#NNPA BlackPress

FILM REVIEW: Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With Woo-Ping Yuen as the mastermind, the fight scenes are kinetic, wondrous and almost balletic. At times the combat is violent. Other times it’s as if the fighters are involved in highly elaborate and tightly constructed choreography. Imagine West Side Story told with an Asian twist, where the Jets and Sharks gangs go at it kung fu style. Then hold that thought and ponder if Master Z… would make a captivating theater piece.

Published

7 years ago

April 14, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dwight Brown, NNPA Newswire Film Critic

At first glimpse, this martial arts film is a tad disorientating. Nothing looks real. The footage looks like it was shot entirely on a soundstage. There are few to no exterior shots with actual sun or moonlight. But, if you acclimate yourself to this process, you can enjoy this curious production that sometimes feels like a play, a dance performance or an elaborate opera for people who block, chop, kick and punch.

Jin Zhang and Xing Yu in Master Z The Ip Man Legacy

Before the characters take the stage, here’s a little history: Ip Man was a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun. This fighting style is a traditional Southern Chinese Kung Fu that tends to be more defensive than offensive. The movements are quick, strong and soft all at the same time. Ip Man was famous for being legendary fighter/actor Bruce Lee’s teacher. Also, director Woo-Pin Yuen is a well-known Chinese actor/stuntman famous for creating the action choreography for the Matrix series and the Oscar-winner Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

In the 1960s, Cheung Tin Chi (Jin Zhang, The Grandmaster) and his young son Fung have relocated from China to Hong Kong. Cheung, once a Win Chun expert, comes to HK after experiencing a humbling defeat in China by Ip Man. Now he owns a small grocery store and tries to live under the radar. Neighborhood kids bully his boy and disrespect him too. Yet, Cheung refuses to get drawn into any conflict.

Xing Yu, Jin Zhang, Michelle Yeoh and Kevin Cheng in Master Z The Ip Man Legacy

Haphazardly, Tin Chi is forced into a fight with local thugs when he comes to the rescue of Julia (Yan Liu, Badges of Fury), a nightclub singer. She’s defending her opium-addicted friend Nana (Chrissie Chau). Nana owes money to her drug dealer Tso Sai Kit (Kevin Cheng), and Kit and his men attack the women. Tin Chi saves they day, which pisses off the aggressors.

That good deed sets the single dad on a different trajectory. He meets Julia’s nightclub-owning brother Fu (Xing Yu), Kit’s older/wiser crime lord sister Kwan (Michelle Yeoh, Crazy Rich Asians and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and the smarmy, oaf-sized American ex-pat, restaurant owner and drug kingpin Owen Davidson ( Dave Bautista, former WWE champion turned actor in films like Riddick and Blade Runner 2049).

The plotline by screenwriters Edmond Wong and Tai-lee Chan (the Ip Man trilogy) unfurls and their homage to Ip Man’s style is evidenced as a bounty of characters hits the screen. Rivalries, infernos, street fights and revenge attacks mount. Action scenes explode at the right intervals and are well-paced (editors Kai Pong Chow and Chi-Leung Kwong). Martial arts fans will eat it up, even if some of the stunts employ invisible wires to help the cast leap over opponents and climb buildings. The target audience won’t care one bit.

Dave Bautista co-stars in Master Z The Ip Man Legacy

When Tin Chi crashes into walls and breaks them, you can clearly see that they’re made of thin wood or cardboard. The production looks fake, like a stage setting for a play and oddly it’s a style choice that becomes increasingly engaging. Think back to Francis Ford Coppola’s One from the Heart. That movie was shot almost entirely on Coppola’s Zoetrope sound stages. Master Z… takes a similar approach, which can make viewers think the production quality is rickety or inventive, depending on their tastes. Add in the colorful, well-lit cinematography (David Fu and Seppe Van Grieken), period costumes (Joyce Chan) and saturated colors (art direction by Raymond Chan) and the visuals are a lock.

With Woo-Ping Yuen as the mastermind, the fight scenes are kinetic, wondrous and almost balletic. At times the combat is violent. Other times it’s as if the fighters are involved in highly elaborate and tightly constructed choreography. Imagine West Side Story told with an Asian twist, where the Jets and Sharks gangs go at it kung fu style. Then hold that thought and ponder if Master Z… would make a captivating theater piece.

Jin Zhang’s resemblance to Johnny Depp is almost uncanny. Same lips, pout and stature. He’s every inch a leading man. Yan Liu as the feisty Julia is radiant. Michelle Yeoh brings traces of her persona from CTHG to mind. At 56 years old she can still throw down some very convincing kicks and hits against men half her age. Lurking in the background is a mysterious hitman played by Tony Jaa, who looks like he could beat up an army.

The script takes jabs at British imperialism as it depicts Her Majesty’s men taking bribes to control the local police. They’re getting paid under the table by Owen Davidson, who is masterfully played by Dave Bautista. The WWE showman is the size of a truck. In fact, the final knockdown, drag out battle between Tin Chi and Owen is a complete marvel—in a David versus Goliath way.

Check your disbelief and cynicism at the door. If you’re looking for an artistic martial arts film on the level of Zhang Yimou’s elegant House of Flying Daggers, this isn’t it. Yet, you can still enjoy this very creative and novel piece for its performances, storytelling, rivalries and well-staged action scenes.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Waters, Durbin Reintroduce Bill to Give Students Defrauded by For-Profit Colleges Their Day in Court

Don't Miss

Congress Traveling the Country to Hear Evidence of Voting Rights Violations

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY