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Have had enough of Wing Chun already? Here is something softer for a change: there is a wave of Tai Chi related films in the pipeline. Firstly, there are Stephen Chow's Tai Chi, which is hopeful of beginning production early next year, Tiger Chen's Taichi Tiger, produced by Keanu Reeves, Wu Jing's Way of Tai Chi, which is set in Japan and the script of which has probably been completed for months but is being delayed in favour of a military film, and Yang Zi's Master of Tai Chi, that was announced recently, as well as Wang Bao Qiang's New Master of Tai Chi TV series, that is being choreographed by Tan Qiao.

And despite measures to keep it under wraps, the cat is out of the bag that Jet Li is toying with the idea of producing and starring in period kungfu film film 《耍太极》Doing Tai Chi (tentative) in April 2011, with a year-end/Lunar New Year release. Jet Li often encourages everyone to practise Tai Chi, as he feels that Tai Chi is not only good for health but also a form of self-cultivation. He hopes to have Huayi Brothers producing and hire Feng Xiao Gang as the director.

 

Jet Li even paid a visit to Yang Lu Chan's birthplace in Henan recently to better understand history of Tai Chi. Doing Tai Chi calls for the participation of many young Tai Chi practitioners that will be picked from various wushu schools. Feng Xiao Gang's assistant and a Huayi rep were contacted but they neither confirmed nor denied it, "Not very sure," while Jet Li's assistant said, "I couldn't tell you anything yet, it's too early."  21st Cn

 -- Kong Fu Man --
 Kungfu Hero/Kong Fu Man, directed by Ning Ying and Yuen Cheung Yan, starring Tiger Chen, Jiang Meng Jie, Vanessa Branch, Andre McCoy, Tan Qiao, Lin Shen, etc. has wrapped up filming in late January. On his blog, Tiger Chen expresses his gratitude to all those involved for their hard work. He also reiterates that Kungfu Hero and Tai Chi Tiger are two separate and distinct works, though the latter is often mistaken as the previous incarnation of Kungfu Hero. Continue reading "Having A Rollicking Good Time on Kong Fu Man"

-- New Master of Tai Chi --
Recently, Huayi Brothers announced their 15 upcoming productions, one of which was kungfu comedy 《新太极宗师》 New Master of Tai Chi (tentative) TV series, which would possibly be directed by Cheung Sing Yim, and martial arts choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, along with Tan Qiao. Wang Bao Qiang, who trained at Shaolin Temple when young, and Lee Min Ho are set to star.

Due to polar differences, Gu family's only son Ji Wu and adopted son Bao Qiang make different choices on their paths of life. While martial arts fanatic Bao Qiang doesn't possess exceptional talent, he still becomes of great master of Tai Chi through perseverance and gradual realisation. While romance obsessed Ji Wu is very intelligent, he enters the wrong path and ends up becoming a beggar.

-- Master of Taichi DVD --

Wu Jing's tour-de-force, Master of Tai Chi, has been re-released recently by Tai Seng on shortened edition DVD that comes complete with English subtitles and dub. Master of Taichi is loosely based on the life of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of Yang Style Tai Chi, on the trials he goes through in order to study Chen Style Tai Chi, his encounter with the Manchurian royalty as well as his matches against the legendary Dong Hai Chuan. Yuen Wo Ping and Chueng Sing Yim direct this TV series of incredible martial arts sequences that comprises of multitudes of wushu stars like Yu Hai, Wang Qun, Billy Chow, Kara Hui, Xu Xiang Dong, Tan Qiao, Kou Zhan Wen...

 

The DVD is now available at YesAsia.

Retro: Darren Shahlavi On Tai Chi 2

 
Transcribed by Adam Cemal
 

First of all Darren went to Hong Kong as a stepping stone to America, he wanted to learn from the guys in Hong Kong, hoping to bring some of their action skills to English language films. He is a very good martial artist himself and recently appeared in I Spy with Eddy Murphy and Owen Wilson.

Darren says the film Tai Chi 2 was shot under the title "Tai Chi Fist" but they released it in Asia and North America as "Tai Chi 2" (which doesn’t really make sense as it’s not the sequel to Jets Li’s Tai Chi Master.)

Taichi 2 was shot on location in Hangzhou, China and the crew and everybody flew there from HK.

Continue reading "Darren Shahlavi Interview: Tai Chi 2"

Order at YesAsia

 -- New Releases For the Month (YesAsia) --

36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin TV Series DVD Boxset (Alt version: VCD) - Directed by Yuen Cheung Yan; Starring Wu Jing, Anita Yuen, Yuen Cheung Yan, Tan Qiao, Zhang Tie Lin, Li Nan, Chen Kai. Finally, the long-awaited sequel to Wu Jing's Southern Shaolin has been released! View Trailer.

 

Wu Dang TV Series DVD Boxset - Stars Jiao En Jun, Carman Lee, Zhang Xi; Traces the life of founder of Wu Dang and creator of Taichi, Zhang San Feng.

 

Abbot Hai Deng TV Series VCD Boxset - Directed by Xie Hong; Stars Xiong Chang Gui. Su Dong Hua, Li Zong Ru, Gao Peng, Li Nong; Abbot Hai Deng was best known for three major skills, Single Finger Stance, Chastity Kid Skill and Plum Blossom Formation.

Continue reading "36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin DVD and other New Releases"