The Final Master (2015)

The Master (released internationally as The Final Master) is a 2015 Chinese martial arts film written, co-produced, and directed by Xu Haofeng, about the last Wing Chun master’s quest to pass down his art in pre-WWII China. The film stars Liao Fan, Jiang Wenli, Chin Shih-chieh, Song Jia and Song Yang.

Plot:

Grandmaster Chen, the last surviving practitioner of the Wing Chun style of martial arts, arrives in Tianjin with the desire to open a martial-arts school. Upon defeating all of Grandmaster Zheng’s disciples, Chen receives an offer from Zheng to establish a school jointly, which Chen declines. Zheng then threatens to expel Chen from the city. He gives Chen another offer: if Chen can train a disciple to defeat the eight schools of Tianjin, then Chen will be allowed to open his school. Zheng reveals that he plans to defeat the disciple after the eight schools are defeated, thus enhancing his own reputation. Meanwhile, Chen decides that he should marry a local woman, and proposes to a waitress named Zhao.

One day, Chen and Zhao are beset by thugs, whom Chen easily defeats. This catches the attention of Geng, a local rickshaw-puller, who visits Chen’s residence. Chen approves of Geng’s courageous personality and decides to take Geng as his disciple. Geng turns out to be a prodigy in Wing Chun and helps Chen to attain some of the needed victories well ahead of schedule. However, this draws the ire of an organized crime leader named Madame Zou, who attacks Chen, forcing the latter to distance himself from Geng. Later, Zhao realizes that Chen intends to betray Geng, leading Chen to expel her from the house. Zheng is visited by a former student, Lin, who is now an officer in the military.

The Assassin (2015) Biography, Plot, Box office, Trailer

Lin requests that Zheng fight with him on camera, so he can send the film to the Viceroy. Zheng thoroughly defeats Lin in sparring, but Lin proceeds to ambush Zheng and seriously injure him, revealing himself to have been secretly in Madame Zou’s employ. Zheng decides to leave Tianjin and settle in Brazil. Chen, realizing that he and Geng are in danger owing to Madame Zou, offers to take Geng and leave Tianjin, but Madame Zou prohibits them, because she does not want to be perceived by the public as a bully. Instead, she allows Chen to open a school for a year, after which he must leave Tianjin, and sends thugs to assassinate Geng.

Cast:

Liao Fanas Master Chen Shi (The Master)
Jiang Wenlias Master Zou – The Madame
Chin Shih-chiehas Zheng Shan’ao – The Grandmaster
Song Jiaas Zhao Guohui – Mrs. Chen
Song Yangas Geng Liangchen – The Apprentice
Huang Jueas Lin Xiwen – The Colonel
Madina Memetas Tea Girl
Ma Jun as Head Coolie
Chen Kuan-taias Kwoon Head
Vicky
Zhang Aoyue
Hung Yan-yan
Leon Dai
Li Bo