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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

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

Peace (Hong Kong) Film

Dragons Group Film

  • 31 May 1984 (1984-05-31)

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.

Donnie Yen

Yuen Cheung Yan

Yuen Shun-yi

Mandy Chan

Lydia Shum

Wong Tao

Yuen Hsin Yee

Source:[1][3]

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]

at IMDb

Drunken Tai Chi