Just in time to take advantage of the new big screen pairing of Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR is this re-release of THE TAI-CHI MASTER on DVD from The Weinstein Company. I say re-release because it was previously made available on the Weinstein’s Dimension label under the title of TWIN WARRIORS when they were still heading up Miramax. That was back in the day when fans were still in an uproar over the Weinsteins’ mistreatment of Asian action films and web sites like mine were being served illegitimate legal notices by the company for encouraging the purchase of superior import versions. Thankfully those days are over and TWC’s Dragon Dynasty label has since become the leading Asian action movie label in the U.S.
To prove this point, DD has upgraded the U.S. release of THE TAI-CHI MASTER by reverting it to its original English title, using the original source print in a 16×9 presentation instead of Dimension’s slightly edited, non-anamorphic version, including original Cantonese two-channel and surround mixes, and by tossing in a modest collection of extras highlighted by an interview with TAI-CHI MASTER star Chin Siu-ho.
While this release is a huge improvement over the Dimension release it isn’t ideal. The source print is in relatively poor condition. Resolution is somewhat low, colors are dull and the print displays heavy grain. Both Cantonese tracks are flawed. It sounds as though they were both remixed with new digitally recorded foley effects, not unlike IVL’s early Shaw Brothers releases. Volume levels on select sound effects were not matched to the same volume as the dialogue and at times are glaringly loud. The effect may vary depending on individual audio set ups but when testing only the two-channel mix on standard stereo speakers and headphones the effect was very noticeable and annoying. The worst of it can be heard in the first half of the movie. It’s not intolerable but it is a disappointment.
Optional English dubbing is included but I didn’t bother to see if it matched the previous Dimension release. Neither version is worth listening to, even with the audio level gaffe on the Cantonese tracks. The main reason is that the English subs are superior translations that retain more of the film’s original context. Various martial arts stances that are voiced in the Cantonese track are translated whereas in the English dub, the voice actors simply grunt. The humor also translates better in the subs. The best line in the whole movie is ignored in the dub but translated in the subs. It occurs during a scene where two gentlemen are eating meat buns and promptly spit them out when they hear Chin Siu-ho shout “human meat bun.” Admittedly, the joke might need to be explained to viewers not well versed in Hong Kong cinema and/or Hong Kong culture. In the context of the movie Chin is referring to himself as a human meat bun to be punched around by passersby willing to pay for the privilege. In a broader context, the joke was undoubtedly a reference to THE UNTOLD STORY, a notorious category III thriller released earlier in the year where Anthony Wong portrayed a detestable cannibal killer. There is one humorous error in the subs that is reminiscent of the old embedded subs on original theatrical prints of Hong Kong movies that were unintentionally funny for how poorly translated they were. On THE TAI-CHI MASTER release they actually spell out “may you rest in piece [sic].” In his commentaries Bey Logan frequently states that he hopes DD will correct various subtitle errors from past versions but as far as I can tell the label rarely if ever produces original subtitle translations and usually uses whatever the overseas distributor provides. If not, then someone at the label needs to do more proofreading.
Audio Commentary with Bey Logan - Representative of western genre fans in the Hong Kong movie industry is Bey Logan, The Weinstein Company’s Asian acquisitions guy and a genuine kung fu movie geek who is truly in his element discussing THE TAI-CHI MASTER. He covers the film from all angles while delivering interesting factoids and opinion on the film, its stars, the production, related martial arts, and differences in this version and the previous Dimension release. He mentions that DD is trying to acquire Sammo Hung’s masterpiece PEDICAB DRIVER which is great to hear but this news is tempered by the knowledge that rights to the movie are shared between different entities. This has previously kept the movie from receiving a legitimate release on DVD and may keep it locked up indefinitely so that crappy bootleg operators like PanMedia can continue to exploit the work of others while misleading consumers into buying inferior product. As usual, Bey also inserts bits of Hong Kong entertainment industry insider info while presenting everything with a measure of dry wit.
Interview with Chin Siu-ho (20 minutes) - This is a great opportunity to hear from a highly talented screen fighter previously known for memorable leading performances in MR. VAMPIRE and BLONDE FURY. Chin talks about his background in martial arts, his early films under director Chang Cheh and his experience working on THE TAI-CHI MASTER. Mostly, he expresses his opinions on martial arts cinema in general. He stresses his interest in applied martial arts action, meaning more realistic and contact-oriented screen fighting from the likes of Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung and Lau Kar-leung. Chin’s preferred style of fighting fits the trends emerging in 2008. He’s a skilled screen fighter as THE TAI CHI MASTER proves and hopefully we’ll see more from him while he still has some fight in him.
The Birthplace of Tai Chi (15 minutes) - The DD team are getting better at producing their own supplemental material. This look at tai chi takes the viewer to a place called Chen Village, supposedly the birthplace of tai chi to have a master from the local school give a primer on the art. This is a continuation of a spotlight series on relevant martial arts styles that has appeared on several DD releases so far. For a lot of casual kung fu movie watchers here in the U.S. it undoubtedly provides a unique window into modern Chinese martial arts and culture that helps to place martial arts movie action into proper context.
Meditations on the Master: Brett Ratner & Elvis Mitchell Discuss Yuen Woo-Ping (14 minutes) - DD calls back RUSH HOUR director Brett Ratner and film critic Elvis Mitchell, both contributors to past DD releases to talk about Yuen Woo-ping. It’s not much of a consolation prize for not having the Master available to talk about himself but honestly, I’d rather the guy be left alone to make his movies without having to promote his past work. He’s in the unique position of being an action director who will be at the forefront of action filmmaking for his entire life and I don’t want him to slow down now.
Ratner cracks me up because although he’s a hotshot Hollywood filmmaker he asks bonehead rhetorical questions about THE TAI-CHI MASTER that any observant viewer could answer, such as how did Woo-ping get a bunch of monks to stand on their heads at the same time? Simple, look at the scene and notice the stands behind each stunt actor’s head that are tucked into the collar of their robes. It’s right there on the screen. Granted, I didn’t notice it until Brett mentioned it but then I wasn’t asking the question either. The thing about THE TAI-CHI MASTER is that Yuen Woo-ping lets most of his tricks out of the bag in this movie, something he has since learned to hide in part thanks to advances in digital editing. Brett also asks where Woo-ping got the idea for the luohan pole formation. Answer: it’s been done before by other action directors. Yuen Woo-ping is a master of his craft but he’s not alone in the realm of great action choreography.
Twin Warriors: Brett Ratner & Elvis Mitchell Discuss Jet Li & Michelle Yeoh (15 minutes) - Mitchell brings up a good point about Jet Li by suggesting that Li stands out from other action stars because he possesses an innate self discipline that also defines his screen persona. I agree with this assessment. In his own way Li is a larger-than-life person who early on learned to adapt who he really is into a marketable asset that has made him the star that he is. That’s something that no drama coach or martial arts instructor can teach. It comes with experience, focus, innate ability, and a lot of luck. That is what makes Jet Li a living treasure. Yeoh receives equally glowing praise when Mitchell rightly reminds us how she completely overshadowed Pierce Brosnan in TOMORROW NEVER DIES. He unfortunately steers into wishful thinking by comparing Jet Li’s screen performance with Yeoh in THE TAI-CHI MASTER to the unique screen camaraderie of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Li and Yeoh are terrific action stars on their own but they don’t convincingly connect once in the movie and to suggest they have even a measure of the screen chemistry once shared by Fred and Ginger is absurd. Ratner just gushes over everyone like they’re members of the eight immortals walking among us. Then again, stacked up to Ratner who looked like he was recovering from a hangover during the taping of his comments for the DVD, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh are gods.
Home Video Trailer - Ah, memories. The DD team pulls out this hideous gem from the Weinstein vault which was originally released to promote the Dimension Films release of THE TAI-CHI MASTER, re-titled to TWIN DRAGONS. Whatever small faults I may cite The Weinstein Company for, the brothers Weinstein have still come a long way since their Miramax days, at least when it comes to releasing quality Asian action films on home video. It goes without saying that having the original Hong Kong trailer for THE TAI-CHI MASTER on this disc would have been preferable.
• Format: Region 1 NTSC DVD
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
• Audio: Cantonese 5.1, Cantonese 2.0, English 5.1
• Subtitles: English, English (CC), Spanish
• Length: 96 minutes
• Release Date: 2008.07.29
Related Topics:
Chin Siu-ho • Dragon Dynasty • DVD • The Tai-Chi Master (1993)
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