Tai Chi Boxer: A Wu Jing’s 1990s Successful Martial Arts Movie
China is said to not only be the world’s fastest growing economy. But also emerging to become the world’s biggest source of box office gold. A prediction that gained some serious legitimacy with the release of “Wolf Warrior II” in the summer of 2017. The mega-hit action film would go on to become the biggest grossing Chinese film of all time by far. And the man behind such an astonishing smash hit is a home-grown martial artist you may have heard of by the name of Wu Jing.
A Beijing-born Wushu exponent. Wu Jing (also credited as “Jacky Wu”) has blown audiences away with his incredible physical skills since the late 90’s. Duking it out with everyone from Donnie Yen to Scott Adkins to Tony Jaa. That obviously raises the question of: What are Wu Jing’s most memorable big screen battles? This can only mean one thing, time for another countdown. So, stay close to the ground readers and brace yourself for this storm that’s about ready to whip through.
Wu Jing kicked off his career with 1996’s Tai Chi Boxer (Thai Cuc Than Quyen) under the direction of the legendary Yuen Woo-ping. A rough sequel to 1993’s “Tai Chi Master”. It would also notably serve as Woo-ping’s final film as director until 2010’s “True Legend”. However, what really makes it a true relic for martial arts fans was that it also marked the first big break for the late Darren Shahlavi, who had previously been working as a bouncer in Hong Kong before beginning his career in action films. Darren and Wu Jing give it their all and then some in the film’s dynamite final battle. Which took sixteen days to film and saw Darren accidentally punching Wu Jing in the face due to the latter’s near-sightedness.
Still, that pain proved worth it for the finale of Tai Chi Boxer (phim vo thuat hay 2020). Which is curiously reminiscent of the end fight of “Once Upon A Time in China” in the way our hero and villain sail across the room on ropes in between exchanging blows on one another.
“Tai Chi Boxer” sparked off both Wu Jing and Darren Shahlavi’s careers and after Darren’s untimely passing in 2015, holds as a great specimen of the tenacity and energy he gave each and every time he stepped in front of the camera.