MAN OF TAI CHI

China, 2013, 91 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Tiger Hu Chen, Karen Mok.
Directed by Keanu Reeves.

What can one say about this film except that it is about martial arts, and the use of Tai Chi in martial arts bouts? Except, of course, to say that it was directed by Keanu Reeves – and he also has a starring role, a complete villain.

It is competently made, taking advantage of the martial arts actor and stunt performer, Tiger Hu Chen, and his strong ability to fight – even though, in his training with a Master of Tai Chi, he knows that he should be employing his inner energy rather than any fighting vengeance. However, he is persuaded to go into fights which are televised and the source of huge on-line betting revenue When Keanu Reeves’ security company puts his guru’s building in danger, he decides to consent to fight in order to give money to his mother and to fixing the building.

This leads to a number of fights, the domination by Reeves, the setting up of a battle to the death with an Indonesian fighter. But our hero regains something of his conscience, especially when he is put in contact with a policewoman whose mission it is to arrest Reeves and destroy his company.

Probably of interest to non-Asian audiences because of the presence and work of Keanu Reeves.

1. A Keanu Reeves film? Starring, directing? His extremely unpleasant character?

2. A film from China? Traditions of martial arts, violence and fighting, corruption? The police? The moralising perspective of the film?

3. The many fights, the choreography, different styles, Tai Chi?

4. Tai Chi and the explanation, the master guru, the theory of balance, energy rather than power, not fighting? skills, testing them, the training, the effect of the schools, the abuse?

5. The opening fight, the loser, Donako Mark and his mask, killing the loser, returning to slit the winner’s throat? His motivation?

6. Donako Mark and his security company, his henchmen, his cover for fights, their being filmed, distributed, the cash and wealth? His associate ruthless killers?

7. Tiger and his being a disciple, his lessons, the master and his wisdom, the discussions, testing his moves? His character, mother, delivering the messages, not turning up to work at times, the visit, the recruiting, going to the interview, the flight, the challenge, his fighting, his victory, Donako Mark deciding to hire him? Time for his own decisions? The temple and its been declared unfit, the debt? His deciding to fight, the money for the rebuilding, for his mother?

8. The details of the fights, the reactions, the audiences, his opponents?

9. The police, the chief and later discovering his corruption, his putting the officer off the case, her personality, perseverance, going to her friend, the continued work, surveillance, the attempt on her life, her surviving, arranging for the squad to make the arrests, arresting the chief?

10. The Indonesian, his spurning of his opponent, Tiger and his experience, learning about Donako Mark, meeting the policewoman, his change of attitudes, change of heart? His refusing to fight, fleeing the opponent, yet the struggle and the death? Donako Mark and his anger? Confrontation? The arrest?

11. Tiger, hero, his faults, ambition and pride, angers, his change? Visions for the future?