[2010.11.01] THE GRANDMASTERS UNVEILED

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Wong Kar Wai's first kung fu film THE GRANDMASTERS (YUT DOI JUNG SI) is still in production. The film company has kept cast costumes and content confidential. The first two film posters will be unveiled at Los Angeles' American Film Market on November 1. The costumes of Tony Leung Chiu Wai who played Wing Chun master Ip Man in the film and lead actress Zhang Ziyi appeared for the first time and immediately became the focus of the foreign media.

In it Wai Jai would a white straw hat and long black coat in the night rain. The foreign media were very interested in his look and even described it as the birth of a Chinese Darth Vader. THE GRANDMASTERS' film introduction cover had a Zhang Ziyi in the midst of the eight diagram palm. Her eyes were full of self confidence. Foreign media pointed out that in a white straw hat, Ip Man was completely different from the image of Ip Man that has appeared in films before. Everyone was the most surprised that without any kung fu background Wai Jai actually had unspeakable kung fu power.

Wong Kar Wai fans could not wait to put the poster online and received a lot of responses. Some online even compared Leung Chiu Wai's Ip Man look and Zhang Ziyi's heroine feel with classic American comic book super heroes, saying that the U.S. had Superman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Catwoman, Ip Man in the poster definitely was China's super hero. Some even suggested making Ip Man's English name into Yeah Man in order to be a part of this group of super heroes.

Since the film started production, everyone has been the most curious about Wai Jai's abilities. After a year of training, Wai Jai's figure could be seen on the poster for the first time. Even foreign media described Wai Jai as radiant. The film's action director Yuen Woo Ping even described Wai Jai's current condition as "the peak". He said that he never worried about his agility because Wai Jai had a high ability to comprehend and absorb quickly. Although he and Donnie Yen Chi Tan played the same character but they each had their own style. He even pointed out that Wai Jai's shape looked better than Chi Tan. The most unexpected was Wai Jai's powerful kicks. He absolutely had a talent for action films.

Wai Jai in the past year suffered a lot too. Responsible for instructing, Wing Chun Grand Master Ip Man's disciple Duncan Leung Siu Hung admired Wai Jai's spirit to overcome hardship. He pointed out that Wai Jai's progress was slower than the average student, half a year more than expected. During the period he stopped training for awhile due to his arm injury. However he recovered and returned to form very quickly. Unlike Yen Chi Tan who had a kung fu background, Wai Jai had an advantage that Yen Chi Tan did not have. He was able to start from zero like a blank piece of paper. Wai Jai gradually and clearly absorbed the spirit of Wing Chun kung fu completely. Every one of Wai Jai's moves now is very naturally convincing, whether punching or with a staff he was able to perform the Wing Chun school feel. He also pointed out that director Wong Kar Wai at first asked Wai Jai to truly spend time to train and made him

understand that slow and steady wins the race.