Ip Man: How to Write Superman | Video Essay

[@AccentedCinema]

Update: Well, this comment did not age well. ----------------------------- Did you know you can submit your own subtitles for all of our videos? All videos in this channel supports community caption/subtitles submissions! Due to the nature of this channel, we have a diverse set of viewers with different language preferences. To make our videos more accessible, I tried my best to provide (broken) English and (Equally broken) Chinese subtitles. You can help by providing translations in your own language. In return, your name will be automatically credited in the video description. Simply clicks the gear icon on the bottom right of the video player, and select Subtitles/CC, Add subtitles/CC. Your contribution are much appreciated! In any case, I hope you enjoy our videos!

[@thethirdjegs]

I thought you were Tony Zhou.

[@GarfieldRex]

You can hire some translators (I'm native in Spanish).

[@AccentedCinema]

@@thethirdjegs Oh I wish.

[@thethirdjegs]

@@AccentedCinema you have similar voices, beyond the accent. Anyways, you are both amazing. (Y)

[@Tethloach1]

or imagine superman written from someone elses perspective. protagonist is a regular guy who looks up to superman.

[@maimayer9687]

"No man is above learning a new lesson," I love that.

[@droe2570]

It's from Confucius, as best I can tell. I can't recall the exact words, but in the Analects, Confucius says something like: no matter what company I am in, I can always learn something. So even if he is speaking with an imbecile, he can learn, showing that learning never ends, and everyone is a teacher in some way.

[@Stavol2Dual]

We must always adapt

[@lornilula4213]

It goes along this line i think. Though I'm quite sure this is also inaccurate. Everyone is a teacher in some ways. If your company is bad, you can learn to not be like him. If your company is good, then take examples from him.

[@droe2570]

@@lornilula4213 "When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, examine your inner self." Confucius. "How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Jesus in Luke 6;42.

[@CyberSKJ]

Except for Saitama

[@nagagotama]

"A man can be all-powerful, a man can be morally perfect, but no man is above learning a new lesson."

[@fUZZILin]

One Punch Man does this well, too!

[@Ok-eg8dg]

@@fUZZILin the point of Saitama is that he doesnt learn. He has no arc.

[@TheGrooseofLegend]

@@Ok-eg8dg I disagree. Look at the talk with King right after the fight Benjamin is talking about.

[@Ok-eg8dg]

@@TheGrooseofLegend I haven't seen season 2. I was referring to s1

[@megamage911]

@@Ok-eg8dg Well, then you can't definitively say he has no arc, since the manga is also much further along than even where season 2 got up to.

[@Drawoon]

"No man is above learning a new lesson." I was really expecting a curiosity stream sponsorship there.

[@AccentedCinema]

"That's why you should use today's sponsor: Skillshare."

[@AtroSquared]

​@@AccentedCinema this was an amazing video and I won't blame you in the least if you get that sponsorship and actually use that line in your videos in the future. I hope for the best

[@Ahrone1586]

What?

[@No-Hassle]

IP Man skipping the fight to dance with his wife was an amazing moment in king fu cinema. I’ve always felt Donnie Yen un general has done the best job making viewers care for the characters he portrays. My favorite was Dragon.

[@glorych1168]

ya

[@peternotpeter4201]

ya

[@goolgepl2112]

ya

[@Ryuisdragon]

yep

[@danieladusei1993]

Bro I love dragon that film alone should have won an Oscar

[@Skycube100]

Okay, Ip-man's way of being with his wife is just sweet, God I almost teared up at that dance scene thank you for showing that here.

[@glorych1168]

u r someting

[@GreenGlo1991]

3 really hurt a lot. It’s one thing to deal with being invaded and then have racist issues, but dealing with the illness and impending death of a loved one is intimate and something almost everyone can relate to either from experience or just imagining losing someone they love.

[@Kiyoone]

but the real life Yip Man is another story tho

[@zad_rasera]

I teared up even though it's my first time seeing this here

[@alwaysapirateroninace443]

I teared up when she asked him to practice on the Wing Chun dummy because she missed the sound . . . It's touching because at the beginning of the first movie, she was against his love of Wing Chun because it took his time away from her and their son. But through the course of the movies, she realizes how important it is for him, and to support his love of it rather than fight it. Whereas Ip Man learns to value her and his family more, and you see the change in both Ip Man 3 & 4. It's a beautiful give and take that marriage is all about.

[@Gokiza]

“What a hero can do becomes irrelevant, what a hero chooses to do gives great insight into his character ...” Excellent summation

[@lionkingmatiouz3441]

Nice line indeed

[@ShadoryKaine]

"the Man of Steel himself is dying" "I'm dying" I died.

[@sewan7590]

*Dark Soul's "You died" shows up*

[@hoangle5486]

Sooo...WHat's the Wifi password in Hell/Heaven??

[@Kaidenki]

im dying too

[@revengefullobster4524]

TIHYD

[@MaximilianonMars]

@@hoangle5486 heaven: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXWoc61oatF6mrs There's the password.

[@timothykammerer7622]

10:34 "Superman is dying" Superman: "I'm dying" "... yeah thanks, I just said that"

[@syressx9098]

10:32

[@dragonskunkstudio7582]

I like how you censored Superman's mouth. Appropriate.

[@AccentedCinema]

Trying my best not to traumatize the younger viewers here.

[@hironyx]

🤣

[@yuugenr7549]

pentakill

[@jaimetheone9150]

Is he using bad words?

[@AzariusR]

500th like here and that part is illegal to show.

[@rejoyy]

Ipman 's dance with his wife always makes me chuckle and cry at the same time.

[@jxmai7687]

I sure many people did cry when watch Ipman, it was so touching.

[@MrScarecrow24]

The first Ip Man is a 10/10 film. Pretty much perfect through and through.

[@procerator]

Unfortunatelly, Ip Man 2 and 3 are soulless cashgrabs.

[@indefatigableargonaut]

@@procerator 3 wasn't a cash grab at all, and 2 still had good fight scenes but not a good story. 3 had a good story.

[@MrScarecrow24]

@@procerator I think both sequels have some redeeming qualities actually. But yeah, they're not even close to the same level as the first film.

[@thegombie]

Definitely! Gripping story, great pacing, and so many high points. Shame about the terrible sequels.

[@futatorius]

@@procerator, the thing that spoiled 2 for me was the xenophobic nationalism. Granted, colonialists weren't the good guys, but the film was laying on the Hooray for Our Side message with a trowel.

[@TheIbney00]

“What can possibly challenge him?” *Me never having seen this before.* “Yea what can?” “The Imperial Japanese Army invades China” “Oh yep that’ll do it”

[@thebacons5943]

Ibney00 lmao me cuz I forgot the plot

[@KF-zb6gi]

You make it sounds funny ahahah

[@AnjanaBSubba]

Ip Man gets criticism for its morally immovable and undefeated protagonist which makes him unrelatable. And they are right. I don't really relate to him. But the thing is, a good character doesn't *always* have to be that. Ip Man isn't someone I relate to but he is someone I look up to. He is an ideal character done right. A grand character even. Something that Hollywood seems to forget by focusing too much on well "quirkyness". I think the audience love grandeur of a good ideal character too which is why Wonder Woman 2017 was so successful and loved. She is a superhero, a role model and an inspiration. Characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Ip Man are characters we look up to. Make them grounded in reality, have them really struggle, truly challenge them and make them suffer but never take away their "Grand" factor. Otherwise they won't feel like themselves to the fans. Which is why I didn't like Zack Snyder's take on Superman.

[@Kitties_are_pretty]

I can relate to perfect characters because I'm perfect.

[@campion04]

Everyone can relate to the story of Ip Man. No matter how great the guy, can’t please the old lady.

[@batman-sr2px]

ip man isn't good, and this video is terrible.

[@macmcleod1188]

@@batman-sr2px I respect your right to hold a different opinion and support your freedom of speech. And I also recognize you are one of 27 people (at this time) who don't like the video compared to nearly 2000 people (at this time) who do like the video. Your opinion is in the extreme minority. That doesn't mean it is without value in some objective or absolute sense... but it does mean most people probably don't care what you think. However, you weren't vulgar so kudos for that.

[@AnjanaBSubba]

@@campion04 what old lady?

[@Sherdderworld]

It’s extremely shocking to find someone who actually genuinely understands how Superman is supposed to be written and for that you have my respect and have earned a subscription and a like

[@MasterZhang]

The vs 10 black belt fight also serves another purpose: it shows the first time that Ip Man is fighting with the express goal of beating the crap out of the other guy. All of his fights previously were characterized by him almost treating each fight as a game, where the purpose is to use the bare minimum level of force/skill to defeat the opponent, but now he's realizing both what violence is and when is the correct time to take the gloves off.

[@ElphBoyK]

I will admit that I clicked on this video with the intent of writing an angry rant to defend superman. However, the creator of this video spoke of the true battles faced by the characters in such an eloquent and approachable way that I came to understand a viewpoint I would have otherwise never considered. The writers of the recent superman movies could learn a lot from Ip Man. Thank you for helping me see that.

[@Anubis-xk4ht]

So who's the overall better character ip man or superman

[@frankegordon326]

@@Anubis-xk4ht just depends who's writing either character

[@Anubis-xk4ht]

@@frankegordon326 I personally think saitama is better season 1 was a great take on OP character even better than both hulk and superman it perfectly examined the struggles of godlike heroes/characters in a very realistic it looked pretty easy and neat but that's just me superman might be a better hero but saitama is a better executed and more consistent character that's just me

[@gabymoekoe]

ElphBoyK why would u need to defend Superman tho? from this video I gather the creator is himself a Superman fan; he praised the storytelling in certain comicbook / animated series about Supes. What he’s criticizing is the fact that, esp with DCEU I’d assume, the people currently in charge of Superman don’t get this or just aren’t doing enough, or as much as they could, when it is what an iconic character like Superman deserves.

[@rikumajumder1558]

@@Anubis-xk4ht Saitama, to me, isn't better than Superman but just another look at someone who's all powerful. Another all Powerful would be Goku who while the strongest in Earth and even in this galaxy trains and wants to fight stronger opponents to become more stronger. He isn't a good dad and while he does care to protect Earth and his family and friends, he still wants to seek out people stronger than him and fight them. Saitama, in his story, is the strongest and is bored cause he's too strong. He also tries to find people stronger than him but is unable to. His story isn't about him finding stronger people but realizing while he maybe physically the strongest, he isn't the symbol of peace or the 'true hero'. Superman's story is him being a symbol of peace and all powerful. He doesn't need to train, at least in most stories. He also doesn't want to fight stronger opponents but make peace with them to protect Earth. His struggles are all mental and sometimes external as Superman is far from being the strongest in his universe but he definitely is the strongest on Earth but still Earth has many problems that Superman can't just punch his way through. All 3 OP characters have different takes on being too powerful and how they each react to it. Personally I prefer Superman cause he has some great fuken comics that should have been adapted to the big screen already...

[@Salsmachev]

I couldn't disagree more about a lack of arc in Ip Man 2. We're introduced to Ip Man as the classic wise, humble, confident master. He runs into challenges with getting his school started, and faces them in his usual way. However, the final barrier is the fee the other masters expect him to pay. A combination of poverty and pride stop him from doing that, and he insults the other masters. Then, in Master Hung's school, he prioritises Master Hung's kid over winning the fight, which allows Hung to develop as a character. He realises that Ip actually had a point, and that the masters have lost their pride. In turn, he gives Ip the invitation to the Eastern/Western boxing demonstration, and Ip gets a good look at the situation Hung and the other masters are in. He realises that they were in the same position he was- proud but desperate. When he sees Hung get killed, it's a reflection of when he saved Hung's kid, and Ip learns that Hung was truly an honourable person. Finally, Ip Man defeats Twister using Hung's moves as a symbolic representation of what he has learned: that he and master Hung never really had a conflict with eachother and they were only fighting because of the poverty and exploitation caused by colonialism. Ip Man is challenged to be less proud and more compassionate, and to recognise that the true enemy is the colonial government.

[@beastoonline1991]

Thats interesting perspective

[@a-blivvy-yus]

Thing is, that's a *STORY* arc, and it shows more development of *OTHER* characters. Ip Man himself doesn't change. He sees that someone else changed as a result of his actions, and honours that person's development. It's not a character arc for Ip Man himself. That said, a Superman-style "flawless" hero character doesn't need to develop as a character if their purpose in the story is to drive the arcs of the characters around them, which is how Ip Man 2 is told, and why it still works as a story with a well constructed story arc.

[@Salsmachev]

@@a-blivvy-yus Ip Man DOES change. He begins as a proud character who sees the other masters as selfish and petty. He then grows as he comes to understand that they were struggling under much the same conditions he was. His character arc is tied to Hung's, but he does have one. It's about admitting that he was arrogant and atoning for his arrogance by fighting the real enemy.

[@a-blivvy-yus]

@@Salsmachev Yes, but the point is the "his character arc is tied to Hung's" part - the primary character development that happens isn't really *HIM* so much as his realisation that others can change for the better. he realises that these people he's looked down on had reasons for being the "petty" people they were. There is an element of him learning to see things from the other perspective, but it isn't a massive paradigm shift for him. his arc is, ultimately, a fairly flat one comparatively. But it's *MEANT* to be and it being so doesn't reflect badly on the storytelling at all, because he's more of a vehicle for the development of Hung than the central plot arc in and of himself. He's the catalyst for the story rather than the story itself.

[@animeking213]

blivvy "keyword" primary that does not mean anyone else did not receive some sense of development.

[@DrakeFellwing]

Ip Man was pretty fucking wholesome for a martial arts movie.

[@marvelsandals4228]

The first part of the movie establishes him as being so pure and noble, that you really root for him when he is suffering throughout the rest of the movie. Of any character this guy doesn't deserve this BS.

[@NihilTruth]

I also like the "What's so funny about truth, justice and the American way?" storyline type for superman-type characters, the story in question was animated as Superman vs the Elite. It basically pits superman against a set of murderous anti-heroes who question superman's methods. Superman doesn't develop as a character, but it shows just why he is how he is, adding depth by improving the audiences understanding of him. The Elite were never a physical challenge to Superman as much as they were a moral question: "Is it right for Superman to not kill?" To which the story answers as "Yes" and explains why.

[@HajiDumas]

Accented Cinema: He's Dying Superman: I'm Dying Me: *Dead*

[@resurrectionist1]

You hit the nail on the head as did "I'm a Marvel and I'm a DC" when they understood that Superman isn't a character we are necessarily supposed to relate to but rather aspire to and be motivated to be like.

[@ynog0978]

those are things Hollywood never makes anymore

[@duchi882]

0:18 - *"With the 4th film on the horizon, its high time we pay this series some respect"* With the many quality uploads Accented Cinema has made, its high time we pay this channel some respect

[@JayAyers]

6:27 Ip Man 2 == Rocky 4 Both had a former enemy turned friend die in battle. Both had an invincible opponent. Both had the protagonist defeat invincible opponent. Both gave a speech after said victory.

[@starcrushed]

Both wives were pregnant and gave birth while they were training for fight. (Rocky 2)

[@blueTwl]

its been a while since i watched it, but i think the speech ip man makes at the end of the fight is really similar to the rocky speech

[@yvesmanalo2405]

But no musical training montage...

[@maelstrom57]

Both were ideological fights (capitalism vs communism / English boxing vs Chinese boxing).

[@anhdinhlamduc5700]

@@maelstrom57 chinese boxing...really.

[@XGlite015]

I like that you have good knowledge of the best Superman stories.

[@gunswinger3110]

Can't wait for the spinoff: DNS Man

[@共想文化]

红红火火

[@Wafflepudding]

The prequel, TCP man, looks good too

[@fastcx]

IP Man 5: The rage of TTL

[@tomasbickel58]

@@Wafflepudding , IP 6 "A New Protocol"

[@Wafflepudding]

@@tomasbickel58 SSL man: Layer of vengeance

[@schuylersimmons4424]

two of my favorite characters in the same video. what a beautiful cohesion. Master Ip Man, Superman, Master Huo Yuanjia, and the fictional Chen Zhen have always fascinated me. Coming from a time period or land that was oppressed by some outside force, but always managed to either pave their own way by being a vehicle of revenge or a source of inspiration. As a black man who grew up in a rough neighborhood, I've always felt somewhat connected to their story. There's so much I identify with and desire in turn, to be stronger and better than my surroundings and be a beacon of hope for others. To be a Superman. Love this video. Looking forward to others like this in the future. Keep it up.

[@JeevesAnthrozaurUS]

Kobayashi Maru? Gotta appreciate a Star Trek reference in your analysis of Chinese media

[@AccentedCinema]

Kobayashi Maru should've been a widely accepted idiom at this point. But oh well, Star Trek for life!

[@a-blivvy-yus]

@@AccentedCinema Just because it's a widely-accepted idiom, doesn't mean it's not recognisable for its source as well.

[@RuneKatashima]

@@a-blivvy-yus He's saying it's not a widely accepted idiom.

[@a-blivvy-yus]

@@RuneKatashima He's saying he thought it was but that what Jeeves said brings that into question because it's being specifically noted as a Trek reference. I'm saying that doesn't negate the validity of its recognisability beyond Trek.

[@VancePetrol]

​@@a-blivvy-yus What? How the heck did you get to that conclusion? Are you one of those people who uses 'literally' to describe something figuratively as well?

[@martintirpak1033]

seeing Ip man spend time and care after his wife who had cancer was so emotional. I cried alot - and I dont do that often.

[@glorych1168]

expert

[@saurabhkalkar6436]

Good assessment, you gave it a completely fresh angle for me to watch it again! Keep up the good work...

[@emceha]

8:33 Love that point. He wins the perfect battle but it changes nothing.

[@jxmai7687]

do you know why, because it still happen around us. very simple. i give you one example, today i a plant a tree, but out there some where there were 10 tree just being cut down at the same time.

[@SupervoidCinema]

IpMan vs the British boxer in 2 was awesome to watch. The vs Tyson fight too was beautifully choreographed.

[@enigmaodell6806]

@Goliath Online I've had a few month's training at a boxing gym and am part of a martial arts club, and have sparred with someone who practiced tai kwan do or karate, and was extremely fast and graceful. I finished the fight by barrelling in and picking her up of the ground. If she wanted to, she could have kicked my head off earlier, but anyway. I love the contrast.

[@robinthrush9672]

@Goliath Online I agree. That's a sad rarity in martial arts movies to show anything superior from boxing/wrestling vs the movie's central kung fu/karate form.

[@esakkisivabalakrishna2640]

Good analysis man, I came here for Superman learned about IP man. I might watch those movies now.

[@Jimmygarn]

Please do, you most likely won't regret it.

[@victorcapote7376]

Esakkisiva Balakrishna He’s right.

[@pleasedont.5613]

ip man was always one of my favorite trilogies. exceptional analysis! you are one of my all time favorite video essaysists, keep it up!

[@AccentedCinema]

Thanks for the support!

[@vijnmusic4707]

@Please Don't same here! These are timeless classics!

[@lilyl.6715]

Had no idea a fourth movie was being made. I’ll b sure to tell my parents

[@NONstopNINJA5]

b young

[@L16htW4rr10r]

Its very good

[@andyzhang7890]

Wow, I never expected to see a video essay on Ip Man, and learning something new from one of my favourite trilogies. Thank you 😲

[@benjaminaustnesnarum3900]

"No-one can do everything, but everyone can do something." This is why one can influence the outcome of something far greater than oneself. Inspire others, and you CAN change parts of the world.

[@guicaldo7164]

I want to watch these movies now. I love it when movies manage to mix fun action with emotional and meaningful storytelling

[@NabilAbdulrashidComedy]

Man whoever created the theme song for ip man was a genius.. it’s almost as stirring as the wong fei hung song

[@kheatsopon]

R.I.P King of Wakanda. Nice video!

[@pachanas703]

I've been a huge fan of this channel since discovering it, but the fact that you also understand and appreciate Superman as a character elevates you even more in my eyes. So many other movie channels talk about the problem with Superman being that nothing is really a threat to him when that's never been what makes him interesting as a character. It also ignores the fact that the main character isn't believably threatened in most heroic fiction.

[@perrymathis4557]

Awesome! Really enjoyed the comparison as it never came to mind before. Thanks!

[@jp3813]

Ip Man is basically the second coming of Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China (aka Wong Fei-hung) series, which also starred Donnie Yen in the 2nd film. Both franchises feature invincible protagonists and breathed new life into the traditional kung fu subgenre.

[@B4umkuchen]

A very interesting assessment of this series. I'm always contemplating on how to write flawless good characters in a compelling way and this essay gave me some intriguing inspiration for that. Thank you for that.

[@chanceofbliss8175]

Yo good luck with your writing, I try to do so myself as a pastime and I know how difficult it can be so good luck

[@Siper2]

What a pleasant surprise, to see a video combining two of my favorite things: Martial arts and Superman. ☺️ I love your assessment, and agree!

[@ArcaneKeeperD20]

This is an incredibly obscure subject matter, but as someone who loves Ip Man and Superman, I can see it was also incredibly interesting and well executed.

[@TheKunnche]

They made IpMan more relatable by giving his character a human side. Not some know it all do it all guy. Just a guy who's exceptionally good with his fists, learning valuable lessons and teaching some along the way. Love the quadrilogy. Goes right next to my Undisputed collection 😍

[@KidChardonnay]

The Ip man series are my favourite action films, and I've always thought that most superman films are lacking a certain something. Your video provides perfect insight and evaluation of the two series. Thanks for this amazing video and keep up the good work!

[@brianmulholland2467]

Holy crap, this was outstanding and I want you to write the next Superman movie. How are there 43 downvotes? To quote Jerry Seinfeld "Who ARE these people!?!"

[@Gyvulys]

Because this is the guy, who would make "IP man" fight "racism" and superman fight "world hunger", or, probably, something like "climate change". It's bloody ridiculous.

[@Ok-eg8dg]

@@Gyvulys well superman could go with the problem that people think too high of him. Ppl half way across the world saying "superman will help us" and if so many ppl say this across the world, superman would be affected by this. Perhaps a spiderman 2 situation where he feels like dropping superman and staying as Clark

[@bipstymcbipste5641]

@@Gyvulys Well, you CAN do that. You just need to be careful with sensitive issues. IP man 4 is kinda hard for me take seriously

[@nachideku]

Well put together. I love the literal tie ins with Superman as well comparing the two characters who seem to have not much in common but have relatable stories

[@WorgenGrrl]

There is a home movie that shows Ip Man doing his daily routine...even though his body was being eaten away by Cancer. It's inspirational and heart wrenching at the same time.

[@strystyl]

I actually really liked the perspective you took on this video. The strength of narrative in all three Ip Man films varies but yeah the best part of them all is how much we're invested in Ip's life and legacy. DOPE take.

[@RomainBenkandil]

A really interesting perspective on writing, on almightiness and character driven moments on film. Plus, I've heard one of the most beautiful morals in a long time : "a man can be flawless, but no one is above learning a new lesson". Thanks for this !

[@DongHuaReviews]

Ip Man is my favourite martial arts movie of the last decade by far. I was thinking about it so much during your last video on Jackie Chan about how intense the fights looked in this movie. The only movies that come close to wowing me in a similar regard are also starring Donnie Yen: Dragon and Hero, but those feel more XianXia than martial arts. Great video as always, a very interesting direction to take it in that I didnt expect.

[@AccentedCinema]

Donnie Yen's work like Flash Point are also super intense. I can't remember which interview it was, but Donnie's fighting philosophy is rather direct and blunt. He thinks martial art's ultimate goal is to defeat your opponent in the shortest amount of time. It goes against a lot of modern mainstream Kung Fu philosophy of advocating non-violence. But because he has that mentality, his actions are usually quite realistic and brutal feeling, especially if he's directing.

[@DongHuaReviews]

@@AccentedCinema awesome! That's a movie I havent seen yet, so I'll have to check it out. They really got the perfect actor to play Ip Man in that regard then since it is so similar to Bruce Lee's beliefs.

[@AccentedCinema]

@@DongHuaReviews Director Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen has been collaborating way before Ip Man. I think it's a great casting choice, too. Which is funny, because Donnie almost passed up this role, since he wants to play hardboiled detective types of character more.

[@duncandisorderly9445]

I always considered how Astro City initially wrote their Superman analogue, The Samaritan. You rarely ever saw him, but instead you see him through the lens of people around him and who interact with him. Very similar to how Neil Gaiman did Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow.

[@FlorenceFox]

I can't wait for Ip Man 4. I've loved all the films so far, flaws and all. As for writing Superman, I think the biggest thing for me is that I wish people would stop trying to make Superman dark and edgy. He doesn't have to be dark and edgy, he SHOULDN'T be dark and edgy. Superman is an inspiration, he's a beacon of hope that we can all strive to emulate. All-Star Superman is a great story, so is What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? Two of my favorite moments in Superman comics are moments that don't focus on him beating up the bad guys, but on just helping people. Incidentally, both involve the same problem, and it's one that Superman can't just punch away, but that's why he's Superman. Not because he's super strong, but because he cares to stop and help people with problems even when the solutions aren't so simple. One is from Christmas With the Superheroes #2. It's an anthology comic, and one of the stories features Superman stopping to help a guy having car troubles. He has a loaded gun and was planning on killing himself, and so, of course, being the good guy he is, Supes stops and talks to him and helps him work through his problems, convinces him to try reconnecting with his daughter and then finally takes the gun away to remove the temptation. The other is... well, actually there's two very similar. One from All-Star Superman #10, and I don't recall the issue for the other, but both feature Superman talking someone (a young girl in one, and a woman in the other) off of a ledge. In the case of the young girl, she feels like her therapist has abandoned her, and Superman reassures her that her therapist really DID just get held up, and that she's strong enough to keep living. In the case of the woman, she recently lost her mother and was overwhelmed by thoughts of how pointless life can seem, how we all think we're gonna do great things and change the world and then most of us wind up doing unfulfilling 9-5 jobs from graduation to the grave. After a while, the woman wants to stop talking and Superman literally just waits there, for hours, until she's ready to talk. And eventually, he talks her down. In either case, he could have just grabbed them off the roofs and been done with it, but that's not who Superman is. At the end of the day, the ONE character trait that defines Superman beyond any other, is the fact that he cares. Every single thing Superman does as a hero is motivated by compassion. No problem is too small to warrant his personal attention, and no life ISN'T worth saving. The worst Superman stories are the ones that forget or ignore that, and the best are the ones that put that front and center. Edit: Double checked and I misremembered the sequence of events for the first story, so I corrected that.

[@saipawankumar5297]

I enjoyed reading this. And I can relate to the fact that the true purpose of Superman is to continue to be all powerful and inspire. I am from India and I was introduced to Superman when I was 3. I was immediately fixated. How could a man be so powerful and yet so humble and moral. I grew up reading and watching Superman and a part of him lives in me. It lives in a lot of people who have been similarly inspired. That is why he's God. He can inspire a person born and brought up on the other side of the planet with his simple actions

[@glorych1168]

the legend is born. u should watch

[@raymondrayos5677]

There is no one greater or more powerful than the the man upstairs!!! Jesus said that greater is He who lives in us then he who lives in the World!!!

[@swimmyswim417]

@@saipawankumar5297 I think the reason why the “new” Superman movies have been dark and edgy is an attempt to be more “realistic”. But it’s not realistic, it’s just nihilistic. And nihilism has its place in storytelling, but it’s so contrary to everything Superman is and stands for that it feels so WRONG to make a nihilistic Superman. You’re right, we need more life and optimism in a good Superman story.

[@constantinezoelayman3132]

@@swimmyswim417 actually, MAN OF STEEL and BVS Dawn OF Justice ULTIMATE EDITION and also JUSTICE LEAGUE 2021 are surprisingly truly fantasy realism superman stories about DECONSTRUCTION OF SUPERMAN and a chris revve superman who grew up in a donald trump/cancel culture era where racism is literally everywhere and ALIENphobia is treated like islamohophobia and homophobia through kryptonians's existences. and trust me, realistic superman story is definitely nihilistic with a sparkle of hope, not a beacon yet because again, Clark Kent must change his superman indentity just to simply be a hero from kansas accepting racism and still not give up to prove his haters and american politicians and african civillians wrong that superman is a terrorist that he killed zod twice from MOS 2013 and the ending of BVS UE where Clark heroically suicides with ZOMBIE ZOD AKA FAKE DOOMSDAY.

[@Xcyper33]

Maybe this is how you make a good superman game with an engrossing story. Giving him an existential antagonist that he can't power his way through.

[@petermarchi1935]

Their was a scene in a movie I watched once and an old Bard was telling an epic tale, when the Bard was finished an onlooker came up and said, "Funny that's not how I remember it! The Bard said, Well if I told it the way it actually happened no one would believe it. I bring this up because more often then not the legend is more interesting then the facts. Now as a martial artist myself, I will say this, as a fighter you "MUST" think of yourself as unbeatable! In the movies at least IP man does this!

[@maggiejetson7904]

I would love Superman getting a Dark Knight kind of development instead of just plowing through problems.

[@zach-zy7xj]

I have been living in China for years and I find your videos insightful and honest

[@AccentedCinema]

Thank you for the support!

[@eltoncdb]

I remember when me and my cousins bring Ip man 1 to my grandma's place to watch but have to stop half way through. The war scenes and the suffering of people bring back the trauma of the war to her, she didn't say it out loud but when she keep talk about how harsh is it with the Japanese conquer we brings out the bad memory of hers.

[@etherlords88]

I first watched this film thinking it's some sort of Internent Protocol man! But then I fell in love with this!! One of the very few greatest movie series!!!

[@dannybenhur6123]

Matching IP Man with Superman...it's genius idea...your perspective is great...

[@jobansand]

This is a really great video essay!! I'm definitely gonna watch IP Man now!

[@glorych1168]

don't u watch?

[@BlackStarGabusGaben]

The fight sequence with Mike Tyson in Ip Man 3 is one of my all-time favourite scenes. Just magical.

[@Dr.Q_PHD]

I really appreciate this video, you taught me how to look at one of my favorite martial arts movies in a new way.

[@QcCuber4]

The amount of wisdom you having about these things is jus awe inspiring.

[@bhsx]

This is the first content of yours that I've seen and this is impressively well thought out and written. Thank you.

[@spiderhamilton1]

I've never seen the Ip Man series but you've made me a fan and I'm gonna binge them all tonight. Plus your assessment of how to write Superman is something I've been trying to convey to ppl for years.

[@glorych1168]

ipman 1,2,3.n the legend is born 2010.complete ipman story

[@William7563-n4d]

@@glorych1168 legend is born has nothing to do with Donnie yen ip man films

[@glorych1168]

@@William7563-n4d prequel.how teenager ipman learn wing chin techniques

[@drawwithchris]

Well done Sir. Your essay had me teary-eyed and represented the films well imo

[@yangzhong8175]

This is the kind of video I would like to watch. It is well constructed, thoughtful, and intelligent.

[@joesomebody3365]

Interesting analysis, I'd definitely agree that it's interesting to have a character up against things he can't necessarily beat and show how he reacts to that kind of a problem by trying to inspire others. Also I didn't realize there was a third Ip man, I'll have to watch that sometime.

[@RAMENn00dleb0y]

PEACE ON EARTH THATS IT THATS THE SUPERMAN COMIC IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR YEARS!!! When I was a kid I have a distinct memory of checking out a large hardcover Superman comic featuring these beautiful paintings of him plowing huge vasts swathes of land in order to grow food in an attempt to feed the hungry across the world, only to end up mobbed by them as they all scramble for food. I was reading it on a plane and an older gentlement struck up a conversation with me about Superman. I've been looking for that comic ever since, and here it shows up in an Ip Man video. Oh my god. Thank you so much

[@Ehh97]

Ip Man is like the wise father of martial arts. You look up to him and respect him, even if you dont necessarily relate to him as a person.

[@MxGerryNava]

This is a FANTASTIC video, thank you so much for this!

[@alfredlaalpacadeageofempir9215]

No esperaba verte aqui, Tacoman :D

[@IronTiger]

Black Lightning is a great template for Superman. The show constantly pits its hero against foes he can easily defeat. He is always using his powers in exciting, creative new ways (like Silver Age Supes), but his strong sense of morality, and the vulnerability of the people he surrounds himself with are what challenge him the most.

[@kennethsatria6607]

This is so very fascinating. Well done with the naming and comparisons with Superman stories

[@Mah_Boiiii]

I hadn't heard of these films. Your explanations are great and have made me want to watch all these! Thanks for the video!

[@robinthrush9672]

You won't be disappointed. At least not beyond the teasing of Bruce Lee in each movie (Ip Man was his first teacher IRL).

[@BradleyParkerbrad676]

he really is superman the most in the first movie, not just from a story standpoint, but the man literally doesnt even struggle in one single fight

[@reinhartgregory]

It's amazing on how Ip Man is basically the Iron Man/Superman of china, he's the hero that inspires others and is cinematically superior. The writing and narrative of each film also improves and is different each time with the 2nd being the lesser of the trilogy but the first and third being spectacular Also I'd love to see a sequel series starring Bruce Lee, that would be amazing

[@rahulray9983]

Iron Man/ Superman ? These are two very different characters with very different meanings

[@Jess-lc7ci]

My dad loves those movies. He's seen those over and over again, he never gets tired of them lmao.

[@zacksilverstone7642]

Ip Man is an OP character. It's design to be OP. If that is the case, then how do you make the movie incredible? By challenging the character in things that it can't solve through it's OP-ness. How to challenge a super smart character? Create a problem said character can't solve solely by himself. How to challenge a morally good character? You challenge their ideal. How do you challenge a "Superman" character? Introduce a challenge far greater than said character could handle normally. Give em something that it can't solve alone.

[@zacksilverstone7642]

@@TosshiMayo Good luck with your endeavour!

[@ZedEdge]

What an unexpected but incredibly appropriate comparison. Excellently researched, justified and presented - well done.

[@turntyle]

I really love this video. Amazing insights into writing in general. I feel like a lot of great lessons can be learned about how to tell good stories from analysis like this.

[@andrewcapra7153]

"What a hero can do becomes irrelevant, he can't do anything. What he chooses to do, in turn, gives great insight into his character" is a line that hit me like 2:47

[@pigboykool]

Ip Man is Awesome! He is a hero to inspire others, not a person to be related to.

[@omarfelix5287]

I lobe the Ip Man trilogy with my life. This was a great analysis. Thank you for ypur work.

[@AvatarLiger]

Love this, so much. Showing this immediately to my superhero/martial arts friends alike!

[@gelidknight5699]

Cool! Cool cool cool!

[@henrylee0123]

Man i love your videos! and i love this quote of your in this video, "A man can be all powerful, a man can be morally perfect, but no man is above learning a new lesson."

[@victortjiong3491]

I really like how you took a different perspective in Ip Man films -- while others, most people think it's just another popcorn kung-fu flick; nothing more. I always love Ip Man series since the first one. To me, Ip Man feels like a Wong Fei-hung trend back in the day. It was also considered as a star vehicle -- which launched Jet Li's peak at that time. Same here goes to Donnie Yen's career, although Yen fanboys certainly already knew many of his past films. Then many filmmakers in the end jumped on the bandwagon, made Ip Man films, which I could say almost exactly the same situation here. I'm just happy to experience this kind of vibe again. But then after Ip Man, do you think it's time they should launch another Chinese folk hero and a star vehicle? Great video essay, anyway.

[@thelurkingpanda3605]

The entire first ip man movie was leading up to the 10 black belt scene. One of the best scenes in movie history.

[@LuqmanHM]

This video should and must get millions of views!!!!

[@TehMomo_]

so glad I clicked on that Mulan video. I love your essays.

[@angusaya1740]

I love your videos, I always can learn something new from them. ¡Greetings from Ecuador!

[@revandywilliamlam16]

The twist in the end of ip man is heart broking

[@DeathAlchemist]

Your like the only person who I saw talk about this film series and I am happy. I had good memories watching the first film with my dad (even if it was a bad dubover).

[@mikkunmikkichi3762]

ive come to appreciate the movies more thanks to your analysis... ive rewatched it and wow... it has become more amazing the 2nd time.

[@artygunnar]

This takes the approach that there is only one type of character arc. The positive arc, there is also the negative arc and the flat arc

[@SamYung0]

"I.P." Man. Nice.

[@fredkelly6953]

That was an astute assessment of both characters. It's the story that resonates with people and what separates the good from the great even in action movies.