Ip Man

• It’s the story of a family man, a teacher, a Kung Fu warrior.
• Beautifully choreographed brutal fight scenes.
• Cinematically gorgeous, with a roller-coaster plot line.

Ip Man is the cinematic biography of Wing Chun Master Yip Man, who was the shifu (teacher) of Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee. The story takes place during the Sino-Japan war in the ancient city of Foshan, which was recreated in Shanghai for filming. It’s a Kung Fu epic in the classic sense: a larger than life Kung Fu master teaches his secrets to the oppressed, who rise up against enemy warlords and reclaim their way of life.

“We wanted to do this movie because Ip Man was a man who inspired the world and society as a whole. He was a man who believed in certain morals and principles, and we want to use this movie as a platform to convey those values to the audience. For me, that was the most important part of making this movie.” —— Director Wilson Yip

The art of Wing Chun is characterized by close body contact, and focuses on deflecting or redirecting an enemy attack. According to the Wiki, “a correct Wing Chun stance is like a piece of bamboo, firm but flexible, rooted but yielding.” Ip Man moves willfully, never overcommiting, balancing speed and power in calculated aggressive and explosive attacks. As noted in the Wiki, “a common Wing Chun saying is ‘greet what arrives, escort what leaves, and rush upon loss of contact,’ regarding the importance of trapping incoming force and advancing quickly when an opening is sensed.” The film’s fight sequences clearly illustrate the difference in fighting styles among opponents and the many ways in which Kung Fu can really f*ck your sh*t up.

Redacted

• An award winning film by Brian DePalma
• IMDB plot blurb: Inspired by one of the most serious crimes committed by American soldiers in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, it spares the audience no brutality to get its message across.
• This is a work of fiction based on actual events. It is NOT a documentary.
• WARNING: This film contains graphic sexual violence.

When I started watching this movie, I missed the first few minutes (arguably the most important part of any film) and for a little while thought it actually was a documentary. It didn’t take long to see it was scripted fiction. I was not, however, prepared for the level of brutality at the core of the film.

There is something to be said about watching. Watching is participating. Early in the film, there is a moment where a soldier films a scorpion being mobbed by ants. I kept thinking to myself, why doesn’t he help it? Why is he just standing there watching it die? I think, in the midst of all the controversy caused by this film, people missed that very important point. The camera becomes the eye, and by watching the film ourselves, we also participate in the events that take place on screen.

Some call it anti-American propaganda. I call it thought-provoking. Like it or not, the film explores some disturbing things about human nature and the transformation of ordinarily good people under extreme conditions.

Taxi to the Dark Side

• Oscar Winner 2008: Best Documentary
• Directed by: Alex Gibney
• IMDB Summary: Using the torture and death in 2002 of an innocent Afghan taxi driver as the touchstone, this film examines changes after 9/11 in U.S. policy toward suspects in the war on terror. Soldiers, their attorneys, one released detainee, U.S. Attorney John Yoo, news footage and photos tell a story of abuse at Bagram Air Base, Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo Bay. From Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Gonzalez came unwritten orders to use any means necessary. The CIA and soldiers with little training used sleep deprivation, sexual assault, stress positions, waterboarding, dogs and other terror tactics to seek information from detainees. Many speakers lament the loss of American ideals in pursuit of security.

This is a film that some might find hard to stomach, but I believe it is very much worth watching. For me, it stirred up complex emotions and caused reactions that made me feel awful, yet I was glad I felt so awful. I cried countless times. I yelled at the TV. It made me angry and sad and sometimes heartbroken.

I highly recommend this film, but have a box of Kleenex handy.