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Tai Chi Zero poster
CrapScore 63, Certified Crap

Tai Chi Zero

“See the extraordinary life of founder of the Yang style Tai Chi.”

Certified Crap. CrapScore 63, rated by 1 admin.

Higher CrapScores mean more entertainingly bad. How we score movies.

Why it’s crap
A gifted outsider seeks training in a village that refuses to teach strangers, just as industrial machinery threatens its traditions. Stephen Fung mixes wuxia, comic-book presentation and steampunk invention. The playful format gives a familiar apprenticeship story a deliberately busy surface.

Nominated by @flabbergasted_jones

The club’s verdict

Acting
4/10
Plot
8.5/10
Effects
4.5/10
Dialogue
7/10
Rewatchability
7.5/10
  • “The village's strict admissions policy has collided with a very large machine.”

    @flabbergasted_jones, scored it 63

Synopsis and movie facts

In legendary Chen Village, everyone is a martial arts master, using their powerful Chen Style Tai Chi in all aspects of their lives. Lu Chan has arrived to train, but the villagers are forbidden to teach Chen Style to outsiders, and do their best to discourage him by challenging him to a series of fights. Everyone, from strong men to young children, defeats him using their Tai Chi moves. But when a man from the village's past returns with a frightening steampowered machine and plans to build a railroad through the village at any costs, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Lu Chan... who has a secret power of his own.

Released
2012
Directed by
Stephen Fung
Running time
100 min
Original title
太极1: 从零开始

Starring

  • Jayden Yuan as The Freak
  • Fung Hak-on as Lao Zhao
  • Stephen Fung as Nan
  • Shu Qi as Mother Yang
  • Andrew Lau Wai-keung as Father Yang
  • Bruce Leung Siu-lung as Dong
  • Angelababy as Chen Yu Niang
  • Eddie Peng as Fang Zi Jing

Research behind this pick

Researched . Explore the film references and reviews below.

  • Film reference · themoviedb.org

    Canonical film identity, release date, runtime, director credits, cast, genres, synopsis and poster checked against TMDB movie 121823.

  • Review · moriareviews.com

    The review discusses the playful wuxia approach and the opposition between mechanised progress and the exclusionary village.

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