Ip Man 2: Critic Reviews

Director Wilson Yip keeps the movie moving as fast as the whiplash action.

A redundant if nonetheless occasionally thrilling follow-up bolstered by star Donnie Yen's precision combat skills.

One of the highest-grossing films in Hong Kong history, but it doesn't add much to the crowded history of martial-arts movies.

"Ip Man 2" has eye candy to spare. But it is lacking in formalities such as character development and plot coherence, and the stereotyped Brits are straight out of central casting.

A smashing martial arts extravaganza dented by crude nationalism.

The film's fight choreography is again handled by the legendary Sammo Hung - he also now has a supporting role and incredibly shot his own fight scenes while recuperating from heart surgery - and that alone makes the film worth checking out.

It's a second installment of a film bio of Ip Man, and it's pretty much made-up nonsense, but few will care, as it's also great fun.

The movie is simply an entertaining second chance to see more of this man of character in action.

Ip Man 2 is frankly one of the very best Hong Kong/martial arts movies I've seen in years.

Despite this slackening of narrative urgency, Wilson Yip has duplicated the flawed approach of the earlier movie with striking exactitude.

When Donnie Yen is up there defying gravity and seemingly breaking the sound barrier with his fists, a lot is forgiven.

While the film as a whole is a graceful, yet lethal, dig at chauvinism as well as imperialism, that is no impediment to it also being both an engrossing drama and a dynamic martial-arts flick

Bruce Lee lives! (Or at least his mentor does.)

Viscerally exhilarating and thrilling in its brilliantly-choreographed fight sequences, but less engaging during its contrived moments of drama.

Doesn't quite touch the laurels of its predecessor, but the weaker, unoriginal storyline is forgivable in light of how entertaining Ip Man 2 is and its maintenance of the original's high standard of excellent martial arts action.

The most amazing special effect in any Donnie Yen movie will always be Donnie Yen.

You're never at a loss to figure out who is fighting who, as in so many Western actioners these days, and Yen is the very model of simmering understatement.

It's terrifically entertaining -- up to and including a swell gag in the closing moments.

"Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grand Master" is distinguished by a string of stylishly choreographed martial-arts combat scenes, though barely serviceable in its storytelling.

Yen matches his contemporary Jet Li, but it's just as big a thrill to see Sammo Hung - one of the truly great figures in HK film, both behind and in front of the camera - still flying and kicking at the age of 58. The whole thing just rocks.

Announced before the first Ip Man was in general release, this smart, equally-enthralling sequel to the hit 2008 film looks to do even better U.S. business than its predecessor.

Wing Chun master Ip Man fights corruption in Hong Kong while trying to establish a martial-arts school. Rousing, well-mounted sequel proved an enormous hit in Asia.

Lusty, provocative, visually gorgeous Ip Man 2 is an ideal barometer for the aspirations of Hong Kong and Chinese popular filmmaking today.

Yen's in top form and the fights and stunts throughout are stellar.

[VIDEO] The second half of Wilson Yip's enthralling Ip Man biopic ratchets up its martial arts fight sequences with phenomenal duels that put you on the edge of your seat.