man of tai chi

Tiger Chen Joins 'Man Of Tai Chi' Follow-Up, IMPULSE

It’s been well over a week since the 67th annual Cannes Film Festival wrapped up, and it’s difficult knowing that so much more happens than what most headlines can keep up with unless you have a huge staff glued to the internet. Especially on days like May 20, when an official press release went viral announcing the latest project for regular collaborator with Master Yuen Woo-Ping, actor and martial artist Tiger Chen. Reports indicate that pre-production is already underway for Impulse, the latest film from Crimson Pulse Entertainment. Although there is no official word yet on what the plot will entail, it is being pitched as the follow-up to actor Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man Of Tai Chi which released last year in China leading up to its holiday North American release, which presents a small predicament in that it could be an original work, or a franchse sequel. Either […]

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Film Of The Week: MAN OF TAI CHI (2013)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. Though most associate Tai Chi with peaceful, yoga-like movements, Tiger has perfected the ancient art and started to make a name for himself in the prestigious Wulin Wang martial arts championship. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, police investigator, Suen Jing-Si (Karen Mok), who works for the organized crime unit OCTB, has run into a wall in her pursuit of Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves). Donaka is a powerful Hong Kong businessmen who runs a secret underground fighting ring, where cold hard cash is made by defeating one’s opponent in a no-holds barred fight privately broadcast to wealthy patrons. Looking for a new “star,” Donaka tries to lure Tiger with the promise of easy money. […]

Silvio Simac Dares You To Move In The New Action Short, TRICK OR TREAT

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone who happens to be a fan of martial arts action cinema has likely seen actor, action performer and 14-time champion fighter Silvio Simac, who you may recognize from previous appearances in such films as Danny The Dog (a.k.a. Unleashed), The Transporter 3, Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing and in the newly released kung fu thriller from Keanu Reeves, Man Of Tai Chi. While fans can expect to hear more on Simac’s endeavors in film in the years to come, it appears he is also expanding his resume a little more as a filmmaker, sharing co-directorial credits with editor Harvir Gill for Simac’s latest shortfilm performance, Trick Or Treat. The new short plays as a spoof on films like The Terminator and all thing involving tough guys in action films, and of course the title seems fitting for what would have been an awesome October release right around Halloween. However, […]

Kane Kosugi Highlights A New Photo With The Stunt Crew Of TEKKEN: A MAN CALLED X

Lee B. Golden III

Stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Brahim Achabbakhe (center) took to Facebook this weekend to share a group photo with his choreography team a day ahead of the forthcoming production for the new film Tekken: A Man Called X from Crystal Sky and Lionsgate. The photo comes just after action star Kane Kosugi (second from right) announced on his official blog that he would be playing the titular role. The film is set as a prequel to the 2010 reinterpretation of the NAMCO property directed by Dwight Little and starring Jon Foo, Ian Anthony Dale and Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa. Not much else is known about the film as of yet with principal phototography scheduled for the next three weeks, in addition to previous reports that Ong Bak director Prachya Pinkaew was attached as the director. To name a few, Achabbakhe‘s most recent credits in stunts and choreography include Street Fighter: The Legend […]

[Updated] Tiger Chen Loses An Arm In A Brutal Fight Clip From MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

UPDATE: Apparently the Youtube subscriber decided to privatize the video and block it from the public for now. Stay tuned. The official Keanu World YouTube channel has a new fight clip uploaded featuring lead actor Tiger Chen opposite Ocean Hou in a scene from actor/director Keanu Reeves‘ upcoming theatrical release of Man Of Tai Chi. The film is set to play in select IMAX theaters on Thursday October 24, 2013 one week ahead of its November 1, theatrical release nationwide from Radius TWC. Man Of Tai Chi also stars Reeves along with Karen Mok, Simon Yam, and Grandmaster Yu Hai, with a special appearance by Iko Uwais, and action sequences directed by Yuen Woo-Ping. SYNOPSIS: In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the […]

MAN OF TAI CHI Gets The IMAX Treatment

Lee B. Golden III

IMAX Corporation has announced that Keanu Reeves‘ martial arts directorial debut, Man Of Tai Chi will play on IMAX screens in select cities on October 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and New York. The film is currently available through the VoD market as of September 27, 2013, and features martial artist, actor Tiger Chen in his first lead role for an American audience. The film also stars Reeves along with Karen Mok and Simon Yam, with legendary action master Yuen Woo-Ping directing the fight sequences. Man Of Tai Chi releases nationwide on November 1, courtesy of Radius TWC. SYNOPSIS: In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. He has crafted the stealthy, peaceful movements […]

Watch The New Trailer For MAN OF TAI CHI!

Lee B. Golden III

Arriving On-Demand on September 27, 2013, followed by a November 1, 2013 theatrical release is the explosive martial arts action feature, Man Of Tai Chi. The film marks actor Keanu Reeves‘s directorial debut opposite actor and fellow ‘Matrix’ stunt performer and coordinator Tiger Chen in his first lead role. The film also stars Karen Mok and Simon Yam, with legendary action master Yuen Woo Ping designing the fight sequences that have dazzled audiences since its premiere in China on July 5. The film was picked up for North American distribution back in May by Radius/TWC, following the film’s sale at the Cannes Film Festival. SYNOPSIS: In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. He has crafted the stealthy, […]

MAN OF TAI CHI Publicity Extends Itself To Volkswagen Group's New Shortfilm, EXTREME PURSUIT

Lee B. Golden III

Hot off of China’s latest theatrical release of martial arts actiom drama Man Of Tai Chi, director Keanu Reeves and lead actor Tiger Chen have been touring their new film in several interviews and public appearances, as well as releasing extensive behind-the-scenes featurettes, and even a music video for the title song, Remember Me, sung by none other than Tiger himself. In addition, Reeves and his kung fu lead actor are now featured in a new sidestory shortfilm from Volkswagen Group called Extreme Pursuit, which stars Tian Yuen, Lam Suet, Tang Zeng, Jing Boran and Niu Qingfeng, and is directed by Liu Guonan with stunt coordination by Bruce Law. The story appears to loosely tie into Reeves’ film, with both featuring the actor/director his reprising his role as Donaka, or in this case, “Mr. D.”, as he is pursued by four friends infiltrating his organization to retrieve a set of […]

MAN OF TAI CHI Keeps The Buzz Going With A New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Action hero Tiger Chen Hu is making 2013 his year as a contender among a select few names of martial artists exploding on to the big screen. On top of impressing fans with his upcoming July 5 debut in the Keanu Reeves-directed Man Of Tai Chi, and blowing our minds with his second release of the same month, Kung Fu Man on July 19, we now have another new trailer for Reeves’ film. And as always, it continues to look more and more promising as we move closer to news about future release dates. The film also co-stars Reeves along with Karen Mok, Simon Yam and Qing Ye, based on a screenplay by Michael G. Cooney, with action direction by Yuen Woo-Ping. Radius/TWC has North American distribution rights. SYNOPSIS: In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after […]

Action Star Tiger Hu Chen Gets A Kung Fu Initiation In The New International Trailer For MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

No holds barred action, no referre and pure combat are what fans can expect in the storyline based on today’s much more definitive, beautiful, action packed trailer for Keanu Reeves‘ directorial debut, Man Of Tai Chi. You see Reeves and lead actor Tiger Hu Chen in his breakout English role as a Tai Chi master taking on the deadliest of underground fighters. Also, perhaps one of the bigger selling points of this trailer is that fans finally get to briefly see PT Merantau’s own Iko Uwais of The Raid-fame, in action. The film, based on a screenplay by Michael G. Cooney, is releasing this July in China, with a North American release date to be announced from Radius/TWC. Man Of Tai Chi also stars Karen Mok and Simon Yam, with Yuen Woo-Ping serving as action director. SYNOPSIS: In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) […]

Reeves And Chen Are Wired-Up Again In New BTS Footage For MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and first time director Keanu Reeves will finally see the release of his new film, Man Of Tai Chi in China on July 5, 2013. This, in addition to the film’s acquisition by Radius/TWC last month at the Cannes Film Festival, sets up the next few months for fans to see some good teaser and trailer footage between now and the film’s release this Fall or Winter. Today, we have some Chinese-language behind-the-scenes footage from the set of the film showing Reeves in all-black rehearsing and filming the final fight with martial arts actor Tiger Hu Chen, starring in his first time role as the lead. The film reunites Reeves with Chen and acclaimed action director Yuen Woo-Ping just over ten years after the worldwide success of The Matrix trilogy directed by Andy and then-Larry Wachowski. Stay tuned for more Man Of Tai Chi updates!

Reeves Attends Cannes To Promote MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Hot off the completion of post production for his latest martial arts film, MAN OF TAI CHI, Keanu Reeves made his directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival this week where he discussed the film, his inspirations for directing the film, and his hopes for the film’s success. Reeves also stars in the film as the main villain opposite actor and martial arts stunt performer Chen Hu (a.k.a. Tiger Chen) who stars in the film in his first-ever gig as the lead. Reeves says “About four or five years ago I started to think about directing. My dictum was I would only direct if I had a story to tell and, having developed the script over this length of time, it became a story I wanted to tell and one I didn’t want anybody else to tell,” notes The Inquisitr via Total Film. Take a look at some footage from the […]

New Teaser For Keanu Reeves's MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Today is another epic day in the history of martial arts action cinema as the new teaser for the upcoming film, Man Of Tai Chi is finally online. The film is actor Keanu Reeves‘s directorial debut and it is coming out swinging in total tournament movie fashion! Reeves also stars in the film along with actor, martial arts stunt veteran and star Tiger Hu Chen in his first lead. Other cast names include Karen Mok, Iko Uwais, Jeremy Marinas, Steven Dasz and Brahim Achabbakhe and Ocean Hou. Lemore Syvan and Daxing Zhang are producers. Johnny Lee and Sharon Miller are serving as line producers. The film, based on a screenplay by Michael G. Cooney, is a co-production from China Film Group, Wanda Group and Village Roadshow Pictures will also feature Reeves opposite lead actor Tiger Hu Chen in his first starring role. Yuen Woo-Ping is the film’s action director, along with Chad Stahelski and Jon Valera designing and coordinating the fights. I will […]

New Photos From MAN OF TAI CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Today there are new reports out featuring the first promotional photos for the upcoming directorial debut of Keanu Reeves‘s latest martial arts action film, Man Of Tai Chi, courtesy of Chinese online periodical, QQ. The film, based on a screenplay by Michael G. Cooney, is a co-production from China Film Group, Wanda Group and Village Roadshow Pictures will also feature Reeves opposite lead actor Tiger Hu Chen in his first starring role. Yuen Woo-Ping is the film’s action director, along with Chad Stahelski and Jon Valera designing and coordinating the fights. The film will also star Karen Mok along with Iko Uwais, Jeremy Marinas, Steven Dasz and Brahim Achabbakhe and Ocean Hou. Lemore Syvan and Daxing Zhang are producers. Johnny Lee and Sharon Miller are serving as line producers. Reeves, Chen and Yuen share the historic success of working together on the highly acclaimed science fiction martial arts fantasy action […]