Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD EAN: 9786304852804 Format: Color ISBN: 6304852800 Label: Image Entertainment Manufacturer: Image Entertainment Number Of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Publisher: Image Entertainment Region Code: 0 Release Date: 1997-10-22 Running Time: 95 Studio: Image Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: 1993
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
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: This is ridiculous Comment: Now for starters, the true name of this movie is the Tai Chi master. I am a big fan of Jet Li's early work. I've seen all the movies. When I saw this at the video shop, looked at the back and noticed I seen this before and the name was changed, right away I thought the worst, so I rented it anyway. And I was right. Bad enough the original dialoge and music was changed, but there were certain death scenes edited. And the original voices and music means alot. It actually captures the drama and the intensity in the fight scenes especially. I was watching this and I just wasn't feeling it, the same way I did all those years ago. If you never seen the original version, then your not going to exactly understand how I feel. To those who never seen it. If your new to Jet Li or just looking for something with nothing short of spectacular fight scenes, then your going to eat this up. However if you been a fan of Jet for at least 12 years, then you seen the original multiple times and you might hate this. The movie is a 5. But this version on DVD deserves the rating I gave it, and maybe less. If I still had a vcr, I'll just cop the Tai Chi master, which is this on tape. And its far better than this one with english language. I'm going to buy it anyway because this is probably as good as its going to get. Customer Rating: Summary: Great Movie!! Comment: I bought this movie for my son who is 15. I ordered it and it arrived in 3-4 days. My son loves this movie. Great service!! Customer Rating: Summary: not as good as the hype Comment: This is a shame that we don't get the chinese version of this. The voice acting this is truly one of the worst ever. It is almost like they are trying to ruin the movie, but enough of that, I'll return to the negative points in a second.
Most of this movie is Woo-ping at his best(2 monks against all, Michelle yeohs fights. But the part that I didn't like was the final fight, I hate one-sided matches(usually), the reason I say usually is because Return of Master killer is my fav final fught ever, but this one I ALMOST TURNED OFF AT THE END. If I could have watched this in the chinese language with subs version, there is a good possibility that this would have recieved a 5/5. Customer Rating: Summary: found a subtitled, letterboxed version of 'the tai chi master' on DVD Comment: for those of you who don't want the americanized version of 'the tai chi master' (aka 'twin warriors'-- ugh! i hate this title!), i have found an alternative.
i recently purchased the original chinese language, english subtitled version of 'the tai chi master' from a site named chinesetapes.com for only $12.95 (not counting shipping). it's distributed thru a company named universe laser & video, which put out 2 of jet li's other films 'fong sai yuk I & II' (aka 'the legend I & II'-- hate that title as well) . i quickly opened the packaging, popped the disc in the player, pressed 'PLAY', and smiled, because this is what you get:
you get a very clean transfer of the film, some specks here and there but nothing to complain about; it's a step above my vhs copy. it is in the widescreen format and the subtitles are a digitized white on the screen.
the sound is also decent. it's in dolby digital with 5.1 surround . the two languages are cantonese and mandarin.
you also have your choice of 3 subtitles: traditional or simplified chinese and english. the opening theme song is even subtitled, which wasn't in my vhs copy.
not too many extras on this disc; only a trailer of this film plus 'fong sai yuk I & II'(which i also recommend getting from chinesetapes.com) and profiles of the actors.
the best part of this disc, however, is that it's region-free. it can play in any DVD player in the world!!
as for the film, we know the story. two shaolin monks go their separate ways: jet li joins the anti-government movement, chin siu ho climbs the ranks of the imperial army; he soon betrays his friend and the movement. our hero eventually learns the graceful and tranquil art of tai chi to defeat his now-barbaric foe. michelle yeoh assists jet in defeating the evil eunuch and his sister who rule the province. yuen woo ping delivers the terrific action with his fight choreography and tight direction.
jet li fans who want the real version of 'the tai chi master' start at chinesetapes.com to get that copy of the film. you pay a little bit more than the amazon price, but believe me, you get more bang for your buck. i can't recommend this product highly enough. Customer Rating: Summary: ORIGINAL IS BETTER~! Comment: If you want UNCUT ORIGINAL version, ALWAYS look for ORIGINAL LICENSED Production. NOT US Release. Its a foreign film, it should not be US version to begin with~! HELLO!!!?? Why settle for LESS with US Version where they edit and cut so many excellent scenes especially with Jackie's Fighting Scenes. And US Release ruins the speed and sound as well. I have been collecting JET Li movies both HK and US Release Version for quite some time now. I found HK Version to be MUCH MORE in enjoyable, and HIGHER in Quality. American Market always like to "Americanize" and "Control". Regional Code Regulation thing is one of the example to CONTROL the Market. Why not let everyone enjoy the same HK Original Release move the same way REST OF THE WORLD enjoys it ?? No one makes Hollywood American movies to "French version" or "Chinese Version" ~! This what Americans are doing~! Well, enjoy the cheap "American version" then~! LOL
