Tai-Chi Master (1993)

Two friends, ex Shaolin monks, part ways as they brush with the ongoing rebellion against the government. The ambitious one rises up to be a powerful military commander, while his betrayed friend resorts to learn the calm ways of Tai Chi.

Director:

Woo-Ping Yuen (as Yuen Woo Ping)

Writers:

David B. Baron (english adaptation), Jack Maeby (english adaptation)

Stars:

Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Siu-Ho Chin

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jet Li	...	Junbao
Michelle Yeoh	...	Siu Lin
Siu-Ho Chin	...	Chin Bo (as Chin Siu Ho)
Fennie Yuen	...	Miss Li (as Fannie Yuen)
Cheung-Yan Yuen	...	Rev. Ling (as Yuen Cheung Yan)
Shun Lau	...	Master Jueyuan (as Lau Shun)
Hai Yu	...	Head Master
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kam Kong Chow
Yung-Chang Ho
Jian Kui Sun	...	Royal Eunuch / Liu Jin

Storyline

Junbao (Jet Li) is a monk who grows up in a Shaolin temple with his friend Tienbao. Their friendly competitions to see who is stronger frequently gets them into trouble. At a competition for promotion to a higher place in Shaolin, Tienbao almost kills another student for cheating and using a concealed weapon. After a disagreement with a master, who refuses to believe Tienbao, a fight erupts which results in Junbao and Tienbao being expelled from the temple. Having lived in a temple their entire lives, they have trouble adapting to the outside world and eventually gets mixed up with local rebels who frequently steal from a corrupt governor and give the proceeds back to the poor. Tienbao, who was always very ambitious and competitive, gets tired and disillusioned by their new lifestyle, accepts an offer by the governor to join his army. The two childhood friends reluctantly decide to go their separate ways. Seeing an opportunity to secure a promotion in the army, Tienbao sets a trap for...

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | friend | shaolin monk | oppression | imperialism | 

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Taglines:

Une rencontre de légende

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for martial arts violence

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin

Release Date:

18 November 1993 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Twin Warriors

Filming Locations:

China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eastern Productions, Golden Harvest Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Donnie Yen was offered the role of Chin Bo, but turned it down to pursue his solo career.

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Goofs

At the opening and closing scene of the film, Jet Li's character, Jun Bao (aka Zhang Sanfeng), is seen practicing Yang style Tai Chi in front of a large group of students. This would not have been possible because Jun Bao was born in the 12th century and Yang Tai Chi was not created until the 19th century.

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Quotes

Junbao: Enough! Stop living in your past! What do you think you're doing here? Stop shoving me away! The past is what makes up who we are. Don't let it become your burden.

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Alternate Versions

The U.S. version is essentially the same as the Hong Kong version, sans one scene where the monks in the Shaolin temple are all seen sleeping while standing on their heads.

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Connections

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

User Reviews

A truly great 90's actioner

It's not Drunken Master, (not the Legend of Drunken Master, the original, noodge), but what is? It is a well made tale of an ousted Shaolin monk who through hardship and madness, learns the ultimately taoist T'ai Chi Chuan.

The thing I love about this film, (and you'd have to be a geek to go with this} but I love the fact that he learns T'ai Chi through his own hardships, not from a sifu (teacher), and the typical sifu or friend who dies is his friend, who, instead of dying, turns evil with power.

The entire movie is a great representation of Taosism (yin, yang, good and evil}. I don't agree that Michelle Yeoh (or Michelle Kahn at she time in the film) was not well used. She provided the idea of the easy path, drinking in this case, that is so lacking in gong fu movies. She and he both redeem themselves against the head bad guy (His character name escapes me at the time}, but there is no love interest between themselves. She's tough and troubled, he's tough and troubled and they actually help each other (read: she stops drinking to save him, he learns from her care and she helps cure his madness).

By the way, the head bad guy, (again, sorry about the name} was still played brilliantly even in dubbing. My friends and I still say "Hmmmmm" in his fey evil voice when thinking bad thoughts. It can be said it's typical Hong Kong fare... Good guy gets defeated, learns a new style of Gong Fu and defeats the bad guy, but then again, isn't that what Star Wars took 3 films to accomplish?

Anyway, my opinion of this film is tainted by the fact that I'm a taoist, but the action is top notch, nobody flies for no reason, all the characters (even the comic relief) are fleshed out. great film. not the greatest, but, it's a hell of a lot better than "Shaolin Drunken Monk" (aka, Plan 9 from the Shaolin Temple) lol.