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You may still think of him as Ted “Theodore” Logan—but Keanu Reeves has also been a part of some of the coolest action sequences ever filmed. And now, with Man of Tai Chi, the Matrix star takes advantage of his action experience in front of the camera and steps behind the camera for an eye-catching directorial debut.
Man of Tai Chi stars stuntman and martial arts expert Tiger Chen as, well, Tiger Chen. Each day, the dedicated young martial artist trains with his Tai Chi master—and although Tai Chi is not traditionally used for fighting, Tiger uses his training and experience to become a martial arts champion. In the process, he attracts the attention of the wealthy and mysterious Donaka Mark (Reeves), who offers to pay Tiger to fight in his underground fight club.
Believing that it’s dishonorable to fight for money, Tiger immediately rejects the offer. But when he discovers that his master is about to be evicted from his beloved temple, he’s forced to reconsider.
While Man of Tai Chi sets out to tell a deep and thought-provoking tale of good, evil, and the loss of innocence, it isn’t quite as deep as it likes to think it is. It’s rather obvious at times—and it’s often over the top. It does, however, take some classic themes and depict them in an interesting way.
Though this is Reeves’s first time in the director’s chair, his years of working with the Wachowskis have clearly taught him a thing or two about shooting action sequences. The fight scenes may not have the same polish—or the same jaw-dropping cinematography—as the Matrix movies, but they’re captivating nonetheless. Reeves plays with light and shadows—as well as Chen’s fluid martial arts style—to give the fights plenty of visual appeal. And he gives each fight a different look and feel, too, to help represent the character’s transformation as his story progresses.
Of course, it’s no big surprise that the performances aren’t exactly top-notch. Reeves is as wooden as ever—and a little bit plastic, too—but, to be fair, it does help to give his character a certain air of mystery.
In the end, though, Man of Tai Chi is a lot like its director. It’s a little bit cool, but it’s a little bit silly, too. Still, if you enjoy the hard-hitting action of a martial arts movie, the fight scenes alone make it worth checking out.
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