Drunken Tai Chi
Drunken Tai Chi is a 1984 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Yuen Woo-ping.[1] It is notable for being the acting debut of Donnie Yen, who had previously performed as a stuntman. The film showcases Yen's martial arts skills as well as his b-boying abilities, including a scene in which Yen performs a moonwalk.[2]
Drunken Tai Chi
笑太極
笑太极
Xiào Tài Jí
Siu3 Taai3 Gik6
Yuen Woo-ping
Brandy Yuen
Peace Group
Chow Ling-kong
Wang H.W. Wang
Donnie Yen
Yuen Cheung-yan
Yuen Shun-yi
Yuen Yat-chor
Lydia Shum
Mandy Chan
Don Wong
Lee Kwan
Chang Hsun
Chan Wing-shu
Wong Chau-kwai
Robert Choi
Tang Siu-lam
Dragons Group Film
- 31 May 1984
91 minutes
Hong Kong
Cantonese
HK$6,937,773
Plot[edit]
A spoiled young man who is on the run from a ruthless killer finds accommodation with a puppeteer and his heavy-set wife. Both of them are masters of the art of tai chi, the only style of martial arts that can defeat the killer.
Reception[edit]
Reviewer Simon Rigg of kungfukingdom.com writes that while the film never reached the popularity of Drunken Master, "nevertheless it’s a great kung fu showcase in its own right. It’s an unconventional mix, featuring American crazes (skateboarding) and a killer with a very human side alongside a lot of slapstick and bawdy humour, but it’s impossible not to be taken in by Donnie and the team’s set-pieces. It holds a special place in Hong Kong film history for bringing Donnie Yen to the fore and as one of the last films to feature step-by-step intricate choreography."[4]
The book The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies by Bill Palmer, Karen Palmer, and Ric Meyers calls the film a "commonplace, simple story of revenge with humorous touches", noting its "great kung fu! The Yuen family is listed as the fight choreographers, and that usually means a cornucopia of visual effects and breathtaking martial arts. They don't let us down here." The film is given a rating of 3 1/2 stars.[5]