Ip Man 3 (2015/Well Go USA Blu-ray)

Picture: A Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: B-

It's the dawn of a new age for China, with modernization and opportunities. However, along with a growing city, there is new trouble when foreign real estate developers want to tear down a children's school for a new gambling bar ...at any cost. It will be up to IP man (Donnie Yen) to protect the innocent and defenseless of China in Wilson Yip's Ip Man 3 (2015).

In a new day and age for the world of Martial Arts, things of the past and the Martial Arts Artists are becoming relics of the past. China is invaded by 'foreign devils' (Mike Tyson stands in for that here) who seek to exploit China and it's people. The police are powerless and the streets are overrun with rogue gangs... IP man will have to come out of retirement to protect the children, his family, friends and his reputation from those who would take everything away.

This was your typical martial arts film, while Donnie Yen once more dons on the role of the IP man of China, fighting against the evils of Westernization and foreign powers, this plot has been done to death so many times. The characters/actors all felt like they were all past their primes and took the role on for just another Hollywood Martial Arts film, but they give it their all and slap more money on the screen just the same. Lynn Hung and Patrick Tam also star.

Also released in 3D in some markets (not that way here, though), the 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is shot on an Arri Alexa XT HD camera and is easily the best-looking of the four films (see below) on the subject we've covered so far. Color and picture stability are all improved. The DTS-X Cantonese 11.1 mix is pretty decent throughout, with the 7.1 Cantonese mixdown just fine and English DTS-MA 5.1 dub lesser still. The two Cantonese mixes are the best sonically in the series to date, from recording to mixing to fight scenes to music and dialogue. Extras include interviews with Donnie Yen, Mike Tyson & Wilson Yip, a Making Of the film, Behind the Scenes featurette and trailers.

For more Ip Man, try these links:

Original 2008 film

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10140/Ip+Man+(2008/Well+Go+USA+Blu-ray

IP Man 2: Legend Of the Grandmaster (2009)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10905/Ip+Man+2:+Legend+Of+The+Grandmaster+(2009

IP Man: The Final Fight (2013)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12441/IP+Man:+The+Final+Fight+(2013/Well+Go+USA

- Ricky Chiang