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List Price: $14.95 | | Label: The Weinstein Company
Salesrank: 18115
Released: July 29, 2008 |
| Our Price: $7.24 |
| Used Price: $4.73 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Superstar Jet Li shows off his legendary speed, power, and agility at the peak of his martial arts prowess in this sweeping action epic. In an age of swordsmen and rebellion, two best friends and fellow martial arts students are expelled from the storied temple of Shaolin, only to meet again on the battlefield one a power-hungry general, the other a freedom-fighting rebel, both mortal enemies. Featuring Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon s Michelle Yeoh and directed by the celebrated Yuen Woo-Ping (action choreographer of The Matrix films), Tai Chi Master is a quintessential martial arts classic.
Description of Tai Chi Master:
Tai Chi Master is the greatest "wire-fu" film from Yuen Woo-ping, best known as the martial-arts choreographer of the Matrix and Kill Bill films. "Wire-fu" films were created during the martial arts film resurgence of the late 80s and early 90s, and in terms of fight choreography, this is arguably the best of the entire genre. Tai Chi Master demonstrated Jet Li’s martial-arts abilities at their most frenetic and fluid, and Li was at the height of his athletic prowess. If that wasn’t enough, it's also one of action queen Michelle Yeoh’s finest performances in a wuxia period piece. Li and Yeoh were supported by an equally athletic cast, led by the remarkable Chin Siu-hou, who plays the nemesis to Li’s hero. Chin manages to steal every scene, even when he is being beaten to a pulp. Li and Chin play best friends Jun and Tien, who grow up in Shaolin Temple during the Manchu Dynasty. Gentle Jun is satisfied with the simple things in life, but hot-tempered Tien craves power and wealth. The film’s exposition pays homage to the 70s Shaw Brothers films (such as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), and the closing scene in the temple is only the first of a series of spectacular martial arts set pieces. Jun and Tien’s dispositions lead them to two different paths in life; Jun joins the rebellion against the cruel Manchu regime, while Tien joins the army. Here, Yuen treads all-too familiar territory, but the actors still throw themselves into the thin material. The film’s mid-part is weighed down by the usual intrusion of feckless Hong Kong slapstick, but the story quickly recovers when Jun discovers the secrets of tai chi. When Li fires up his tai chi skills, the results are some of the best boxing scenes the genre has ever witnessed. Tai Chi Master established Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh as the best martial arts actors in the business, and Yuen the best choreographer. Though elements of the film are dated, Tai Chi Master remains a landmark in the martial arts genre. --Roberto Azula
Tai Chi Master Reviews:
same movie different name 
2009-11-16 - this movie i found out i allready had but it named something else, so i watched it again because im a jet li fan :)
twin warriors review 
2009-11-05 - My husband and I first saw this movie on T.V., placed orders with several video stores, always on back order, after one year of this, with several different stores; I finally tried amazon.com, OMG! we were watching it by weeks end. :)
Excellent quality!
One of all time great Kung Fu films
2009-10-20 - As a fan of the genre, I have seen most of the great Kung Fu films dating back to 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.
origin of Tai Chi
2009-08-16 - 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
Jet at his best
2009-08-14 - This is one of the all time Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh Movies. I liked this movie from years ago, and you will too.
