Tai Chi Master
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Movie Reviews of Tai Chi Master
Movie Review: One of all time great Kung Fu films
Summary: 5 Stars
As a fan of the genre, I have seen most of the great Kung Fu films dating back to the 1970s. This movie, until Jet Li's Hero came out, was my favorite Kung Fu film of all time.
As with most good Kung Fu films, this movie focuses not on the action. Instead, the movie focuses on human relationships between two lifelong friends who grow up together. One chooses power, wealth, and pleasure. The other chooses to maintain his chosen path as a monk. Their paths inevitably collide, leading to climatic Kung Fu fights between two of the best Shaolin pupils.
Although Jet Li's action sequences were great, it was his acting that made his performance stand out. Jet Li plays the role of a betrayed friend brilliantly. Jet Li looked genuinely sad when his friend joins the Army by making fool of himself to impress the Army leader. When his character becomes enlightened with the principles and forces of Tai Chi, Jet Li's facial expressions and movements also change.
When this movie was released in 1993, the action sequences were extraordinary. Now, they seem rather ordinary by today's standards. But there is plenty to enjoy. The Shaolin monk fight sequences in the temple still ranks as one of the best Kung Fu fight sequences of all time. The dual between Jet Li and his nemesis friend is also very cool. Their fight scene is made more interesting by the fact the one is slightly better than the other and the better one uses a dynamic power style that the other can't counter. Both pleads to the other to join forces with them, leading to even more drama than otherwise seen in a Kung Fu action.
Please do yourself a favor and watch ONLY the Chinese dubbed version with English subtitles. The English dubbed version of this version called "Twin Dragons" massacred the movie by using of terrible English dubbing and by removing most of the wonderful Chinese background music. If you want to watch a Kung Fu film, you are far better off watching it in its original form with English subtitles.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch a good Kung Fu film that has compelling characters and story.
Movie Review: Great movie! Dub was a bit weird and didn't match the subtitles very well.
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree with some of the other complainants here that the dub seems way off when compared to the subtitles. In some cases it completely changes the meaning / intent of the lines. Overall, it was alright. If ya' turn off the subtitles ya' won't know what you're missing.
Aside from the dub, I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the fight scenes were great and well-executed. I'm a fan of Jet Li (and Jackie Chan movies), and thought this was a great Jet Li flick. The camera work was a bit sub-par, perhaps owing to when it was shot. Seemed a bit grainy or rough to me. But the story and the rest made up for it in my opinion. I'd certainly take this over Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Butterfly Sword or Zu Warriors any day of the week.
If you like this movie, you'll probably like Jet Li's Fearless or Hero as well. Likewise Iron Monkey.
If I had it to do over gain, I'd probably still buy this one, even with the odd dub and slightly so-so image quality (just not as crisp as things like Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Good times!
Movie Review: New cut (2008), restored, in Cantonese, with subtitles....
Summary: 5 Stars
NOTICE:
This review was edited 09/15/2008....
On July 29, 2008, Dragon Dynasty released a re-mastered 96 minute cut OF THE ORIGINAL, which included the original Cantonese soundtrack.
I picked it up this weekend.....
The subtitles are improved (much easier to see than the original VHS version), the translations slightly changed, and the excellent opening scene song at San Feng's academy grounds (dropped in favor of cheesy Chinese elevator music in "TW") is reinstalled.
If you like old school "Kung Fu" movies, you'll like this updated versdion choreographed by the Master, Yuen Wo Ping.
The truly phenomenal wushu skills of the two leads (Jet Li and the little known but incredible Chin Siu Ho), make this an excellent show..
Gone is the bad taste of "Twin Warriors".
Movie Review: Of fighting like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon; no wonder - it's the same action director!
Summary: 5 Stars
Anybody who's anybody will watch this movie. After discovering it in my grandpa's collection of Chinese movies, I've watched this many times. Kungfu from the Shaolin temple is amazing, but best of all when you have Jet Li perform it.
Jet Li and his friend grow up in the temple together, inseparable. But when they get kicked out, they go opposite ways and become enemies. Jet Li leads a rebellion agianst the harsh government of which his friend is cruelly abusing his status as lieutenant. Betrayals or sorts leads Jet Li to found, after meditation, Tai Chi, and a final battle is held with breath-taking fighting scenes.
A light-hearted comedy at times or serious action at others, the Tai Chi Master is truly master of fighting in the movie industry.
Movie Review: origin of Tai Chi
Summary: 5 Stars
this is a "must" for Chinese martial-art fans:
1-excellent Jet Li film portraying his skills as actor and martial arts.
2-development of his Shalin beginnings into Tai Chi.
3-philosophy of Tai Chi revealed.
4-another Michelle Yau performance in support of Jet Li