Man of Tai Chi
Written by Michael G. Cooney
Directed by Keanu Reeves
United States/China, 2013
The world of underground fighting is given the cinematic treatment yet again in Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi. Set in Beijing, the movie follows the exploits of a kind if slightly misguided young man named Tiger Chen Linhu (Tiger Chen), who works as a postal delivery man by day and practices Tai Chi with his master Yang (Yu Hai) during his time off. Tiger has been seduced by the controversial idea of demonstrating that Tai Chi can be used for pure combat, prompting him to enter a legitimate martial arts tournament. His unexpectedly impressive skills catch the eye of one Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves), the multimillionaire owner of a security company who also organizes illegal fighting matches for the pleasure of a high paying, exclusive public. As Tiger is sucked into...
Written by Michael G. Cooney
Directed by Keanu Reeves
United States/China, 2013
The world of underground fighting is given the cinematic treatment yet again in Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi. Set in Beijing, the movie follows the exploits of a kind if slightly misguided young man named Tiger Chen Linhu (Tiger Chen), who works as a postal delivery man by day and practices Tai Chi with his master Yang (Yu Hai) during his time off. Tiger has been seduced by the controversial idea of demonstrating that Tai Chi can be used for pure combat, prompting him to enter a legitimate martial arts tournament. His unexpectedly impressive skills catch the eye of one Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves), the multimillionaire owner of a security company who also organizes illegal fighting matches for the pleasure of a high paying, exclusive public. As Tiger is sucked into...
- 2/21/2015
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Tai Me Up Tai Me Down: Reeves’ Directorial Debut a B Grade Vanity Project
Keanu Reeves. Hardly as woeful as you might assume, the directorial debut of The Matrix star is capably entertaining, especially if you don’t mind watching an ornate video game. However, his Man of Tai Chi, which was developed as a project to grandstand the martial arts talents of its star, Tiger Chen, has little to offer outside of slickly repetitive fight sequences. Reeves’ insistence on casting himself as an omnipotent baddie swerves the film into high gear camp akin to Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009), and one wishes the star had taken on the less glamorous role of producer and perhaps hired a re-write of a script penned by Michael G. Cooney, whose writing credits consist mainly of dialogue for video games.
A lowly courier by day in Beijing, Tiger Chen Lin-Hu...
Keanu Reeves. Hardly as woeful as you might assume, the directorial debut of The Matrix star is capably entertaining, especially if you don’t mind watching an ornate video game. However, his Man of Tai Chi, which was developed as a project to grandstand the martial arts talents of its star, Tiger Chen, has little to offer outside of slickly repetitive fight sequences. Reeves’ insistence on casting himself as an omnipotent baddie swerves the film into high gear camp akin to Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009), and one wishes the star had taken on the less glamorous role of producer and perhaps hired a re-write of a script penned by Michael G. Cooney, whose writing credits consist mainly of dialogue for video games.
A lowly courier by day in Beijing, Tiger Chen Lin-Hu...
- 10/28/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Keanu Reeves knows kung fu (c’mon, The Matrix quote, you know you’ve mimicked it 1,000 times over), so it’s fitting that his first directorial feature be about a man of martial arts, specifically the subtle art of Tai Chi. Aptly titled Man Of Tai Chi, Reeves goes for a true, immersive feel by filming in China, creating a foreign brawler that could be marketed anywhere. Don’t worry Keanu fans, he gets out from behind the camera to play a complex character as well, and delivers a rather stellar performance. All the haters out there really won’t have anything to say about Keanu’s production, even if it is a little generic plot-wise, because Reeves delivers a tight watch from start to finish. Keanu may know his kung fu, but his crew knows just a little bit more in this admirable visionary debut.
Tiger Chen Linhu (Tiger Chen...
Tiger Chen Linhu (Tiger Chen...
- 9/29/2013
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Tiger Chen, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Iko Uwais | Written by Michael G. Cooney | Directed by Keanu Reeves
Review by Scott Clark of The People’s Movies
At one point in time many of us owed our teenage years to Keanu Reeves. Not only did the guy become a global star overnight thanks to The Matrix but he also put Kung-Fu back in vogue. Perhaps because of his affinity with martial arts Reeves has decided to make his directorial debut in Man of Tai Chi; a film based on the life and exploits of Tiger Chen, his coach on The Matrix.
Chen stars as himself, a devout Tai Chi student struggling to make ends meet. His achievements at national championships attract the attentions of Dakata Mark (Reeves) a mysterious businessman who organises secret underground fights. Soon Chen’s control over his honourable craft gives way to a dark and violent nature,...
Review by Scott Clark of The People’s Movies
At one point in time many of us owed our teenage years to Keanu Reeves. Not only did the guy become a global star overnight thanks to The Matrix but he also put Kung-Fu back in vogue. Perhaps because of his affinity with martial arts Reeves has decided to make his directorial debut in Man of Tai Chi; a film based on the life and exploits of Tiger Chen, his coach on The Matrix.
Chen stars as himself, a devout Tai Chi student struggling to make ends meet. His achievements at national championships attract the attentions of Dakata Mark (Reeves) a mysterious businessman who organises secret underground fights. Soon Chen’s control over his honourable craft gives way to a dark and violent nature,...
- 9/25/2013
- by Guest
- Nerdly
If you couldn’t tell from the title of today’s report from Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, the theme of Day Three for me could be boiled down into one word: subtitles. And if it wasn’t for one of the five films I watched today–not counting Cheap Thrills, which has its own, fuller review elsewhere in the section–the theme could’ve been Asian cinema. But alas, it was not to be. Stupid Borgman. (More on that in a bit.) Though there were fewer miracles to be had today, there was a bit of liquor imbibed, specifically a tequila-infused chocolate milkshake, which tastes as delightful as it sounds. Just like Day Two, as I sit to compose this report, I’m amazed that 15 hours ago, I was on my way to the Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline. In spite of staying either inside the theater or directly outside of it for the duration,...
- 9/22/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Coming to us from iTunes Movie Trailers, this is the most coherent and fleshed out trailer we've seen yet for Man of Tai Chi, the martial arts-infused directorial debut from Keanu Reeves. Screenwriter Michael G. Cooney is best known for having written video games like Resident Evil 6 and Lost Planet 2, and the movie indeed looks like a cinematic version of fighting game. It's kind of like a novelization of a movie, only with Reeves saying things like, .Finish him!. and .We have a contender.. I can easily forgive a half-baked plot if the film.s main attraction, the fight scenes, are on par with those seen in other films starring actors Tiger Hu Chen, Simon Yam and Iko Uwais. Chen was part of the stunt team behind The Matrix trilogy and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon; Yam starred in the action-packed Ip Man from 2008; and Uwais was in last year.s...
- 9/5/2013
- cinemablend.com
Previously, on a couple of international trailers introduced us to Man of Tai Chi, the directorial debut from The Matrix star Keanu Reeves. The actor also plays the villain in this fight intensive thriller with some incredible choreography coming from Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). This new trailer looks more action-packed and exciting than 47 Ronin, the fantasy action thriller coming this Christmas, but some audiences might get them confused. While there's lots of special effects in the other movie, Man of Tai Chi gives the spotlight to the fight sequences, and that's just great. Watch now! Here's the new trailer for Keanu Reeves' Man of Tai Chi, originally from Apple: And here's a new poster for the film, also coming from Apple: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed) makes his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi, written by Michael G. Cooney. Stuntman Tiger Hu Chen...
- 9/4/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Keanu Reeves has long wanted to make martial arts movie Man Of Tai Chi, but script issues, money issues and scheduling issues made it a five year-plus process. Finally it's on its way to Western audiences, and here's a new Apple trailer to prove it.Though Reeves himself stars in the film as the ethically worrying underground fight organiser Donaka Mark, the film's real hero is Tiger Chen, Reeves' martial arts trainer and stuntman during the Matrix trilogy who's here elevated to leading man status. He is The Man Of Tai Chi, though you can bet your last blue pill he knows kung fu too.Chen's character is called Tiger Chen Linhu, and he starts off as a peaceful man who happens to be very good at (the generally defence-rather-than-offence-led) Tai Chi before Mark twists him into a killer.The script was penned by relative newcomer Michael G. Cooney, who's...
- 9/4/2013
- EmpireOnline
Keanu Reeves is a name that we are all familiar with. Anyone who’s seen The Matrix (or any number of the things that have made pop culture references to it since 1999) will know his name. Until now, it’s been for his work in front of the camera. And now we can finally look forward to seeing him step into the director’s chair with Man of Tai Chi.
The martial arts movie is expected to feature more than a dozen fight scenes, racking up more than half an hour’s worth of footage between them. And it goes without saying that we’re looking forward to its arrival. And to help make that wait a little bit easier, Universal have released a great new trailer to give us a taste of what to expect.
In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as...
The martial arts movie is expected to feature more than a dozen fight scenes, racking up more than half an hour’s worth of footage between them. And it goes without saying that we’re looking forward to its arrival. And to help make that wait a little bit easier, Universal have released a great new trailer to give us a taste of what to expect.
In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as...
- 6/13/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
One of the more interesting actors to watch over the past few years has been Keanu Reeves, with a filmography that includes dramas such as My Own Private Idaho to action films such as Speed to science fiction films such as The Matrix. What the actor has yet to do, however, is take the directorial reins of a film, something he looks to change with his next project. Titled Man of Tai Chi, the film is written by Michael G. Cooney, and Reeves stars in a supporting role alongside directing, with The Matrix stuntman Tiger Hu Chen taking the lead role, joined by Iko Uwais and Jeremy Marinas. A new trailer for the film has now been released, and can be seen below.
(Source: ComingSoon)
The post ‘Man of Tai Chi’, Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, releases a new trailer appeared first on Sound On Sight.
(Source: ComingSoon)
The post ‘Man of Tai Chi’, Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, releases a new trailer appeared first on Sound On Sight.
- 6/13/2013
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
No referees, no rules, pure fighting, man-to-man. Consider this as a warning, ’cause a brand new international trailer for Keanu Reeves‘ upcoming Man Of Tai Chi has arrived. Unfortunately, still nothing about the official release date, but after all those great images and the latest trailer, the only thing we can say about the whole thing is – looks promising! Keanu Reeves directed the upcoming action thriller from a script written by Michael G. Cooney, which is: …set in Beijing, where a young martial artist’s skill places him in position to experience opportunities and sacrifices. In other words, Tiger Chen stars as a young martial...
- 6/12/2013
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
"We have a contender." Just a couple months ago the first trailer for Man of Tai Chi, the directorial debut from actor Keanu Reeves, arrived with some pretty impressive fight sequences. Now a new international trailer is here, and while the film feels like a combination of Gamer and Mortal Kombat. That may not get you interested in the film, but Reeves certainly has some style behind the camera, even if his acting in the film seems to be a little over the top. Either way, the real star seems to be Tiger Hu Chen and all these amazing fight sequences that might give the action form The Raid a run for its money. Watch the trailer! Here's the new international trailer for Keanu Reeves' Man of Tai Chi from Universal: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed) makes his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi, written by Michael G. Cooney.
- 6/12/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
A behind-the-scenes video for Keanu Reeves's directorial debut Man of Tai Chi has arrived, via Mtime. Running five and a half minutes, it provides an inside look at the production team and includes some footage from the film. In the video, Keanu Reeves and lead actor Tiger Chen talk about how the project first took off, and each describes their specific role. Also on the team is Elliot Davis, the cinematographer; Joseph A. Porro, the costume designer; Yohei Taneda, the production designer; Michael G. Cooney, the writer; and Yuen Woo-ping, the action director.The film is due for theatrical release in China on July 5. You'll find the behind-the-scenes video embedded below....
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/8/2013
- Screen Anarchy
It looks like Keanu Reeves will be able to fulfill his own post-"Matrix" prophecy, as The Weinstein Company's Radius-twc has acquired the rights to his directorial debut, "Man of Tai Chi."
The deal was inked at the Cannes Film Festival, where coveted distribution deals are commonplace. Deadline.com reports that the offer involves a "low seven-figure minimum guarantee."
"Man of Tai Chi," which had its trailer debut online last month, is set in modern-day Beijing. The movie depicts the story of a martial-arts aficionado who takes his tai chi skills to an underworld fight club. Reeves plays the villain who forces people to fight to their death.
Michael G. Cooney, whose previous work mostly includes short films and video games, wrote the script for the movie, which Radius-twc plans to release in the fourth quarter of 2013. "Tai Chi" co-stars Iko Uwais ("The Raid"), Karen Mok ("Around the World in 80 Days") and Jeremy Marinas,...
The deal was inked at the Cannes Film Festival, where coveted distribution deals are commonplace. Deadline.com reports that the offer involves a "low seven-figure minimum guarantee."
"Man of Tai Chi," which had its trailer debut online last month, is set in modern-day Beijing. The movie depicts the story of a martial-arts aficionado who takes his tai chi skills to an underworld fight club. Reeves plays the villain who forces people to fight to their death.
Michael G. Cooney, whose previous work mostly includes short films and video games, wrote the script for the movie, which Radius-twc plans to release in the fourth quarter of 2013. "Tai Chi" co-stars Iko Uwais ("The Raid"), Karen Mok ("Around the World in 80 Days") and Jeremy Marinas,...
- 5/22/2013
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Huffington Post
Exclusive: In its second significant deal at Cannes, Radius-TWC acquired North American rights to Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut Man Of Tai Chi in a low seven-figure minimum guarantee. The film is set in modern Beijing and follows the spiritual journey of a young martial artist (Tiger Hu Chen) whose unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club. As the fights grow tougher, he must compromise his own beliefs in order to survive. This is the second deal for Radius, which on Saturday acquired the Directors Fornight film Blue Ruin. TWC-Radius also has the Nicolas Winding Refn-directed Only God Forgives playing here at Cannes, with Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas starring. Reeves, who also stars in the film, met Chen during The Matrix, where Chen was a stuntman and a trainer for Reeves. It’s Chen’s first lead role, and the film also...
- 5/22/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Martial arts fans, here’s something for you! 25 new stills from Keanu Reeves‘ upcoming directorial debut Man of Tai Chi have arrived and we definitely recommend you to check them out! I mean – you already saw the first trailer for the whole thing & it doesn’t look bad at all, hope you agree? So, as we previously reported, Keanu Reeves directed the movie from a script written by Michael G. Cooney, which revolves around a young martial artist who is recruited to take part in a no-rules underground fighting tournament. Set in Beijing, Man of Tai Chi tells...
- 5/18/2013
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
We’ve got the first trailer from Keanu Reeves‘ directorial debut, kung fu epic Man of Tai Chi with plenty of straight up martial arts fighting. The first footage has been debuted at the third Beijing International Film Festival held last week. The lead actor Tiger Chen, a stuntman on the Matrix team, takes the traditional martial arts to a modern level, getting engaged in a death match where there is ‘no referees, no rules, pure fighting, man-to-man.’ Choreography has been handled by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping, who also worked on the Matrix to put the battles together. Penned by Michael G. Cooney, the plot follows...
Click to continue reading Man Of Tai Chi First Trailer on www.filmofilia.com...
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- 4/22/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
"No referees, no rules, pure fighting, man-to-man." Following up the first images and poster last week, an official trailer has debuted online for Keanu Reeves' Man of Tai Chi, directed by and starring Reeves and The Raid star Iko Uwais. This isn't the highest quality first trailer, but it does show a lot of kick ass martial arts fighting, which it looks like there will be a lot of in this film, obviously. It has a sleek almost platform-fighter-game feel to it, with the locations and fighting shots, but I don't mind. I'm still excited to see this at some film festival coming up, this might be cool, it is Keanu's directorial debut after all. Let the show begin! Watch the first trailer for Keanu Reeves' Man of Tai Chi, found on YouTube (via SlashFilm): Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed) makes his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi,...
- 4/22/2013
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Just last summer, Man of Tai Chi, the directorial debut from actor Keanu Reeves, revealed a cool behind the scenes video of some innovative camera techniques being used to capture the 18 fight scenes totaling around 40 minutes of the film's running time. Reeves is back in action as the film's villain, and now we have the first photos from the film featuring The Matrix star and also Tiger Hu Chen (a key member of the stunt team in the Wachowski directed sci-fi film) as the film's hero. In addition, there's a relatively cool teaser poster that feels like it could easily be for a Mortal Kombat film if the ying-yang was a dragon. Look! Here's the first photos and poster from Keanu Reeves' Man of Tai Chi from Twitch: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed) makes his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi, written by Michael G. Cooney. Little is known about the plot,...
- 4/15/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Indonesian thesp Iko Uwais ("The Raid") has joined the cast of Keanu Reeves' action drama directorial debut "Man of Tai Chi" for Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, China Film Group and Wanda Media Group says Variety.
Set in modern Beijing, Tiger Chen plays a young martial artist on a spiritual quest whose skills present him with both exciting opportunities and painful choices.
Uwais will fight Chen in one of the last scenes of the film, which is being shot in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau. Reeves also co-stars.
Michael G. Cooney penned the script while Lemore Syvan will produce.
Set in modern Beijing, Tiger Chen plays a young martial artist on a spiritual quest whose skills present him with both exciting opportunities and painful choices.
Uwais will fight Chen in one of the last scenes of the film, which is being shot in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau. Reeves also co-stars.
Michael G. Cooney penned the script while Lemore Syvan will produce.
- 7/13/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
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