Before I watched this trailer for Tai Chi Zero, if you’d asked me if I wanted to see a steampunk kung fu movie aurally wallpapered in dub-step music (that’s the stuff that sounds like computer farts, for us older folks), I’d say no, that sounds like a nerd focus-group f*cking nightmare. Strangely, and you’ll have to take my word on this until you scroll down the page and watch it, it looks kinda good. From director Stephen Fung and fight choreography by Sammo Hung (Ip Man, Ip Man 2), it’s being described as “Kung Fu Hustle meets Scott Pilgrim,” and it’s in limited release starting today. You know, assuming you’re not all rushing off to see who’ll cross Alex Cross.
As an uncommonly gifted child, Yang Luchan had a fleshy abnormality that holds tremendous power growing on his forehead. However, being teased as the town fool, Yang’s mother spurs him to practice martial arts, and following her wishes, Yang travels to the distant Chen Village to learn TAI CHI. At this legendary village everyone practices TAI CHI and uses TAI CHI in every aspect of their lives. Nevertheless, it is forbidden for a villager to disclose TAI CHI to an outsider, which Yang learns the hard way.
One day, a frightening steam-powered machine comes to the village, lead by Fang Zijing, a childhood friend of Yuniang. He has bribed government officials to permit him to build a railway that will run straight through the village. Yang decides to join forces with Yuniang to defeat Fang Zijing and destroy the machine. This brave act may just win him the hearts of the villagers….
Two trailers below, the first has a “SPROING” sound, the second a prominent (*RECORD SCRATCH*). I think I’m in love.
Tai Chi has a lot of range. Not too many other martial arts that you can use to both beat people up AND keep your Chinese grandma and her friends busy in a public park.