Directed by Keanu Reeves. Starring Tiger Chen, Keanu Reeves, Karen Mok, Ye Qing, Yu Hai, Simon Yam, Brian Siswojo, Sam Lee, Michael Tong. (R)
Better known in the States for its influence on health, longevity and meditation, t'ai chi is also a defensive martial art practice, and Chen is a man...of it. Once the mysterious and sinister Donaka Mark (Reeves) witnesses it in action, though, he's determined to recruit Chen to participate in a series of underground fight club-style matches. Notable for being Reeves' directorial debut (as well as a rare villainous role for the actor), this martial arts movie doesn't break any new ground but provides the expected touchstones: uncomplicated story with clear and clean messages/morals, economical use of lackluster dialogue, and lots of fighting, much of it well-staged and choreographed. Generic but serviceable action yarn should satisfy genre fans, but falls well short of classic status. For viewers who like to spend the entire movie playing on their cell phones, the film helpfully provides a brief video towards the end hammering home all of the thematic subtext. Iko Uwais is tragically underused in a throwaway bit part.
66/100
Better known in the States for its influence on health, longevity and meditation, t'ai chi is also a defensive martial art practice, and Chen is a man...of it. Once the mysterious and sinister Donaka Mark (Reeves) witnesses it in action, though, he's determined to recruit Chen to participate in a series of underground fight club-style matches. Notable for being Reeves' directorial debut (as well as a rare villainous role for the actor), this martial arts movie doesn't break any new ground but provides the expected touchstones: uncomplicated story with clear and clean messages/morals, economical use of lackluster dialogue, and lots of fighting, much of it well-staged and choreographed. Generic but serviceable action yarn should satisfy genre fans, but falls well short of classic status. For viewers who like to spend the entire movie playing on their cell phones, the film helpfully provides a brief video towards the end hammering home all of the thematic subtext. Iko Uwais is tragically underused in a throwaway bit part.
66/100