Amazon.com: Jet Li teams up with Michelle Yeoh in this period martial-arts tale of revenge and retribution filmed in 1993. Directed by Yuen Woo Ping (who also directed Jackie Chan's popular Drunken Master and Yeoh's Wing Chun), Tai Chi Master matches over-the-top melodrama with fantastical fight scenes. Li and Chin Sui Hou play Junbao and Tienbao, two misfit monks who have been getting in trouble at their Shaolin temple since childhood. Tienbao's volatile temper and ego get them banished from the monastery, and the pair tries to make a new life for themselves in a nearby village. From here they take decidedly different paths. Tienbao joins the military regime of a ruthless eunuch ruler while Junbao joins a group of political rebels that includes Yeoh. Tienbao's violent quest for power erases his friendship with Junbao, his betrayal causing Junbao to go temporarily insane. During this period Junbao discovers tai chi, which prepares him for a final confrontation with Tienbao. Tai Chi Master's action scenes include a memorable matchup of Li and Chin against the entire monastery, where in the nonstop action Junbao escapes attack by riding one of his foes like a snowboard out of the fray. Yeoh's fight scenes include a complicated orchestration involving tables and chairs; her scenes are so impressive that it's a shame she wasn't given more screen time. --Shannon Gee
Great movie! Dub was a bit weird and didn't match the subtitles very well. 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!
One of the best I've seen One of the best kung fu films I have ever seen. It is absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Great choreography and wire work even though you can see the actual wires used in some scenes. This new DVD release is far superior to the previous Twin Warriors release.
just a remaster not a new movie This movie exists in another form the movie was orginally named "Twin Warriors" i have that movie really great movie about if you are interested in learning about what Tai-Chi is about, along with the fights. i will be getting this movie and watch see if it stands up to the orignal
One of Jet Li's best... but the question is, "What @ the Transfer?" This really isn't a review (though the martial arts choreography in the film is pretty fanciful, it's still pretty solid). What I'd like to know is whether or not the featured film in this new edition has been is remastered. I have an earlier Hong Kong edition - however the transfer was mediocre at best. I'd preorder this edition, but I need to know: has Yuen Woo Ping's "Tai Chi Master" been remastered... or is this yet another edition of same lackluster transfer marketed in Hong Kong?
Please advise....
Of fighting like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon; no wonder - it's the same action director! 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.
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