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    Man of Tai Chi

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    I have never been nor am I a fan of Kung Fu or any of the Martial Arts including the Tai Chi that is explored in this movie. Because it was Keanu Reeves directorial debut, I had to give it a shot. I knew Reeves would not direct until he had the exact story he wanted to tell and that just gave me the impetus to give it all a chance, that something special might come out of watching my first Martial Arts film. I was not disappointed. Keanu Reeves is a very humble person almost hesitant to state he was going to direct and then adding, very matter of fact, that he would be a co-star to the amazing TIGER CHEN. The basic idea of the film is almost an antithesis of sorts using Tai Chi as a form of discipline in the martial arts that requires meditation along with the actual physical training and bouts. The opposite to this positive type fighting is the very negative dark side of UNDERGROUND FIGHTING that Reeves runs which requires the elimination of one's opponent to the death, this in total contrast to the beliefs of Tai Chi which uses the art in almost a spiritual manner. AND AS ANYONE WOULD KNOW WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE FILM UNDERGROUND FIGHTING IS ILLEGAL EVERYWHERE, in CHINA as well. THEREFORE IT WOULD BE OF INTEREST AND UNDER POLICE SURVEILLANCE AT ALL TIMES. Tiger Chen fights for a very specific reason that I cannot divulge for risk of giving the plot away. Keanu Reeves comes off as quite the dignified director for his very first attempt. He quite amazed me as to how much of the film he already had in his head. I don't know if he story boards but his shooting was clean and crisp and never dull. I am not stating that the film is a masterpiece of direction; some might even call it a poor film. HOWEVER, IT WORKED FOR ME! As the co-star, Reeves, the Head of Illegal Fighting proved to demonic in every way possible, a man on a mission, a monomaniac to the nth degree, forever driven!

    The choreography for the many fight scenes is positively stunning and must have taken enormous amounts of time. I'm afraid I forgot the name of the Chief Fight Master, but he worked matters out so perfectly that I was in there rooting for my man Tiger Chen. The scenes brought me to life... and I've never seen a martial arts film before. The utter intensity of the fight whether one on one or two on one all became a jigsaw puzzle of kicks, stabs, jabs, throwing of an opponent, choking holds and even blocking an opponent by sheer WILL. It was electrifying. Never would I have thought I'd get so sucked in! The only way to convey the idea of scope, magnitude and beauty is to compare it to the most complicated of ballets like GISELLE which require the same sort of discipline to make the entirety work.

    Photographer Great Elliot Davis created perfection within the set decorations as he shot so meticulously as to be able to capture every blow. His ability to set up shots, his strong ideas of lighting effects, usually contrasts in colour propelled the fighting to a kinetic energy that was so realistic as to satisfy the most seasoned of fight enthusiasts, all on some other earthly level.

    Another aspect of the film that worked incredibly well was that Reeves as director is also a major star which enabled him to work with the young cast in quite extraordinary ways always with a sensitivity to character in mind. The repeated use of a GRAND MASTER TEACHER worked perfectly in the film as the aim of TAI CHI emanates from him almost completely. We understand soon enough that CHI can be used to POSITIVE or NEGATIVE effects, again getting this duality in the film of which I've spoken a lot. The Positive speaks for itself as training not only for the body but especially for the mind. The flip side or Negative is a desire, a purpose to inflict great pain and death to one's opponent. This is when the great TIGER CHEN must draw a line. As I briefly stated earlier this whole area of the fight arena is a matter of Special Police Agents. They do their work, as they should, but it doesn't disrupt the global idea of the film which is to create fights almost in the mode of ROMAN GLADIATORS which has always meant TO THE DEATH.

    I was stunned how much I learned about the martial arts, particularly TAI CHI from this sole adventure into the genre. I think it speaks volumes for director Reeves who has made the film accessible to total neophytes like me. This is one of those rare times when you expect NOTHING of a movie and yet you walk away from it, head held up high, with a slightly cocky attitude, full to bursting with energy, daring and willing yourself to take on your own very first fight. It was all a very exhilarating experience. WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE! Bravo to Keanu Reeves.

    8
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    pietroantoni@  26.12.2014 age: 36-49 14,540 reviews

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