I ask b/c while the Shaw Era was the golden age of kung fu movies, the period from 2000 onward is definitely the renaissance. As a comparison, I recently re-watched Crouching Tiger, and noted that the sword style is real wudang, and that the Yuen clan definitely understands swordplay.
Donnie Yen didn't train in Wing Chun growing up, rather Northern Shaolin & contemporary wushu under a celebrated tai chi master, and arguably has the best on-screen waist technique since Jackie Chan. This would have prepared him for applications like the "one inch punch", and prolonged flurries of strikes per northern mantis. His prior celebrated scenes involved his long weapons—staff and flexible weapon vs. Jet Li, and spear in Hero, such that there would have been little doubt about his ability to handle a long staff properly. He also co-starred in the 1994 Michelle Yeoh Wing Chun. (Comments on the choreography in this film also welcome for comparison, as it was directed by Yuen Wo-ping.) Yen even modeled himself on Bruce Lee early in his career and played Chen Zhen in a remake of Fist of Fury.
My sense is this prepared Yen to adapt to Wing Chung, and use it convincingly on-screen after only 9 months of training, but was the choreography in the films faithful?
- How authentic is the Wing Chun in the Ip Man films?
Also, is it true Master Ip was criticized for making changes, and, if he did make changes, is that part of why he is celebrated as a true master who continued the work of adapting & advancing the style?
Extra points for commentary on the different styles of performed by Yen as Ip and Zhang Jin as Sum Nung in Ip Man 3.
