Man of Tai Chi (2013)

A young martial artist's unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club.

Director:

Keanu Reeves

Writer:

Michael G. Cooney

Stars:

Tiger Hu Chen, Keanu Reeves, Karen Mok

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tiger Hu Chen	...	'Tiger' Chen Lin Hu
Keanu Reeves	...	Donaka Mark
Karen Mok	...	Inspector Suen Jing Si
Hai Yu	...	Master Yang
Qing Ye	...	Ching Sha
Simon Yam	...	Superintendent Wong
Yasuyuki Hirata	...	Thin Man
Brian Siswojo	...	Gong Au Young
Michael Tong	...	Shek Kuan
Sam Lee	...	De-Ming
Jiulong Guo	...	Old Commentator
Huang Jiang Xiang	...	Young Commentator
Zihan Xia	...	Li Hung
Sung-jun Yoo	...	Chi Tak
Iko Uwais	...	Gilang Sunjaya

Storyline

Tiger Chen is a Tai Chi student who is rather rebellious and uses Tai Chi to fight despite his master's concerns. When the temple where he studies get threatened from modern redevelopment, he fights in an underground fight club to get money the temple needs. However he soon realizes that his employer has other negative motives.

---

Plot Keywords:

martial arts | opening action scene | watching tv | tai chi | temple | 

---

Taglines:

No rules. No mercy. Pure fighting.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

USA China Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese English Mandarin

Release Date:

5 July 2013 (China)

Also Known As:

O Homem do Tai Chi

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,850,000 (China), 1 July 2013

Opening Weekend USA:

$61,054, 3 November 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$100,144, 7 November 2013

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,364,741, 31 December 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), Company Films, Dalian Wanda Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tiger Chen really did dislocate his shoulder during one fight. Which prompts Chen to say that in real-life, it was his right shoulder, not left, which was dislocated.

---

Quotes

Master Yang: You must meditate.
'Tiger' Chen Lin Hu: Why?
Master Yang: To clear your mind, guide your Chi and gain control.
'Tiger' Chen Lin Hu: I have control.
Master Yang: No, you have power not control.
'Tiger' Chen Lin Hu: Power is control.
Master Yang: That is an illusion.
'Tiger' Chen Lin Hu: It is not an illusion... it's reality. I live in it, you don't. What I learn here I can't use out there.
Master Yang: How can you use what you have not yet learned? Only when you've dispelled these illusions, will you find your way again.

---

Connections

Featured in The Dom Reviews: Man of Tai Chi (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Salut D'amour
Written by Edward Elgar
Performed by China Philharmonic

User Reviews

I was entertained

I didn't really know anything about Man of Tai Chi when I watched it. I was in a mood for something; I just didn't know what. I was stunned to discover Keanu Reeves in the film and even more stunned to learn it was his directorial debut.

I've always liked Keanu Reeves films, because I was almost always entertained. Everyone has a few flubs here and there; so his few are easily forgiven.

I, myself, am a big fan of foreign films. In many cases, it's because the story lines are fresher and morals are deeper.

That being said, if you're looking for an award winning film this isn't it and it's not meant to be. I was looking to be entertained, in that aspect, Reeves delivered.

I've seen the complaints about the performances, choreography, etc. As a director he had a full plate, especially for a debut. The language barrier alone would have been difficult enough to adapt to.

I'm not going to give any details about the film. I will say that this is a film you have to have a taste for. I do like the message behind the film though, which is for you to decide on your own. Everyone can come to their own conclusion, because we can find different meanings in everything.