Review of Tai Chi II (1996) by Tim M — 27 Jun 2011
A very pleasing martial arts movie from Woo Ping Yuen. A young Jacky Wu plays Hok Man, son of a famous Tai Chi master who begins his adolescent adventures. Along the way, he learns from his parents, woos the girl, and faces off against dastardly a foreign villain and his bodyguards.
I must say that this movie does everything right. When there aren't amazing choreographed fights, the characters are developed quite well. Hok Man has a very realistic and charming relationship with his overly strict father and easy going mother. A nice love triangle emerges in the middle, but they do not focus too much on that. By the time the final climax comes by, the characters are in their most vulnerable state of happiness and it ramps up the tension.
As for the final fight scene, it is very reminiscent of "Once Upon a Time in China" (1991). The fight takes place in a warehouse, full of ladders and planks and all sorts of props used by the fighters. Seeing as Woo Ping Yuen also did the fight choreography for that film, it is fine.
The final battle pits three villain versus three heroes, and they really take the time for each pair to fight and lets them breathe. They only cut to different fight when necessary, and it really flows well.
A fine martial arts film that can be enjoyed by any martial arts lover.
This review of Tai Chi II (1996) was written by Tim M on 27 Jun 2011.
Tai Chi II has generally received positive reviews.
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