Junbao lives at a Shaolin Temple when Tienbao arrives and is told to follow Junbao's directions since he is Tienbao's senior, even though Tienbao is slightly older and taller. Slowly but surely Tienbao makes friends with Junbao. Tienbao is usually teasing his "junior" but it's mostly in fun. However Tienbao doesn't like to lose, even to Junbao. After an older student beats them up they go to their Sifu and plead to learn kung fu. Junbao wants to learn so he can be of help to others and maintain health while Tienbao is more matter of fact and wants to not be beaten up and helpless. Sifu agrees but warns them he will allow no playing around though he has turned aside before when they were doing less than they should. He is a kind Master but worries about them, especially Tienbao because he is so ambitious. The visual transformation combined with the two boys talking works very well to bring the viewer into the current time. The young boys have grown into men and remained close friends. Tianbao wants to be the Abbot of the school and trains extra hard so he can take on anyone and win. Unfortunately that aspect of his nature is not exactly a part of Shaolin.

Jet does very well as the care-free good hearted Shaolin monk. He exudes a boyish charm not seen in his movies before. It doesn't come across as an act that he is not so worried about the outside world. However Tienbao is frustrated by the slow pace of advancement. He sees no reason to hold back in his goals. As the years pass they both become experts in Shaolin Kung Fu.

In order to determine who will advance to the next level a competition is held which includes a martial arts contest. Tienbao's opponent happens to be one of his enemies at the temple. When Tienbao is cheated in the match he starts beating the life, literally, out of his competitor. He would have killed the man if a high ranking monk had not intervened and worse yet Tienbao was so caught up in the haze of rage he didn't even realize what he had done. He immediately tries to apologize but the damage is irreparable. When Junbao tries to defend him they are both attacked by their "brothers" There are scenes of massive pole formations and martial arts which takes a turn into a comedy moment (?) and have Tienbao and Junbao 'surfing' on oil and students. It's intrusive and I think was only included because of the perceived need to add humor due to the sometimes dark nature of the film. But the pair is quickly surrounded and vastly outnumbered. They would have died the next moment if not for their Sifu. He saves their lives and tells them they must leave and venture out into the secular world. When Junbao is concerned about learning his Sifu tells them they can still study the ways of Shaolin even in the secular world. With no choice they leave Shaolin, and head for the nearest town.

At first they really don't know how to act when they reach the village. Junbao is amazed by all the different activities happening. He smiles like a child in delight of new things to experience. All the colors, various kinds of goods for sale and the street performers lend an almost magical ambience. Tienbao is impatient and they both are hungry. Suddenly they are involved in a fight with villains and others when a young women, Little Melon (Fennie Yuen) is about to be hurt Junbao happily steps up to the aggressor. Without even trying Junbao disarms and disables the unscrupulous thieves and villains but they don't realize the danger they are in because of who they fought with or the repercussions. The young girl who works at the restaurant leads them into hiding until the soldiers leave. They meet some of her friends and are allowed to sleep in the back of the restaurant. One night they discover that the group is actually a resistance cell that is fighting against the corrupt government. Junbao believes the people should be treated much better but Tienbao isn't quite so certain given that it might interfere with his plans to wield power someday.

No matter their aspirations right now they need a job. They come up with a street performance. It really is a very funny scene with both Jet and Chin Siu Ho playing it to the max. Thrilled it is so easy to make money they are interrupted by a local military leader. He insists they give him the money they have earned and Junbao refuses. Tienbao realizes they can't win and practically begs the officer to accept them as soldiers as he gives them all of their money. Tienbao sees this as the way to power and fortune but Junbao wants no part of being in the military especially one that is led by the cruel ruler and powerful eunuch Lui Jin. Tienbao wants Junbao to come with him but he refuses. Tienbao tells him when he is a powerful officer in the military he will come back for him.

Junbao returns to the restaurant and starts to develop friendships with the people who just want to live their lives without burdensome taxes, fear of robbery or death. Meanwhile Tienbao is doing everything he can as enlisted in the army of Master Lui to show his skills and abilities. At one point the highest ranking martial arts master in the army says he is too good and none can defeat him. Tienbao jumps at the opportunity to show his superior skill and goes into a rage snapping bones and seriously injuring his own troops. Even Jin finds his kung fu fighting to be vicious but he thinks it could come in very handy to have such a soldier in his ranks. Jin tells Tienbao he would like him to accompany him on a trip to the capital but first all of the local resistance fighters must be dealt with once and for all! Tienbao creates a devious plan and sets things in motion by dashing into the restaurant and warning everyone they have to leave because the cell has been discovered and the troops will arrest and kill all of them. They barely escape and the restaurant owner is killed. All of them head out of town to have a covert discussion regarding the next step. Tienbao tells them most of the troops will be gone and Jin will be virtually unguarded at a specific time. He encourages them to contact other cells and rebels so they can combine their forces and remove Jin and his power once and for all. At dawn the rebels combine to take out Jin and stop the suffering of the people. Tienbao leads them into the encampment area and towards an elevated platform where Jin is resting. As quick as lightning soldiers pour forth from every tent and hiding place. The rebels are completely overwhelmed but they fight their best in a hopeless battle. Slowly it begins to dawn on Junbao that the whole thing was a set up by his lifelong friend. But the fight is still on and he can only think of helping the others. One by one the villagers fall until only a few remain alive and have to retreat as they are being forced by the soldiers. One of the rebels, a Tai Chi disciple manages to save Junbao but only a handful make it out alive, and neither of the women. The brother of one man wants to kill Junbao because they trusted his friend, and think he was in on the betrayal. The Tai Chi monk tries to make them understand Junbao is in a kind of shock over the heavy emotional blow of being deceived to the point of death by someone he loved as a brother. Junbao decides he himself will go back and rescue the others.

When Junbao arrives there are only a few soldiers surrounding Tienbao who is quietly having tea (or wine) and invites his "brother" to join him, literally. The only rebel left is Qiushie (Michelle Yeoh) and she is high above the ground tied to a pyramid - type stack of timbers where she is at the top. When Junbao refuses to join Tienbao and demands he release Quishie, Tienbao uses the rebels as an example of failure, whereas he trumpets his rising career in the military as true power and says there is enough to share. Junbao is only focused on saving at least one rebel, and is consumed with fury at himself which he uses to fight Tienbao.

Though most people wouldn't refer to this film as "wuxia" it does definitely have some characteristics. Especially with the sword fight that ensues with Tienbao there are a lot of wires used. (There is once scene in this fight that is used twice. Too much effort to even flip I suppose!) However they were used to enhance and show how highly skilled the characters are and capable of amazing physical feats. After Junbao demands Tienbao release Quishie the soldiers attack him and are quickly dispatched. Now Tienbao and Junbao face each other as enemies. Tienbao doesn't really want to fight his once friend and he tells Junbao he has no chance against him, that Junbao knows he is a better fighter. It doesn't matter to Junbao as he must follow his conscience and save Quishie. The sword fight is fast paced with tight shots and excellent acting on the part of both. Chin Sui Ho is truly excellent. He manages to transform his character from an ambitious young man making his way in the world into a ruthless and brutal savage hungry for ever more power. Considering their close relationship the scene could have fallen apart with both not wanting to harm the other. But the viewer need not be concerned. There is no doubt Tienbao is a murderous villain. With a lot of great fighting, a bit of help from Quishie and a moment of luck Quishie and Junbao escape. Tienbao is furious! Having them free could hurt his career and he would let nothing interfere with that.

Quishie and Junbao take refuge with the Tai Chi monk. Junbao is emotionally and psychologically severely injured. For lack of a better term they refer to him as crazy or being mad. And it would certainly seem so. He can't sleep and is haunted by visions of those who died under the hand of his former friend. He feels he has killed them and he cannot forgive himself. Quishie tries everything she knows to bring him back to sanity but it is just still too painful to deal with reality. The monk has been working with him since they returned but had no luck. They try curing him with everything from acupuncture to long walks in the quiet perfect-ness of nature. Slowly Junbao begins his return from madness. Not all at once but daily he seems to make a little progress. He starts to read a book Sifu had given to them when they fled the temple. It isn't a book about fighting and yet if he can truly understand the lessons it is a book overcoming fighting. Junbao learns that with Tai Chi the strength of your opponent is not a decisive issue in a fight. In Tai Chi you reflect your attacker's energy back to them. The harder they fight, the more of the energy that returns to them. Tai Chai cannot really be considered an aggressive or offensive form of martial arts however it can be most powerful in deflecting harm. Junbao not only finds healing in nature but his new form of fighting is found in nature and the balance of the forces, such as the wind, water and the earth itself. The fighting styles are designed to express the personality difference between Tienbao and Junbao. Junbao has found a sense of peace in the world and in his soul as well. The teachings of Tai Chi emphasize balance in movement with nature. Tienbao is a sadistic power seeker and that is turned back to him through Junbao's use of Tai Chi. The more cruelty Tienbao throws at Junbao the greater the return of savagery.

The only reason the plot works so well and makes an exciting movie is primarily due to the fine acting of Chin Sui Ho. He is another multi - talented fighter/acrobat/actor who never seemed to be recognized for his enormous level and range of skills. He was in "Fist Of Legend" and was excellent as a considerate man who could fight extremely well. It's a mystery why his star was never seen. He is very believable as the young mischievous Shaolin pupil and as an adult out in the secular world for the first time since a young child. His transformation into an evil general for the corrupt government, willing to maim and kill his fellow soldiers if they do not train to the intensity he feels they should is very convincing.

All of the cast brings forth quality acting and Jet, Michelle, Chin Sui Ho and Fennie Yuen are fantastic in both acting and fighting. I highly recommend this film for purchase because you will want to watch it more than once.

The action combines real kung fu with unfortunately a good dose of wire work, which I tend to find ridiculously annoying. You can even clearly see the wires attached to the actors as they leap and "fly." There are also elements of slapstick comedy, which in the interviews it's explained that the creators tried to borrow a few elements of Jackie Chan's brand of kung-fu comedy, but I found the humor quite lacking.

Nonetheless, it's a straightforward tale of two young monks who grow up as friends but ultimately become enemies as each follows a different path in life. Jet plays Jun Bao, the younger monk, when the story opens in the legendary Shaolin Temple. He meets Tien Bao, played by Chin Siu Ho (who also co-starred with Jet in "Fist of Legend"), an older boy with an ambitious, headstrong streak. We see a flash of Tien's will to dominate when he pressures Jun Bao into calling him the "senior brother," even though their master intended it the other way around because Jun Bao came first to the monastery.

As young men, they get expelled from the temple when Tien Bao offends the master of an unscrupulous student and Jun Bao comes to his brother's defense. There's a great action sequence where the monks get into their "Lohan" formation, that is, multiple monks stand on their comrades' shoulders to form a daunting array of men with spinning sticks. The duo only manage to escape when they break the oil lamps in the hall to make the floors slippery, and their master also makes a timely intervention.

Anyway, once in the secular "real" world, Tien Bao's obsessive ambition draws him into the service of a corrupt eunuch who serves as the local governor, whereas the still innocent and idealistic Jun Bao is content with a simple, peaceful life and winds up in the company of rebel fighters.

An inevitable collision course is thus set, and Tien Bao's treachery temporarily drives Jun Bao into pyschological paralysis, but the latter eventually finds enlightenment in the Way of Tao, and becomes a Master of "Tai Chi."

It leads to a furious climax as Tien Bao, now a general, squares off against his one time brother, and is defeated because he has never learned to tame his impulsive instincts. However, it is not Jun Bao who kills him, but his mutinous soldiers who have become fed up with his tyrannical, ruthless ways. Jun Bao rides off and becomes the famous Cheung San Fung, the great Taoist master.

Overall, it's a good story with pretty good action, and despite a few quibbles here and there I'd definitely recommend it to any matial arts fan.

Let me start off delicately so I don't infuriate the children. This movie ain't sh**. An overhyped bowl of average soup always tastes the same: salty. Everyone seems to talk about the extraordinary action and martial arts choreography being of the highest caliber. What a bunch of bull. I can't speak for you folks, but personally I like my wire fu with more fu than wire, not the other way around. The action is ludicrous, gravity defying, irrational slop. Yuen Wo Ping has put together a bunch of brilliant art in his day, but this is not of that grouping. Three expert martial artists/thespians (Jet Li, Yuen Biao, Michelle Yeoh) are completely wasted and are used as yo-yo's instead of the skilled athletes they are. The story and characters are very typical and there is nothing truly exceptional about this film.

Now that I have pissed my name in the snow, let me address the flipside of the coin. Don't get it twisted--I don't believe this movie sucks, I just think that it is one of the, if not the, most overly embellished kung fu films around. "The Tai Chi Master" does have many redeeming traits. The story, while standard, was presented well; the characters had pretty good chemistry; and a few of the action sequences did show a spark of character (it was cool to see Jet and Yuen use a Shaolin staff style with brooms). So overall, yes, the film is enjoyable; but it is not a classic and in my opinion should not be regarded as such. Like I insinuated in the beginning of my review, this movie is best for wuxia and Jet Li fanatics.

Don't give me that look. I love wuxia and Jet Li too, but these days for me to get a real thrill I got to go wireless. You have no idea how long I have been holding that in. Please direct all complaints and outbursts to the nearest brick wall.

While the story is great & the fight scenes are brilliant, there some bad sides with this movie, still one of Jet Li's greatest Hong Kong movie after "Hero" of course.

In this movie like all other Jet Li movies, Li plays the hero.

Junbao (Li) and Tienbao/Tianbao (Chin Siu Ho), are two monks growing up in a "look-alike" Shaolin temple.

They both practice harder then anyone else, and they both often get in trouble (because of Tianbao), when they became young grownups they both get kicked out of the school.

Their Sifu (teacher) gives a book to Tianbao so he can settle his worried mind to peace.

They then go out into the world..

First best friends, but later sworn enemies, when Tianbao betrays his friends and Junbao for promotion.

I just want to add that Chin Siu Ho, that plays Tianbao gives the movie an uplift and his major charisma gives his role credibility.

While Jet Li play a good role here this must be one of those better movie made by him. But I think Chin Siu Ho plays much better givin' the movie life to it..

This movie should have ended otherwise but the good ones always win doesn't they..

Regard a Chin Siu Ho fan!

I first saw this movie on a vhs tape that my friend taped off someone else. The picture was bad and the sound wasn't great, but it was still enough for me to hold it as one of my favorite films of all time...

While the storyline was minimal, it developed very likeable characters. I really related to the two main characters, especially Tienbao (Chin Siu-Ho) as his relationship with Junbao is very similar to my relationship with my younger brother. Junbao, just like my brother, is a happy go lucky guy (sometimes goofy -watch jet li and his facial expressions-just like my brother!), while I'm the cynical ambitious one. Although I don't think my brother and I will have a kung fu showdown, it is also kinda eerie that he studies tai chi while I devote time to shaolin kung fu.

As with all films of this genre, there is quite a bit of camera tricks and wire fighting, interspaced with solid martial arts techniques. This gives this type of film a comedy relief and excitement feel to them that no western film could reproduce. Personally I like to watch films like this to unwind, a feeling that you don't get when you're watching Tom Hanks go for what? His third , forth oscar performance.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film in Cantonese. Cantonese is a very aggressive sounding language and I think it suits martial arts films. I don't like watching films in Mandarin as it puts me to sleep-much like when I was in Mandarin school as a child. The English subtitles are questionable in some places.

Later saw the US version which was renamed Twin Warriors. Wow, what a disappointment. Dimension or whoever produced the US version took great liberties with the film. The original music score has been reworked. Scenes where there were stirring strains are now replaced with either silence or an annoying flute melody -arrrgh! I admit, the original music was a little cheesy but it all seemed to fit in with the movie. Every time the flute music came on I wanted to kick the TV.

Another problem I have is how they cut out a whole bunch of film -mostly from the fight scenes -arrrrgh!...

If you're going to buy the DVD...get the HK version...

They wander China and during a performance, Junbao and Tianbao go their separate ways, Tianbao joining the military, and Junbao joining the rebels opposing the government.

Tianbao, hungry for power and wealth, sets-up and betrays his lifelong friend, Junbao, in an ambush to attain the rank of general. Junbao, stricken with grief and disbelief, turns to Tai Chi to help.

The climactic finale pits Tianbao against Junbao in a martial arts battle that rages throughout a military encampment while an army of thousands look on.

This is one of my favorite Jet Li movies ever, the other being Fist of Legend. The wire work is stupendous, and adds greatly to Jet Li's already impressive fighting style.

One person who should get a mention in this review is Michelle Yeoh, a babe and a equally impressive fighter.

Any fan of kung-fu period pieces will love this, hell, anyone who likes action will like this.