88 Films UK 4K UHD Blu-ray Synopsis: Jet Li stars in this thrilling martial arts epic about two childhood friends falsely accused of cheating and expelled from their Shaolin Temple. As they grow up, their paths diverge, with one embracing the peaceful teachings of Tai Chi and the other seeking power and joining the military. Set against the backdrop of a civil war, their friendship deteriorates into betrayal, leading to a climactic showdown between the two. Michelle Yeoh co-stars as a resilient ally who helps the peaceful friend master Tai Chi’s true essence. Directed by legendary choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, the film showcases breathtaking fight sequences and captures the complex dynamics of friendship and betrayal. (95 Mins)

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Dragon Dynasty US DVD Synopsis: Superstar Jet Li shows off his legendary speed, power, and agility at the peak of his martial arts prowess in this sweeping action epic. In an age of swordsmen and rebellion, two best friends and fellow martial arts students are expelled from the storied temple of Shaolin, only to meet again on the battlefield – one a power hungry general, the other a freedom-fighting rebel, both mortal enemies. Featuring Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Michelle Yeoh and directed by the celebrated Yuen Wo-ping (action choreographer of The Matrix films), Tai Chi Master is a quintessential martial arts classic. (95 Mins)

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Views: I absolutely love this movie! Tai Chi Master tells the tale of Jun Biao and Tian Biao, two best friends and Shaolin brothers who have grown up together since childhood. Although good children, the pair often find themselves in trouble with the temple elders but are well looked after by their caring master. As they hit their adulthood, the feisty Tian Biao soon finds himself in major trouble when he reveals a kung fu style that he had learned in secret. With his brother by his side, the pair take on the whole temple before finding themselves expelled and thrown out of Shaolin. The pair head into town where they join up with jilted lover Falling Snow and her band of rebels, and soon learn of their plans to overthrow the evil eunuch and his army to help bring peace to the land. In a turn of events, Tian Biao decides to leave and join the very army the rebels are trying to stop. As fate would have it, the brothers paths come to cross many years later on the battlefield, with Tian Biao now a vicious army general and Jun Biao a master of Tai Chi!

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Mostly shot in the grand Beijing Film Studios in China, Yuen Woo Ping's martial arts-classic stills provides as much entertainment today as it did upon release over 30 years ago. The first time I ever saw Tai Chi Master was on a bootleg VHS in the mid-90s. I watched it so much, that I eventually wore out the actual tape and was left with nothing! Of course, the infamous Weinstein Company released their questionably dubbed, re-scored and slightly re-edited version – known as Twin Warriors – just as the DVD market was creeping in, but I actually couldn't handle it. Years later, when the Weinstein Company released their Dragon Dynasty label, they finally did the film some justice in releasing it with the option of it's original Chinese language track with English subtitles – so I was much happier and soon grabbed a copy of that particular release.​ Also known as Twice Deadly in India, Tai Chi Master came out at the height of Hong Kong cinemas 90s New Wave period, joining the likes of Once Upon A Time In China (1991), Iron Monkey (1993), New Dragon Gate Inn (1992), Moon Warriors (1992), and many more in bringing a whole new audience to Asian movies with their fantastical settings, slick direction, and innovative fight choreography. Yuen Woo Ping himself would be one of the main leaders of this genre, both as a director or as an action choreographer, with titles such as the aforementioned Iron Monkey (1993), Hero Among Heroes (1993), Wing Chun (1994), Fire Dragon (1994), Last Hero In China (1993), Once Upon A Time In China 2 (1992), and Tai Chi Master, of course. Throughout the most of these movies, two actors would continue to work closely with him – Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Interestingly enough, legend has it that Donnie himself was offered the role here of Tian Biao opposite Jet Li, which would have seen a much quicker rematch between the pair only one year after sharing the screen in the awesome OUATIC 2 (1992) – as opposed to us waiting a good decade to see them once again in the outstanding and stunning, Hero in 2002...

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As it stands, Donnie wanted to focus more on being an action hero and although his next few years proved to be quite questionable in terms of how his films were received, and even the decisions he was making – the man has more than made up for it now as he continuously takes-over the box office, appearing in hit after hit between Hollywood and China. Had Donnie taken on the role of Tian Biao, I'm sure we would not have been disappointed – but at the same time, I'm super glad that the incredible and handsome Chin Siu Ho got the chance to do so instead. I'm a huge fan of Chin's (brother to stuntman-supreme Chin Kar Lok), an amazingly talented martial arts actor that has just never been given the attention he deserves. From his appearances in many Shaw Brothers classics to the likes of House Of Traps (1982), Mr. Vampire (1985), The Seventh Curse (1986), Lady Reporter (1989), Visa To Hell (1991), New Kids In Town (1990), and soon after this with Jet Li and Yuen Woo Ping once again in the awesome Fist Of Legend (1994). The man can certainly bust a move and always looks great when doing so. His performance as Tian Biao is one of his best and gives him the chance to act across many levels as a young man who just wants to prove his worth. On top of that, the great Yuen Woo Ping and team put Chin through his paces and help him shine in some of his greatest action scenes ever.​ Of course, the two biggest stars that have always headlined Tai Chi Master and graced any amount of artwork available, is the wonderful Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Produced by Jet Li, who also stars as the leading man of the film and titular character, Tai Chi Master gave the superstar the chance to stay in that genre of wire-fu action-genre that he had helped bring to life only a year or two earlier with his portrayal of Wong Fei Hung in Tsui Hark's Once Upon A Time In China (1991) followed by its first two sequels and films such as Swordsman 2 (1992), Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2 (1993), and the aforementioned Last Hero In China (1993). Of course, some of these films had seen him work with Yuen Woo Ping already, with the pair going on to join forces on films such as the aforementioned Fist Of Legend (1994), Black Mask (1996), Fearless (2006), and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) to name but a few. As it turns out, 1993 would prove to be as busy a year for the star with six productions on the go including Once Upon A Time In China 3, Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2, Last Hero In China, Kung Fu Cult Master, and this – all falling into the same genre of wuxia-action that became a staple part of Jet Li's career. It should also be noted that, around this time, Jet Li was originally considered to play the role of Eddie Chan in Kirk Wong's Crime Story (1993). But after his agent was gunned down by triads, Li chose not to make a movie based on organised crime and instead began work on Tai Chi Master instead. It was a move that was considered the right one by many fans of his work, with this proving to still be one of his best and most entertaining works to date.

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The beautiful Michelle Yeoh, who had made one hell of an impression in her big action debut Yes Madam (1985), Royal Warriors (1986), and Magnificent Warriors (1987), was hot off the success of Jackie Chan's Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992) and was about to get pulled in all directions with the New Wave directors that would see her move into the wire-fu genre with no less than six productions in 1993. These included the wild Butterfly & Sword, Heroic Trio 1 & 2, Holy Weapon, Tai Chi Master, and even Project S: Once A Cop – the sequel to her character from Police Story 3: Super Cop. Of course, Yeoh would hang around with Yuen Woo Ping soon after to star as the lead in Wing Chun (1994), alongside Donnie Yen, and would work with the director again on films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), True Legend (2010), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny (2016), and Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018), respectively. Both of these stars excel in what is probably one of their finest moments of the genre as Jun Biao and Falling Snow; from the more dramatic moments and comedic sequences, to the incredibly creative and amazing fight action!​ While there's a cast of hundreds involved in Tai Chi Master, there are only a few that really join the aforementioned stars as the main cast. Fight choreographer and director in his own right, Yuen Cheung Yan, plays the hilarious role of Taoist Priest Ling – one of the rebel fighters whose character harks back to that of his role in his self directed Taoism Drunkard (1984). Brother to Yuen Woo Ping, this Yuen Clan member also assisted with the fight choreography of Tai Chi Master and is always a joy to see on-screen, having been doing so for over 170 feature films. The lovely Fennie Yuen stars as Falling Snow's companion, Little Melon – falling for bad boy Tian Biao but never losing her way. I've always enjoyed seeing Fennie in films such as classics like School On Fire (1988), Pedicab Driver (1989), Swordsman 1 & 2 (1990/92), Bullet In The Head (1990), Royal Tramp 1 & 2 (1992), and had just worked with Woo Ping on Hero Among Heroes (1993). As Little Melon, Fennie kicks ass and does a great job all over as she tries to stay out of the shadows of her larger co-stars. The fantastic Yu Hai joins Jet on-screen once again, having starred as his master in the Shaolin Temple (1982) series that first launched Jet Li in the early 80s. A true Wushu master, Yu Hai gets the chance to show off his martial skills once again, and looks pretty damn authentic while doing so. The great Lau Shun, who appeared in films such as A Chinese Ghost Story 2 & 3 (1990/91), Prince Of The Sun (1990), The Swordsman Trilogy (1990/92/93), Blade Of Fury (1993), and many more including Jet's own OUATIC 1 & 3 (1991/93); plays the caring sifu to Jun Biao and Tian Biao. And finally, Sun Jian Kui, who also made his debut in Shaolin Temple (1982), returns to battle his old co-star as the evil Eunuch Liu Jin. Interestingly enough, Sun would rejoin Jet again many years later for a role in Tsui Hark's Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate (2011) and the visually fun, League Of Gods (2016) which is worth catching.

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Of course, aside from its amazing list of stars and directors, Tai Chi Master boasts some incredible martial arts action that helped secure Yuen Woo Ping's name as one of the top choreographers in the business. From the training sequences to the combat scenes, Woo Ping and his brother Yuen Cheung Yan were joined by the popular Dee Dee Ku; an actor and choreographer who has provided his services for many great titles such as Tiger Cage 3 (1991), Sacrifice (2010), Shadow (2018), 14 Blades (2010), Hitman (1998), The Four Trilogy (2012), Stone Age Warriors (1991), Iron Monkey (1993), House Of Fury (2005), Kung Fu Hustle (2004), and so much more! Between the three of them, and the late Tony Ling Chi Wah, the team create a host of amazing wire-enhanced fight sequences that burst with creativeness and energy, from one-one-one challenges to full-on battles that see one or two characters taking on armies that make you want to reach for the rewind button. It highlights both its director and stars at the prime of their careers, and does not disappoint – although it does make one wonder what could have been had Jet Li returned for it's sequel. Regardless, fans have enjoyed going back to this classic for over 3 decades already, and now – thanks to a new 4K restoration from 88 Films – they have the chance to see Tai Chi Master the best it's ever looked!

 

Overall: One of my favourite Jet Li and Yuen Woo Ping movies, Tai Chi Master is a classic slice of Hong Kong cinema and well worth a watch!

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88 Films 4K UHD Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Interview with Chin Siu Ho, Featurettes with Brett Ratner, Featurette on the Birthplace of Tai Chi, Trailers

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Dragon Dynasty DVD Extras: Audio Commentary by Bey Logan, Interview with Chin Siu Ho, Featurettes with Brett Ratner, Featurette on the Birthplace of Tai Chi, Trailers

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Watch my unboxing video for this 88 Films release HERE

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Watch my video retrospective for this film HERE