Tai Chi Master (太極張三豐). 1993. Hong Kong/China. Directed by Yuen Woo-ping. Martial arts direction by Yuen Woo-ping, Yuen Cheung-yan, Ku Huen-Chiu. With Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Chin Siu-ho. DCP courtesy American Genre Film Archive. In Cantonese; English subtitles. 96 min.
Two friends raised together in a Shaolin monastery take radically different paths as adults, with one (Chin Siu-ho) joining a tyrannical army while the other (Jet Li) aids anti-government rebels. Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, Tai Chi Master showcases dazzling choreography, from lightning-fast hand-to-hand exchanges to elaborate wirework and inventive uses of props and terrain. Li combines extraordinary physical precision with a quietly compelling emotional arc, evolving from naive monk to serene tai chi master. Chin brings volatile energy and intensity as his friend and rival, while Michelle Yeoh adds grace and formidable martial prowess as a rebel fighter who lights up unforgettable set pieces.