Man of Tai Chi Review Common Sense Media
Keanu Reeves' stiff monotone performance makes ane ask if he is even 'acting' in this movie?
Man of Tai Chi | B-
There's a ripe irony to Keanu Reeves' homage to — and update of — 1970s-style martial arts films. Casting himself every bit the villain, his stiff monotone performance recalls the awkward line deliveries of Asian stars Bruce Lee and Sonny Chiba as they were forced to human action in scenes that didn't involve them flipping, kicking and punching. Perhaps it'south a sign of China'southward rising dominance in the world that here, martial creative person Tiger Hu Chen does the heavy lifting as both histrion and action star.
Or maybe information technology's a put on. There's something destructive virtually an A-list American star playing the bad guy in a Chinese-linguistic communication motion-picture show. Perhaps Reeves, who is smarter and more than talented than his critics often requite him credit for, is parodying the badly lip-synced villains that populated films like Game of Expiry and The Street Fighter.
While the player has always been cursed with a limited vocal range, he'due south never had bug expressing both warmth and personality in past roles. In Man of Tai Chi, withal, he's a soulless, dead-eyed capitalist, his sneering rage coiled into corporate entitlement. Seen from a item angle, his functioning could be interpreted as a sly rebuke, the flipside to the casual xanthous menace racism that finds its style into so many Hollywood films.
This choice contrasts nicely with Tiger, whose naive working-class fighter finds action and aggression come far more easily than spiritual contemplation. Young and adamant to prove Tai Chi is more than than just a serene practice in moving meditation, he moves into the corrupting orbit of Donaka Mark (Reeves).
Stuck in a dead-end job and unable to save his master's temple from ruthless developers, Tiger agrees to join Mark's hole-and-corner fighting circuit for greenbacks. Facing off against a wide range of opponents and gainsay styles, his Tai Chi becomes a unique fighting asset. But the matches not only put his accolade in jeopardy, they reveal more sinister aspects to Marker's operation.
Michael Cooney'due south script is a solid if not contrived narrative mix of Tiger struggling with his impulsive anger, dogged Hong Kong cop Karen Mok trying to bosom Mark'south lethal fight club, and Truman Show-style surveillance capturing every moment of the immature fighter'due south life for the decadent rich.
There are enough philosophical theatrics to carve up Man of Tai Chi from your average chop-socky action picture, just more often than not it's just a well-made update of genre conventions. It make sense that most of Cooney's résumé is filled with videogame script credits.
Where Reeves distinguishes Human of Tai Chi nearly is backside the camera. The fight scenes are exciting and plentiful, interim as a showcase for both Hu Chen'southward formidable talents and Matrix alum Yuen Wo-ping's inventive choreography.
With skill, pacing and a adept eye for composition, Reeves captures the escalating intensity of the fights, keeping them compact and vicious — all while highlighting Tai Chi'southward swift and sweeping movements. This is no pocket-sized feat given how few Hollywood directors know how to shoot action sequences, opting for racket and bombast over grace and coherence.
The biggest complaint comes in the 3rd act, when The Raid's Iko Uwais shows up; only to have his confrontation with Tiger aborted moments after it starts. Reeves squanders the opportunity to showcase what is arguably the most exciting martial artist to come along in years.
Things don't improve after that. The finale is an awkward confrontation betwixt Tiger and Marker, punctuated by a series of faux endings. The introduction of some hokey martial arts mysticism doesn't assist.
A 5-twelvemonth labor of dearest, Human of Tai Chi demonstrates that Reeves understands how to friction match his cinematic passion to the realities of the international box office. Information technology'll be interesting to see what he does side by side.
Homo of Tai Chi is in theaters now and is rated R with a running fourth dimension of 105 minutes. (In Chinese and English, with English subtitles.)
Source: https://www.metrotimes.com/arts/film-review-man-of-tai-chi-2146124
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