Kung Fu Theater: Tai-Chi Master (1993)

Posted by The Marksman at 16 June, at 06 : 26 AM Print

In Yuen Woo-ping’s TAI-CHI MASTER we get to see Jet Li play the role of a good guy, I enjoy seeing him play the bad guy at times.  It is fairly apparent from the start that as soon as his friend (Chin Siu-ho) starts to veer off the road of virtue, Jet Li’s character is going to have something to say about it, which typically means a fight.

It’s the well known tale of battling morals on the battleground of good vs. evil, being bad may bring you riches at first, but you will pay for it in the end.  Another delight about this film is we get to see Jet Li team up with Michelle Yeoh again, as they did in Twin Warriors.

TAI-CHI MASTER follows two orphans (Li and Chin Siu-ho) and the differing paths they take in adult life – Li going to live a life that is morally sound, but will leave him poor.  While his friend lives in the lap of luxury working for a corrupt governor.  Eventually the two cross paths and Siu-ho betrays Li, prompting him to set off to get revenge with his new Friend Siu Lin (Michelle Yeoh).  It’s all fairly straight forward in terms of the plot department, and allows Li to do his usual hero routine which always makes for good cinema.

The fight scenes are much like Jet Li’s other period martial arts flicks, the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA films, THE LEGEND OF FONG SAI YUK etc – only not quite as good.  There’s just something about the fight sequences that are not quite up to the standard of Li and Woo-ping’s other work.  It is difficult to pinpoint what was different, but it just seemed like the same flow and excitement were not the same.

It can also be the wire-work, which is woefully obvious and leaves nothing to the imagination.  At times it was so evident that the wires can clearly be seen hoisting the actors into the air.

I will say that they put it together at the end of the movie, as we are witness to the films best fight sequences.  These include a complex brawl on top of a wooden tower and a final showdown between Li and Siu-ho that almost makes up for the other fight scenes that precede it.

Overall, the film is worth watching and will entertain you, but I would not put this movie on par with Jet Li’s other films.  It is not bad by any means, but if you watch a lot of Jet Li movies this one would not be on the top of that list.

The quality of the actual meida is a serviceable enough release, with average picture and sound quality and a small amount of special features which will certainly be of interest to fans of Jet Li.

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