Ip Man 4: The Finale Blu-ray Review

"Ip Man 4: The Finale" on Blu-ray presents an impressive 1080p transfer, maintaining a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The film, shot with various Arri Alexa models and finalized at a 2K DI, delivers consistently high fine detail levels, particularly in facial features, clothing textures, and background elements. Fabric details and production design are vividly captured, showcasing a sharp and well-detailed presentation. However, the picture struggles with occasional color banding, which is a common issue in Well Go USA encodes. Despite these minor imperfections, the clarity and detail remain striking throughout.

The intentional color grading nuances are noteworthy; the film employs a palette that leans into yellows and peach tones, typical of Chinese cinema aesthetics. This choice creates a striking visual identity but can occasionally lead to softer greens, blues, and reds, especially noticeable in scenes like those set at the American school. This selective desaturation occasionally results in a loss of finer details and varied skin textures. The black levels are predominantly deep and inky, enhancing background details and night shots. Nevertheless, there are instances where blacks transition to a murky grey, detracting slightly from the image depth—this is likely a byproduct of the film's deliberate color scheme rather than a flaw in the transfer process.

Overall, "Ip Man 4: The Finale" provides a robust and nuanced visual experience on Blu-ray. While the stylized color scheme may affect fine details intermittently, the high level of detail in fabrics, facial features, and background textures brings the film vividly to life. Despite some minor color banding and less consistent black levels in select sequences, the transfer is highly effective, offering a sharp, defined image that complements the film's evocative visual style.

"Ip Man 4: The Finale" boasts a compelling audio presentation on both its 4K UHD and Blu-ray formats, notable for offering a Dolby Atmos track in the original Cantonese and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English dub. The consensus among reviewers is to prioritize the Cantonese track, not merely for authenticity but due to its superior dynamic range and overall mixing. The Atmos track is praised for its nuanced application; it leverages light, ambient surround sounds during quieter moments but transitions into an expansive, immersive experience during action scenes. This dynamic range ensures that every punch and kick is felt with deep, clean bass and precise sound placement. Dialogues remain clear and evenly balanced, irrespective of the scene's intensity, ensuring a consistently engaging audio experience.

The Cantonese Dolby Atmos track shows an intricate use of both horizontal and vertical sound effects, enhancing the spatial sense during large establishing shots and making action sequences vividly immersive. Surround channels become notably active during martial arts sequences, ensuring an energetic and visceral listening experience. The audio design meticulously supports the film's narrative flow, from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the high-octane fight scenes. The LFE placement is particularly effective, adding a resonant depth to every impact without veering into distortion or clipping.

On the other hand, the English Dubbed DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is widely regarded as lacking in quality. The dubbing is often cited as poorly executed, with particularly glaring issues when it comes to re-dubbing characters who already spoke English in the Cantonese track. Despite offering a robust presence and emphasis on action sequences, it remains an inferior option compared to the Atmos mix. Overall, the Dolby Atmos Cantonese track delivers an exceptional audio experience that significantly enhances the film's impact, making it the recommended choice for discerning listeners.

The extras provided for the Blu-ray release of "Ip Man 4: The Finale" are relatively straightforward, consisting of a series of brief Electronic Press Kit (EPK) talking head features. While these offer a glimpse into the production and legacy of the Ip Man series, they are succinct and may leave enthusiasts wanting more in-depth content. All bonus features are presented in high definition and span a total of approximately 10 minutes, ensuring a concise yet insightful behind-the-scenes look.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Of: A brief overview of the film's production process.
• The 10 Year Legend: Insights into the decade-long journey of the Ip Man series.
• The Story: Discussion on the narrative elements of the film.
• Trailer A: Promotional trailer for the film.
• Trailer B: Another promotional trailer.
• US Trailer: The trailer tailored for the US market.

"Ip Man 4: The Finale" delivers a satisfying conclusion to the revered martial arts saga, showcasing Donnie Yen's remarkable portrayal of Wing Chun master Ip Man. Yen, who initially learned Wing Chun for the original series, continues to exhibit his formidable prowess, augmented by years of diverse martial arts training. This installment explores Ip Man's journey to San Francisco, intricately blending personal and cultural conflicts as he faces resistance both from within his community and from broader societal prejudices. His interactions with various martial artists, including the iconic Bruce Lee portrayed by Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan, are particularly captivating. The presence of Scott Adkins as the antagonistic Gunnery Sergeant Barton Geddes introduces a heightened intensity, offering some of the series' most visceral and hard-hitting fight scenes.

The film's narrative interweaves multiple subplots, such as Ip Man's mission to secure his son's education in America and Bruce Lee's controversial decision to teach martial arts to non-Chinese individuals. This layered approach adds depth but occasionally feels overstuffed, as it addresses Ip Man's declining health, his son's rebellious behavior, and anti-Chinese sentiments. Nevertheless, the action sequences remain the film's highlight. They deviate from the extensive brawls of earlier entries, focusing on more intimate one-on-one combats that are both technically impressive and emotionally charged. The final confrontation between Ip Man and Geddes stands out for its brutality and intensity, pushing both characters to their physical limits.

While some elements of "Ip Man 4: The Finale" might seem embellished or fictionalized, they contribute to a narrative rich with dramatic tension and cultural commentary. Despite the evident jingoism against Americans, the film's presentation of martial arts as a unifying force remains compelling. Fans of the franchise will appreciate this climactic chapter for its diverse fight choreography, strong performances, and ultimately poignant farewell to one of cinema's great martial arts icons.

"Ip Man 4: The Finale" brings Donnie Yen's exhilarating portrayal of Bruce Lee's legendary mentor to a close. While the franchise is celebrated more for its martial arts choreography than historical accuracy, this installment doesn't deviate from that path. The narrative embarks on a fictional journey centered around Ip Man’s supposed trip to America in the 1960s, encompassing themes of cultural conflict and personal honor. Scott Adkins stands out as a hyper-racist Marine antagonist, adding a theatrical flair to the confrontational dynamics. Yen's performance remains engaging and charismatic, ensuring that fans eagerly anticipate the climactic fight scenes.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation from Well Go USA excels with a vivid video transfer that captures the film’s visually rich choreography and set designs crisply. The Cantonese Dolby Atmos mix significantly enhances the auditory experience, delivering powerful fight sequences with precision. However, the disc is notably light on bonus features, which might disappoint collectors and ardent followers of the series looking for more comprehensive behind-the-scenes content.

For those desiring historical fidelity, "Ip Man 4" may disappoint; it revels in the mythology surrounding Ip Man rather than sticking to documented facts. As such, it is a blend of legend and cinematic spectacle. While it doesn’t reach the critical acclaim of the first two films, it improves upon the third, offering a satisfying conclusion to the saga. Well Go USA’s Blu-ray release is a solid choice for previous viewers and new audiences alike, despite minimal extras.

For those wondering how accurate the "Ip Man" movies are to real life I will say this: The "Ip Man" movies revel in legend and “what might have happened” in regards to the man’s life. This entire film is based off of his supposed trip to America in the 1960s. It is fun, a bit cheesy in some parts, and while it doesn’t live up to the legendary status of the first 2 films, it is a nice step up in quality from the mediocre 3rd film and serves as a decent send-off to the character. Well Go USA’s Blu-ray is great, with excellent video and audio but really skimpy on extras. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you've watched the previous films.

Recommendation: Check It Out.