Well Go USA continues to churn out the top-notch martial arts epics. Throughout the years the genre has put out numerous forms focusing on Tai Chi including Tai Chi Zero, Tai Chi Hero and 1993s Tai Chi Master starring Jet Li to name a few. The latest from co-directors Siyu Cheng and Zhenzhao Lin, The Tai Chi Master looks to put their own spin on the topic and stars Yue Wu, Yan Liu, and Mingcan Zhang. Could this film bring the expected Wuxia action and fun or will it fail to win the fight? 
 

The Tai Chi Master follows Zhang Sanfeng who forges Tai Chi amid sect wars and demonic intrigue in the strife of the Song Dynasty's end. At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, as the country was troubled by domestic and foreign aggression, foreign countries were eyeing the dynasty, trying to invade the Central Plains. One day, when the foreign enemies attacked the city, Zhang Junbao, a disciple of the Wuji faction, turned the tide and helped Wei Linchuan, the general of the Song Dynasty, successfully defend the border. Zhang Junbao returned to the sect to participate in the selection ceremony of the sect leader.
 

I love the Wuxia martial arts genre, but you must go all in with the wire work and sometimes the ridiculous nature of the action. This film embraces it as the old school style while infusing some fantasy elements into the story that elevates it to something a bit more out there at times, but still fun, nonetheless.
 

Early on it sets itself outside of the realm of reality with some fantasy creatures, but sadly the CGI is bad and doesn’t work all that great. Letting that go the rest of the film brings some great action and a decent supernatural period martial arts action drama that fans of the gerne will no doubt enjoy. It’s not breaking down any barriers in the gerne and offers up things we have seen before, but it embraces the story and direction it is going with so helps to keep it worth getting invested in.
 

​