JustVim Movie Review: IP MAN 2

Synopsis:

After Ip Man protected the dignity of Chinese during the Sino-Japanese war, Ip Man relocates to Hong Kong with his family.

Life is difficult for Ip Man and his family. The chief editor of a newspaper decides to lend Ip Man a place where he can teach Wing Chun and earn a living. However Ip Man could not gather any students as Wing Chun is unheard of in Hong Kong. One day, a young man, Wong Leung (Huang Xiaoming) challenges Ip Man and is defeated easily. Impressed, Wong gathers his friends to learn Wing Chun from Ip Man.

One day, Wong is challenged by a thug, Cheng Wai Kei (To Yue-Hong), the leader of the gang who practices Hung Fist. Defeated by Wong, Cheng plots revenge. Ip Man has to intervene to protect Wong, in the event; he meets Master Hung (Sammo Hung) who accused Ip Man of violating the rules of the Wushu society. In order to teach Wushu in Hong Kong, Ip Man has to accept challenges from masters of different Wushu sect. Ip Man accepts and defeats all masters except Master Hung whose skills are on par with Ip Man. Thus Ip Man gains the respect of Master Hung.

Master Hung gives Ip Man a ticket to watch “King of Boxing Competition” featuring a cold-blooded boxer, Twister who eventually wins the title. Cheng and a few others then perform a Wushu sequence as entertainment. Twister thinks that it is a joke and beats up the performers on stage. This act angers Ip Man the other Wushu masters present, resulting in a fight between Twister and them.Ip Man puts up a good fight, showing his indomitable spirit. The westerners touched by his spirit, start to cheer for Ip Man. At last Ip Man uses Master Hung’s famous move to beat Twister, claiming back the lost dignity for the Chinese.

Wing Chun then becomes more popular in Hong Kong. In 1956, Wong brings a young man to become Ip Man’s student. This student named Bruce Lee later becomes the famous action movie star of his era.

Alright, so the Crew was down again at the cinemas checking out Yen’s new Kung Fu flick Ip Man 2, and to be frank, it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. It stunned and bewildered us altogether with its portrayal of the indomitable Chinese spirit and their will against racism.

We can say one thing though, Donnie Yen is amazing and he is to Ip Man what Jet Li is to Wong Fei-Hung, what RDJ is to Iron Man and what Arnie is to the Terminator.

He was calm and composed, firm and fiery, steady and startling all at the same time. The character spends a lot of time trying to mend fences and resolve things diplomatically before resorting to his fists of fury.

The film wastes no time in getting to the action and within just a few minutes Yen clashes first with Huang Xiaoming, then rival students and street punks, culminating in a fantastic 20-on-1 melee at an abandoned fish market that brings him face-to-face with Hung. Though we could have wished more for the fight scene to show how incredibly, ridiculously, preposterously amazing Ip’s Wing Chun skills are, it suffice to know Ip could actually take on an army of parang-wielding mad men.

Simon Yam's Quan and Fan Siu Wong's Jin are both completely wasted, given nothing to do and in Fan's case not even the opportunity to fight. We thought they should have added a scene for Fan, to ignite his latent anger against being oppressed or to help Ip, not that the man need much help anyway.

Kudos too to action director Sammo Hung- this sequence would not be as thrilling were it not for the expert choreography and direction of Sammo whose camera direction perfectly mirrors the fluidity of Donnie Yen's action and ensures that the audience is never lost in the thick of the action. It was exhilarating to see how the characters fight out and how Ip walks away unscathed for most of the earlier fisticuffs.

What the Japanese did to Ip in the first film, the British were imitating in this film. Not the best of plot, but one that suited the era and spirit of this martial art flick. Yen was a stoic, composed and incredibly adept Wing Chun Grandmaster that really showed how Wing Chun teaches not only the fists, but the mind and intellect of a human psyche. It teaches values like respect, honour, determination, glory, national pride, love and justice in the flurry of punches and dramatic fight scenes littered throughout the movie.

Thankfully, director Wilson Yip's polished execution and Sammo Hung's outstanding action direction delivers a spectacularly rousing showdown between Ip Man and Twister- in fact more so than the finale between Ip Man and General Miura in the original. Never have the Crew seen one man take so many hits from Ip and still be able to walk, at least till the last bit, where Ip totally destroys the arrogant boxer repeatedly in the noggin’.

In the same way, Yen continues to embody the character of Ip Man so thoroughly that it's hard to imagine another actor in the role. Maybe Robert DJ from Iron Man can come close, but with the use of pulse cannons and extra-reinforced armour platings, there will be much more gore than martial art skills involved.

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.

It was an impressive show of fighting choreography and ultimate acts of pitting skills against brute strength. Ip Man 2 was a stunner and a great film to watch, thrilling the sense, making anyone proud of their own race.

What the Crew saw was not how the Chinese overcame the British unruly aggression, but how a race’s fortitude and determination stands challenged under duress and direct racism. The fighting spirit and national pride for their country’s pride and the honour of every Chinese men was a raw and appealing display in this film.

So take some time and catch this awesome movie. There we said it.

A marvel to watch, a joy to review, and a pleasure to understand. Go ahead and enjoy it!

Peace.

Ratings: 4/5

JustVim Blog update : Family Love

Waddup Peeps,

This one goes out to all of you peeps at home, be it young or old, cute or weird, tall or short, Angsty or not.

The JV Crew believes we all have our fair share of domestic problems. From nasty confrontation about our Sister's Dumb new Boyfriend and who to use to the bathroom, to Mum's Irritating nags on what to do and what not to do. It never ends, it never sleeps, it never quits. Even your new iPhone runs flat, your essay has a conclusion, every movie an end, but not Family Problems, it lasts forever, and just when you think one issue is resolved, another pops right out again.

Family Problems are like Natural Disasters. Mankind sure doesn't need any of such destruction and death, but we cannot stop it nor can we deny its existence. None of us wanted it, much less what always bring, but there is nothing we can do. Best we can do, is to face each problem as we goes and not back away like a coward.

Mums nag because they care. Dad scolds because they love us. Siblings squabble because they are too used to each other. Families have issues because they ultimately care for one another. We know that sound terribly lame and cliche but what is the truth is the plain, simple, undeniable truth. We can do loads of thing, except changing what is real and ineluctable.

For those who just quarreled with or without your Parents or family members, stop and think for a second. Before you even contemplate on how to react to that comment, what to do after, what to say to them late, when to say it or to even do anything at all, ask yourself this one questions---Do you love them at all?

We believe all of us have an inherent love for our family, we just do not show it enough, and when bumps arises on the road to family peace, we trip over them and sometimes rather ruthlessly. Pause for a moment to understand their perspective and listen to ourselves before judging. We may not see the consequences now, but our parents or siblings have, and what unfortunate or pleasant things that happened to them made them grow one way or another, so even if you do not believe them, put your faith in the experience and their wellness for you at heart.

It is a long post, but as the JV Crew, we wish to educate and spread the love for Families.

This may sound real crude and hard to swallow, but in all honesty, you can change your friends, change your perspectives, change your car, and even change your love, but you can never change your last name. No matter what happens, your beloved family is what will last your for eternity.

So since you are stuck with that, might as well make the best of life and appreciate them while we must.

Cheerios!
JustVim
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Cheryl Cole To Design For Kitson

After rumours about the divorce Cheryl Cole’s career started developing incredibly fast. The latest news about her is that the star is planning to sign a huge deal with US boutique Kitson.The prestigious fashion store offers the British singer to design a range of clothes named Fight for This Love, the same name that her debut solo single has.

A source said:
"This will be huge for Cheryl. Obviously she’s already a big star in the UK but she’s not a household name in America. This will change everything. Kitson is one of the most popular shops in Los Angeles and is a favourite among celebrities. It’s one of the coolest boutiques, so for Cheryl to be offered her own range with her name with her name at the helm is fantastic news. The creators want to use her song title ‘Fight for This Love’ as the name of the range and are hoping can design dresses and shoes as well as handbags. They are also wanting her to model the collection herself.”

The deal is fantastic, especially taking into account that such celebrities as Victoria Beckham, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are fans of Kitson shop. Besides, Cheryl will have a chance to get her portion of popularity in the US as well.

Some people say this deal can become the start of something really big in Cheryl’s life. She can follow in the footsteps of fellow Brit Victoria Beckham, who has been accepted as a designer lately.

The source added to the Daily Star newspaper:
"Cheryl could easily have a career like Victoria Beckham. She has already had meetings with the brand’s executives who are very impressed.”

Jay Chou’s Cool Batmobile

The Batmobile cost US$150,000 (4.77 million NTD) to build. The car was squashed during shipping so it had to be re-built. The total cost with shipping was over 10 million (NTD).

Time Consumed: Approx. 1 year, including the time it took to rebuild
Features: It is modeled after the Batmobile as seen in Batman. It has no license plate so it cannot be driven on the road.
Engine: 6300c.c.
Car length: 5.5 m, requires 3 parking spots

And the video in chinese as below:

Iron Man 2 Movie Review @ JustVim

Synopsis: Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero “Iron Man,” reuniting director Jon Favreau and Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. In “Iron Man 2,” the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

The JV Crew was there to check out the new Iron Man sequel that promised to rock our socks off. After roaming the malls and browsing some high-end fashion outlets, the Crew decided to hit the cinemas and let RDJ inspire us on his action-packed high-tech iron-clad show of the year.

Despite a rollicking opening half hour that leaves you wondering whether you're about to watch the SF film of the year, the movie is unable to deliver on the promise of its set-up. It was interesting and daunting till the action stopped living up to its hype.

All this extra effort drains the inherent sense of what was fun about the original, darkening it with issues and complexities that unnecessarily muddy the crisp, clearly commercial premise. The villain did not have a very compelling, urgent, dire need for revenge and Black Widow (Scarlet) looked like an extra-hot extra lost in the pages of scripts. Iron Man was a rare blockbuster that stayed with you -- the sequel all but evaporates the moment it cuts to some real hardcore action it could not deliver.

There was so many hints and insights to the following Avengers film that we had to say this: Marvel are so excited about The Avengers that they’ve decided to make a 2-hour advert for it, pass it off as a film named Ironman 2 and charge admission. Iron Man 2 tends to push the upcoming Avengers project far too often, diminishing its own assets and thinning the excitement by acting as marketing tool for a movie still two years away.

Having said that, Iron Man 2 really could have done better. So committed is it to recreating the feeling of the first film that it forgets to add any new elements of its own. It lacks the freshness of the original -- the pleasant surprise brought on by spot-on casting and an audience caught unawares – opting instead for recycled conversations and a few new guest stars. In the process, an ever-so-mild sense of disappointment enters the equation.

As much the techie stuff is fun and very much a part of Iron Man, there were far too many “and back to the workshop!” scenes/montages. We spend about 60% of the film building things, 30% talking about the things being built, and 10% using said products. We can’t believe we are saying this, but we kind of wanted more action and a bit less build up.

To be sure, the high points are quite high indeed, and for awhile I thought the film was on track to equal its predecessor. Downey knows his character extremely well, and his playful banter with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) hasn’t lost an ounce of its pep. Favreau centers the plot around the secrets of Tony’s father: a drinker, like Tony, who left unhealed scars for his son to deal with. One of those scars knows much more than anyone could guess about the Iron Man technology.

We knew Robert Downey Jr wouldn't disappoint. Despite his broken robot heart, he is clearly having the time of his life, and unlike so many onscreen billionaires, he carries it all off convincingly. Look at the stash of incredulously powerful and exotic cars in his garage, the amazing girls in his life and the luxuries he really enjoys, hard not to be living the life right?

Then there’s the whole S.H.I.E.L.D. business. Sammuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury -- and yes, he’s still the supreme ultimate bad ass of the universe -- but his scenes fail to connect to the remainder of the story and the addition of Scarlet Johansson as the Black Widow smacks of unnecessary fanboy bait. (Granted, she flips around on wires decently enough, but I’m sure Totally Spies wants their gimmick back by now.)

Bottom-line, the show was rigid in action, topped by good sound effects, specialising in weaponry and explosions. The ladies were fine and though we admit more bedroom romance could have been done between Scarlet and RDJ, we know Gwyneth wouldn’t have allowed that. The final scene where Iron Man and War Machine battles a super-charged, pulsated whip-enhanced Whiplash was a little choppy and ended with too little metal blowing up. We would expect a whole lot of explosions, super-tech gizmos, smoking hot babes, thicker plots and hammering action for the next sequel we suppose.

Ah, speaking about Hammering, seen the Easter Egg on the discovery of the mighty MJOLNIR in the ending credits? Subtle, quick and tantalising we say. It sets up the upcoming Avengers film like what Jon Favreau always loves to do, and hopefully it will hammer down an impact this time.

Rating: 3.5/5

Cheerios! Do enjoy the film and browse our collections at our website too!

The JustVim Crew

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Passion for Fashion

Next generation Avante unveiled

Hyundai had rolled out the next generation Avante saloon at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show. Boasting a much sportier look than its rather dull predecessor, the new Avante continues Hyundai's 'fluidic sculpture' design philosophy that most automakers would describe today as a "four-door coupe". There are no photos of the new Avante's cabin, but we can assume that the interior styling will be heavily influenced by the larger Sonata.

Hyundai has kept most technical details to itself at the moment, but the South Korean maker did reveal that the front-wheel drive Avante will be offered with the new 1.6-liter Gamma Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder unit is rated at 140 horsepower with 166Nm of peak torque and is claimed to be 10% more fuel efficient than its closest competitors according to Hyundai.

Technical goodies include High Intensity Discharge headlamps, LED combination lamps in the rear, heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a color TFT LCD information display nestled in the gauge cluster. Let’s hope that the Singapore version do get some of these features.

South Korean sales of the Avante are expected to start in the second half of 2010, with the rest of the world to follow either towards the end of the year or early 2011.

Samsung NX10: Limited Edition “White” Digital Camera

Taking a rather aesthetically appeasing approach to camera design, Samsung introduces a white bodied, limited edition version of its NX10 camera. With a compact body and interchangeable lens, the NX10 combines the benefits of a digital SLR in a pocket sized camera. As part of the limited edition package the Silas inspired model will include a 30mm pancake lens and a leather case. Launching May 7th the NX10 will be available in Korea, Netherlands, China, Taiwan, and the US.

Burberry Launched April Showers Collection

Burberry have launched April Showers collection that plays with the typical British tartan print. We see the print on ruber boots, umbrellas, jackets, bags and other wardrobe pieces. Looks great and stylish, and very true to the country!

The new range is colorful, youthful and appealing. Besides, Burberry promise the water-proof effect.

A Bathing Ape BAPEXCLUSIVE Kyoto Camo Items

A Bathing Ape unveils its latest range of BAPEXCLUSIVE releases for the brand’s Kyoto retail store. Amongst the selected items is a set of chopsticks, coin pouch, and fan, much like the previous set, although these new ones come in different shade of BAPE’s signature camo print. A release is expected for May 3rd, 2010.

Louis Vuitton iPad Cases

Adding further case options for the iPad, Louis Vuitton unveil a couple of upcoming sleeve designs, specifically created for Apple’s latest hot shot gadget. Two colorways are seen, both implementing Louis Vuitton’s signature Monogram and monochrome Damier Graphite schemes. A release won’t take place until 2011, but an interesting development nevertheless.

A Bathing Ape x CASIO G-SHOCK DW-6900 2010 Spring/Summer Release

No stranger to CASIO G-SHOCK collaborations, A Bathing Ape release a new colorway for the 2010 spring/summer season. Almost entirely clad in purple, the watch features a white dial with the signature Bapehead embedded within the face which is visible when the backlight is activated. Available at BAPE STORES worldwide.

A Bathing Ape 17th Anniversary NIGO BAPE HAND PRINT TEE

As part of the upcoming Golden Week festivities in Japan, NIGO has organized a special NIGOLDENWEEK series of activites. Among the events is a NIGO’S WORKSHOP in which the following tees will be hand printed based on A Bathing Ape’s 17th anniversary. NIGO’S WORKSHOP and its dates can be seen here.