5 reasons you might like Tai Chi Master (1993)

Slowly but surely I’ve been going through my 4K Jet Li Collection from Shout Factory and I finally got to one of the Jet Li films I’ve never seen, Tai Chi Master, also known as Twin Warriors from 1993. It’s an epic tale of two best friends named Junbao and Tienbo who have been raised in a Shaolin temple studying Shaolin Kung Fu. After a tournament gone wrong, the boys are kicked out of the temple and need to conform to the outside world - while Junbao chooses the honorable path, Tienbo does not, barreling toward an epic showdown.

I’m Jason Kleeberg and this is Force Five, and today I’m going to give you five reasons you might want to watch Tai Chi Master.

Reason number 5, I’ve got to start with Jet Li, of course. He’s always been one of my favorite martial artists - I get such a kick out of him - see what I did there - specifically the speed with which he moves, and it’s all on display here. I don’t want to spoil my favorite of his fight scenes because it’s the climax of the movie, but the film has several really impressive fight scenes featuring Jet Li, including one where he and Tienbo have to fend off a gang of student fighters armed with staffs that is brutal but also fun.

Reason number 4, the movie has a little bit of everything. It’s obviously a wuxia film and it definitely delivers on the action front, but what surprised me is that this movie is very funny. There are several moments that made me laugh out loud, simply because I wasn’t expecting it, like Jet Li fighting off soldiers while holding a woman who’s been knocked out. In addition, it’s got several heart wrenching moments and the development of the martial art of Tai Chi is really well represented as well.

Reason number 3, Tienbo, played by Chin Siu Ho, is a great villain whose arc will infuriate you because while you hate him for his actions, you completely understand why he chose that path. When Junbao and Tienbo are young, they’re presented with several situations where you can see a divide in their morale, and it all comes to a head when someone high up in the military comes to town and sees the two boys using their skills to make money. After shaking them down, he offers them spots in the Army. With visions of riches dancing in his eyes, Tienbo accepts happily, while Junbao declines, instead siding with the rebels.

Reason number 2, that woman that gets knocked out and is held by Jet Li during a fight scene? That’s Michelle Yeoh. Yes, Michelle Yeoh is in this and she is fantastic. She plays Siu-Lin, a woman whose husband has left her in favor of the governor’s sister. She gets a few kick ass fight scenes in the movie but my favorite is when she goes up against the governor in a gravity defying battle that might be my favorite fight scene in the whole movie.

Reason number 1, the fight scenes are so rad because the film is directed by Yuen Woo Ping, and if that name doesn’t sound familiar, the fight scenes will be as he was the fight coordinator on The Matrix and Kill Bill films. He’s also directed Iron Monkey and has coordinated the fights for so many other classic Hong Kong films, like Jackie Chan’s Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, as well as several other Jet Li films. After you watch Tai Chi Master, you’ll notice little nods that made it into The Matrix. Pay close attention during the tea house fight to see where Trinity’s Scorpion Kick came from, this time performed by Michelle Yeoh, and I can’t help but notice that the fight with the students is very similar to the Burly Man Brawl from The Matrix Reloaded.

If any of those reasons intrigued you, check out Tai Chi Master, I highly recommend it. The 4K disc looks fantastic and it has a few really great special features, including a commentary by James Mudge, a featurette about Michelle Yeoh titled Tai Chi Madam - The Michelle Yoeh Effect and a few other interviews. If you’ve already watched Tai Chi Master, what did you think of it? And what’s your favorite Jet Li film?  Let me know in the comments below or email me at forcefivepodcast@gmail.com