I’m typing this with bruised knuckles from clenching my fists through EVERY SINGLE FIGHT SCENE!! Donnie Yen at 62 is a FREAKING BEAST – slower, wiser, but hits like a freight train powered by pure chi!! This prequel dives into young Ip’s brutal training under Chan Wah-shun, and OH MAN, the wooden dummy sessions had me yelling “ONE MORE ROUND!” like I was in the dojo myself!!

The plot? It’s raw Hong Kong grit meets philosophical fire: Ip rising against corrupt warlords in pre-WWII chaos, forging his code of honor amid betrayal and bloodshed. That one-on-one with Lo Mang’s undefeated rival? 15 minutes of non-stop, bone-crunching choreography that makes John Wick look like yoga class!! Slow-mo palm strikes, flying kicks off walls, and when Ip channels his first “quiet rage” burst… I STOOD UP AND APPLAUDED ALONE IN THE THEATER!!

Bruce Lee easter eggs? Subtle but chef’s kiss – a cheeky kid cameo hinting at the legend to come. And the emotional gut-punch: Ip’s first real loss, teaching him mercy over murder. I ugly-cried during the rain-soaked farewell to his mentor

Sound design slaps harder than a chain punch, visuals crisp as a fresh gi, and Donnie’s stoic stare-downs? Iconic. This isn’t just kung fu – it’s a love letter to resilience that wrecked me and rebuilt me stronger.

If Ip Man 4 closed the book, 5 just opened a whole new library. GO SEE IT IN IMAX BEFORE YOUR FISTS ITCH FOR REAL!!!