, topped off with a cameo by a schoolboy Bruce Lee.