Fallen Hero; Fung Spawns Unnecessary Sequel
Bringing back the tonally strange style that makes these films so hard to classify, Stephen Fung’s follow-up to last year’s Tai Chi Zero displays little in terms of plot improvement. As with the first segment, the production value in Tai Chi Hero nothing short of a medium-size budget American action film, but excess mix-and-matches in cinematic techniques, genre elements, and Hollywood clichés create a bottom feeder item in the “flying” martial arts subgenre of the past decade or so.
A sequel that cannot stand as film on its own, even as basic as the story is, it requires previous knowledge of what the cookie-cutter characters had been up to in the first chapter, Hero begins exactly where the last adventure left off, with an episodic TV series template, things move fast in the Tai Chi saga, therefore; for the sake of the audience,...
Bringing back the tonally strange style that makes these films so hard to classify, Stephen Fung’s follow-up to last year’s Tai Chi Zero displays little in terms of plot improvement. As with the first segment, the production value in Tai Chi Hero nothing short of a medium-size budget American action film, but excess mix-and-matches in cinematic techniques, genre elements, and Hollywood clichés create a bottom feeder item in the “flying” martial arts subgenre of the past decade or so.
A sequel that cannot stand as film on its own, even as basic as the story is, it requires previous knowledge of what the cookie-cutter characters had been up to in the first chapter, Hero begins exactly where the last adventure left off, with an episodic TV series template, things move fast in the Tai Chi saga, therefore; for the sake of the audience,...
- 4/26/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- IONCINEMA.com
For anyone who hasn’t seen “Tai Chi 0”, there are spoilers in the following review. Stephen Fung’s steampunk-martial arts epic “Tai Chi” continues with “Tai Chi Hero”, released hot on the heels of “Tai Chi 0”, with the third instalment apparently not due until 2014. Again directed by Fung and written and produced by Chen Kuo Fu (“Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”, “Aftershock”), the film was shot in 3D back to back with the first outing, and continues the tale of Lu Chan (aka ‘The Freak’) as he tries to learn the Chen village Tai Chi and control his explosive inner strength. All of the original cast return, with real life Olympic gold medal-winning wushu champion Yuan Xiaochao, Angelababy (“First Time”), Fang Zijing (Eddie Peng, “Love”) and veteran favourite (Tony Leung Ka Fai, “Election”) again headlining, joined by newcomers William Feng (“Painted Skin: The Resurrection...
- 1/22/2013
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
Director: Stephen Fung. Review: Stan Glick. North American aficionados of comic kung fu will be able to satisfy their jones on Tuesday, January 22nd, when Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi Zero debuts on Blu-ray (upon which this review is based), DVD and digital. It’s a fanciful and lighthearted imagining about the founder of Yang style Tai Chi Ch’uan, Yang Luchan, here played by Jayden Yuan (a.k.a. Yuan Xiaochao, who reportedly took his English first name from Will Smith’s son Jayden, who co-starred with Jackie Chan in the remake of The Karate Kid). Luchan is also known as “The Freak” because he has a horn-like growth, known as “Three Blossoms on the Crown,” on his right forehead. When the bump is struck, he turns into a formidable fighter. Unfortunately this also depletes his ch’i (internal energy). Luchan’s birth and early youth play as a silent movie with intertitles.
- 1/21/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
Tai Chi Zero Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This Tai Chi Zero Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates Tai Chi Zero‘ release on DVD and Blu-ray on January 22, 2013. Stephen Fung‘ Tai Chi Zero stars Qi Shu, Daniel Wu, Angelababy, Yuan Xiaochao, Jade Xu, Paul Philip Clark, Keoni Everington, and Peter Stormare. Tai Chi Zero‘ [...]
Continue reading: Contest: Tai Chi Zero (2012) Blu-ray: Stephen Fung, Qi Shu, Daniel Wu...
Continue reading: Contest: Tai Chi Zero (2012) Blu-ray: Stephen Fung, Qi Shu, Daniel Wu...
- 1/16/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Tai Chi Hero, the sequel to Stephen Fung‘s steampunk-martial arts comedy, Tai Chi Zero, opens in Hong Kong this coming Thursday, which has urged local distributors Intercontinental Films to release seven new character posters for the film. Check them out below.
These new images seem pretty keen on moving away from the film’s comedy roots and into more serious martial arts territory. While this is accurate to some degree – Hero is certainly more strict than Zero – it’s still a far cry from the solemn imagery here. That said, they do look pretty cool, nevertheless.
Tai Chi 0 (Zero) has been limitedly released statewide on October 19th, 2012. Tai Chi Hero will be released on October 25th, 2012 in Hong Kong and it has the same stars – Daniel Wu, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Yuan Xiaochao, Angelababy, and Qi Shu.
Click to continue reading 7 New Character Posters for Tai Chi Hero...
These new images seem pretty keen on moving away from the film’s comedy roots and into more serious martial arts territory. While this is accurate to some degree – Hero is certainly more strict than Zero – it’s still a far cry from the solemn imagery here. That said, they do look pretty cool, nevertheless.
Tai Chi 0 (Zero) has been limitedly released statewide on October 19th, 2012. Tai Chi Hero will be released on October 25th, 2012 in Hong Kong and it has the same stars – Daniel Wu, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Yuan Xiaochao, Angelababy, and Qi Shu.
Click to continue reading 7 New Character Posters for Tai Chi Hero...
- 10/22/2012
- by Vesna Sunrider
- Filmofilia
Video game and martial arts fans, take note: this is for you.
The first trailer for Hong Kong writer-director-actor Stephen Fung's (House of Fury) Tai Chi Zero arrived last month and impressed us with its strange, Steampunk-meets-martial-arts storyline. The first of a trilogy (the sequel Tai Chi Hero was shot simultaneously), Tai Chi Zero follows Yang Luchan (newcomer Yuan Xiaochao), who has a horn on his head as a sign of his marital arts prowess and travels to Chen village to learn the secrets of Tai Chi martial arts. Rejected by the locals who don't want to share their secrets with outsiders, Luchan must save the town from the threat of a railroad that wants to plow through the village.
all the high-flying trailers
Saturdays 10:00a Et / 7:00a Pt
Next Showing: Tai Chi Zero opens in limited release today
Link | Posted 10/20/2012 by Ryan
Naked Trailers | Tai Chi 0...
The first trailer for Hong Kong writer-director-actor Stephen Fung's (House of Fury) Tai Chi Zero arrived last month and impressed us with its strange, Steampunk-meets-martial-arts storyline. The first of a trilogy (the sequel Tai Chi Hero was shot simultaneously), Tai Chi Zero follows Yang Luchan (newcomer Yuan Xiaochao), who has a horn on his head as a sign of his marital arts prowess and travels to Chen village to learn the secrets of Tai Chi martial arts. Rejected by the locals who don't want to share their secrets with outsiders, Luchan must save the town from the threat of a railroad that wants to plow through the village.
all the high-flying trailers
Saturdays 10:00a Et / 7:00a Pt
Next Showing: Tai Chi Zero opens in limited release today
Link | Posted 10/20/2012 by Ryan
Naked Trailers | Tai Chi 0...
- 10/20/2012
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
Here’s a new trailer for Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi 0, one that showcases a combo of traditional kung-fu accented by a steam-punk aesthetic and accompanied by dub-step. Check it out below:
Synopsis:
In legendary Chen Village, everyone is a martial arts master, and uses a powerful form of Tai Chi in all aspects of their life. Yang has arrived to try and learn it, only to find that it’s forbidden for the villagers to teach their secret style to an outsider. But when a mysterious man comes to town with a frightening steam-powered machine and plans to build a railroad through a village, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Yang, who has a secret power of his own. With action directed by the legendary Sammo Hung (Ip Man 1 & 2), Tai Chi 0 is a full-on steampunk kung-fu throw down that...
Synopsis:
In legendary Chen Village, everyone is a martial arts master, and uses a powerful form of Tai Chi in all aspects of their life. Yang has arrived to try and learn it, only to find that it’s forbidden for the villagers to teach their secret style to an outsider. But when a mysterious man comes to town with a frightening steam-powered machine and plans to build a railroad through a village, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Yang, who has a secret power of his own. With action directed by the legendary Sammo Hung (Ip Man 1 & 2), Tai Chi 0 is a full-on steampunk kung-fu throw down that...
- 10/18/2012
- by Vesna Sunrider
- Filmofilia
Director Stephen Fung delivers a deliriously over the top reimagining of the life of martial artist Yang Luchuan - founder of the Yang school of tai chi - in the first part of his ambitious blockbuster franchise. Tai Chi 0 balances a respect for the golden age of Hong Kong martial arts comedies with an obvious love for comic books, video games and steampunk influences to deliver high octane entertainment. Yuan Xiaochao - a gifted martial artist in real life and gold medal winner at the 2006 Asian Games - plays Yang Luchuan, a young man born a little bit different. A boy with what looks to be a single demon horn sprouting from his forehead. It's not, as it turns out, but it is...
- 10/18/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Tai Chi Zero
Directed by Stephen Fung
Written by Kuo-fu Chen, Cheng Hsiao-tse and Zhang Jialu
China, 2012
If you find yourself at the cinema, and you happen to have a fistful of quarters, then, by all means, go and see a discount matinee of Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi Zero. But if for whatever reason you can’t, if the nickelodeon is inexplicably full, the tickets sold out, or if you’re just tired of watching yet another Chinese kung fu extravaganza, then take your quarters to the theatre arcade. Deposit the necessary amount of credits into the machine, and treat yourself to an action-packed game of Street Fighter. You won’t miss a thing.
However, if you do decide to see the movie, for one reason or another, you’ll be thrust into the life of Yang Luchuan (played by Yuan Xiaochao, a martial arts gold medalist at the...
Directed by Stephen Fung
Written by Kuo-fu Chen, Cheng Hsiao-tse and Zhang Jialu
China, 2012
If you find yourself at the cinema, and you happen to have a fistful of quarters, then, by all means, go and see a discount matinee of Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi Zero. But if for whatever reason you can’t, if the nickelodeon is inexplicably full, the tickets sold out, or if you’re just tired of watching yet another Chinese kung fu extravaganza, then take your quarters to the theatre arcade. Deposit the necessary amount of credits into the machine, and treat yourself to an action-packed game of Street Fighter. You won’t miss a thing.
However, if you do decide to see the movie, for one reason or another, you’ll be thrust into the life of Yang Luchuan (played by Yuan Xiaochao, a martial arts gold medalist at the...
- 10/18/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Martial arts. Evil steampunk Robots. Kung Fu kids. The mystical power of Tai Chi. Tai Chi Zero has it all.
For some of us, it may have been a long time since we enjoyed a good martial arts movie, but even for the most avid of the genre's fanbase, Tai Chi Zero (also known as Tai Chi 0) aims to please both. Directed by Hong Kong writer-director-actor Stephen Fung (House of Fury), Tai Chi Zero follows young Yang Luchan (newcomer Yuan Xiaochao) as he travels to a village to learn the secrets of Tai Chi martial arts and instead must save the town from a group of Steampunk soldiers. The first of a trilogy (the sequel Tai Chi Hero was shot simultaneously), Fung told Twitch that he wanted Tai Chi Zero to "break new ground" for martial arts movies.
trailers that will break your face
Saturdays 10:00a Et / 7:...
For some of us, it may have been a long time since we enjoyed a good martial arts movie, but even for the most avid of the genre's fanbase, Tai Chi Zero (also known as Tai Chi 0) aims to please both. Directed by Hong Kong writer-director-actor Stephen Fung (House of Fury), Tai Chi Zero follows young Yang Luchan (newcomer Yuan Xiaochao) as he travels to a village to learn the secrets of Tai Chi martial arts and instead must save the town from a group of Steampunk soldiers. The first of a trilogy (the sequel Tai Chi Hero was shot simultaneously), Fung told Twitch that he wanted Tai Chi Zero to "break new ground" for martial arts movies.
trailers that will break your face
Saturdays 10:00a Et / 7:...
- 9/24/2012
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
Austin, TX-Wednesday, September 12, 2012- Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors – Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Brandon Cronenberg, 110 mins
Syd March makes people sick, infecting them with viruses harvested to order from celebrities, but gets more than he bargained for when his most famous source dies from a virus Syd has just infected himself with.
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Peter Strickland, 92 mins
Strange things occur after a British audio technician is summoned to Italy to work on a gory giallo film.
Besties (2012)
World Premiere
Director – Rebecca Perry Cutter,...
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors – Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Brandon Cronenberg, 110 mins
Syd March makes people sick, infecting them with viruses harvested to order from celebrities, but gets more than he bargained for when his most famous source dies from a virus Syd has just infected himself with.
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Peter Strickland, 92 mins
Strange things occur after a British audio technician is summoned to Italy to work on a gory giallo film.
Besties (2012)
World Premiere
Director – Rebecca Perry Cutter,...
- 9/14/2012
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Wow! I literally just jumped up for joy hearing this final wave. I think that this might be my favorite selection of films since I have been attending. Films like American Mary, Antiviral, Berberian Sound Studio, the remake of Who Can Kill A Child? – Come Out and Play and the World Premiere of the sequel to The Collector! These films plus a few others just caps off what I’m sure will be my favorite Fantastic Fest yet!
Also, for those keeping score, Michael picked 7 movies that are definitely showing while I picked 6. However, this could change once the secret screenings show. Again, Fantastic Fest starts next Thursday and we plan to have reviews, interviews and possibly video & audio blogs. Anyway, here’s the announcement:
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection.
Also, for those keeping score, Michael picked 7 movies that are definitely showing while I picked 6. However, this could change once the secret screenings show. Again, Fantastic Fest starts next Thursday and we plan to have reviews, interviews and possibly video & audio blogs. Anyway, here’s the announcement:
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection.
- 9/12/2012
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
If the films announced so far weren't enough to get you to travel to Austin later this month, this last wave of programming should have you packing your bags immediately! Read on for details.
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest (official site here) will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas, at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: First Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Second Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Short Films Announced
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors - Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director - Brandon Cronenberg,...
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest (official site here) will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas, at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: First Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Second Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Short Films Announced
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors - Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director - Brandon Cronenberg,...
- 9/12/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Tai Chi 0 and The Last Supper: Both films belong to "official" mainstream commercial production. Yet each in its way is a fascinating occasion to reflect upon Chinese neo-studio system.
Tai Chi 0 (Stephen Fung)
Yang Luchan (wushu champ Yuan Xiaochao), a young martial arts genius, desperately wants to learn the famous secret Tai Chi art of the Chen family. With the discrete help of the Grand Master (Tony Leung Kar-fai), and through repeated beatings from the villagers and the Master's daughter (Angelababy), he comes to master some of the Chen art and ends up helping destroying an evil British steam machine that could wipe out the village for the construction of a profitable railway line.
Tai Chi 0 (the first episode of a blockbuster-to-be trilogy) may well entertain foreign and local audiences: manga anime oriented, displaying a cast of top-models, pop icons and kung fu stars new and old,...
Tai Chi 0 (Stephen Fung)
Yang Luchan (wushu champ Yuan Xiaochao), a young martial arts genius, desperately wants to learn the famous secret Tai Chi art of the Chen family. With the discrete help of the Grand Master (Tony Leung Kar-fai), and through repeated beatings from the villagers and the Master's daughter (Angelababy), he comes to master some of the Chen art and ends up helping destroying an evil British steam machine that could wipe out the village for the construction of a profitable railway line.
Tai Chi 0 (the first episode of a blockbuster-to-be trilogy) may well entertain foreign and local audiences: manga anime oriented, displaying a cast of top-models, pop icons and kung fu stars new and old,...
- 9/11/2012
- MUBI
Director Stephen Fung delivers a deliriously over the top reimagining of the life of martial artist Yang Luchuan - founder of the Yang school of tai chi - in the first part of his ambitious blockbuster franchise. Tai Chi 0 balances a respect for the golden age of Hong Kong martial arts comedies with an obvious love for comic books, video games and steampunk influences to deliver high octane entertainment.Yuan Xiaochao - a gifted martial artist in real life and gold medal winner at the 2006 Asian Games - plays Yang Luchuan, a young man born a little bit different. A boy with what looks to be a single demon horn sprouting from his forehead. It's not, as it turns out, but it is a...
- 9/10/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Tai Chi 0
Directed by Stephen Fung
Written by Kuo-fu Chen, Cheng Hsiao-tse and Zhang Jialu
China, 2012
If you find yourself at the cinema, and you happen to have a fistful of quarters, then, by all means, go and see a discount matinee of Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi 0. But if for whatever reason you can’t, if the nickelodeon is inexplicably full, the tickets sold out, or if you’re just tired of watching yet another Chinese kung fu extravaganza, then take your quarters to the theatre arcade. Deposit the necessary amount of credits into the machine, and treat yourself to an action-packed game of Street Fighter. You won’t miss a thing.
However, if you do decide to see the movie, for one reason or another, you’ll be thrust into the life of Yang Luchuan (played by Yuan Xiaochao, a martial arts gold medalist at the...
Directed by Stephen Fung
Written by Kuo-fu Chen, Cheng Hsiao-tse and Zhang Jialu
China, 2012
If you find yourself at the cinema, and you happen to have a fistful of quarters, then, by all means, go and see a discount matinee of Stephen Fung’s Tai Chi 0. But if for whatever reason you can’t, if the nickelodeon is inexplicably full, the tickets sold out, or if you’re just tired of watching yet another Chinese kung fu extravaganza, then take your quarters to the theatre arcade. Deposit the necessary amount of credits into the machine, and treat yourself to an action-packed game of Street Fighter. You won’t miss a thing.
However, if you do decide to see the movie, for one reason or another, you’ll be thrust into the life of Yang Luchuan (played by Yuan Xiaochao, a martial arts gold medalist at the...
- 9/9/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Surprise, surprise, here’s yet another Tai Chi 0 trailer, this one with awesome music following it – I’m not sure though if it’s a trailer, a featurette or a TV spot, since the info is written in Chinese. If any of you knows Mandarin, please do correct me. Anyway, have a look after the jump.
Click here to view the embedded video.
This one also has some not-so-good English subs, but you’ll get the jist of it.
First part of the two shot back-to-back and together titled “Tai Chi: From Zero to Hero”, Tai Chi 0, comes to theaters on September 27th, 2012 in Australia and Hong Kong, October 4th, 2012 in Singapore and in 2013 in China (a bit illogical that the country of its origin would release the film last – and the release date for Tai Chi Hero stands at October 2012, but hey, who am I to judge...
Click here to view the embedded video.
This one also has some not-so-good English subs, but you’ll get the jist of it.
First part of the two shot back-to-back and together titled “Tai Chi: From Zero to Hero”, Tai Chi 0, comes to theaters on September 27th, 2012 in Australia and Hong Kong, October 4th, 2012 in Singapore and in 2013 in China (a bit illogical that the country of its origin would release the film last – and the release date for Tai Chi Hero stands at October 2012, but hey, who am I to judge...
- 8/26/2012
- by Sunrider
- Filmofilia
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