Yuen Woo-ping is the sure hand behind this outstanding Jet Li martial arts flick which is among the best films in the actor's career, as well as being one of the top period martial arts films I've had the pleasure of watching. The story itself adds an emotional layer to what is a fairly novel and remarkable premise: two childhood buddies end up going their separate ways after many years of friendship, and finally become bitter enemies. Typical Chinese humour of the slapstick variety enlivens this movie, which offers 95% of top-notch action and dispels with those boring plot exposition moments. The only problem with the film is the (very) noticeable wire work, especially in the final sequences, but this doesn't spoil what is a very fluid and beautiful film to watch.Jet Li seems more self-assured and amiable here than he did in the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA movies, and he's ably supported by a strong cast that includes an excellent Yuen Cheung-Yan as the unlucky Reverend Ling and ass-kicking Michelle Yeoh as the feisty female lead. The bad guy is actually fleshed out here, with believable motives, and it's fascinating to watch as he's corrupted by power. The film doesn't shy from the violence, which is always cartoonish and therefore entertaining. The fights are plentiful with lots of props getting smashed to pieces, people jumping and flying all over the place and all kinds of other outlandish things going on; it certainly beats the po-faced seriousness of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON any day of the week.

Tai chi is a wonderful thing. I count myself fortunate that I was exposed to it through my experience with meditation, because deep down it is the same means of absorption. It can be a viable fighting art, though if your ass is on the line and you need quick fighting skills, you better join your nearest boxing or thai school.This film about it is a superb introduction. I'm not talking strictly about the story or the fighting itself, though the story is rousing and Jet Li is an artist at what he does. The story is of how the Shaolin monk Shanfeng according to legend came to originate taiji. When you see this, it helps to know that Sanfeng was most likely a fictional person invented for political reasons. And some of the wire-work is noticeably obvious, which only abets the air of artistic license and fictional disguise.No matter. In fact, I think a lot of the appeal of this is the contrast between superficial fabrications and deep truths, the contrast being strangely affirmative because both are modeled in the same way. It flows, hard to soft and back again.'Hard' - young Shanfeng adhering to the teachings and being pure of heart doesn't cut it, his friend -turned rival- beats him, loved ones perish. The world is cruel, you don't meet force with force.'Soft' - sudden enlightenment in the mountains, madness and gibberish as meditation, coupled with a series of visual meditation in the exercise doll centered low, spinning ball and transference by wave, all of which are also keen in-sights into taiji structure.And 'hard' again in the rousing finale where he defeats hordes of opponents - nevermind the far-fetched fiction, look for the noticeable transition in Jet Li from previous kung fu into now fluid motions, circular evasion and low stances.It works much better for me than Once Upon in China or the later Crouching Tiger, where again you will see Michelle Yeoh and a lot of taiji. The outer circle is what each of the two Shaolin boys chooses as his personal fate expressed through the action plot, and this is decided by the inner 'small' circle of cultivating the mind, and the change reflected in the change of dance in the movements of the body. Nice.

first thing's first.. tai chi master i can accept that as it's title.. but twin warriors?? help me with this.. whose jet's twin warrior? is it his childhood friend or the ever beautiful miss yeoh? when you look at the poster's you'll assume that it's michelle.. which i don't really think so.. though her fight scenes were one of the must see in the movie (check her in that restaurant scene,, *sigh* beautiful indeed and the later part she;s just amazing..) for me they should have stick to the Chinese title. anyways,, one of my fave.. i was hoping though a somewhat romantic involvement between michelle and jet.. ughh it never came.. still A MUST SEE MOVIE.. 9/10

This film, along with Jet Li's other hit Fist of Legend, helped to mark a new genre of fighting films, (along with Jackie Chan of course).Choreography is nearly unparalleled by other martial arts films during this decade. The action is awe inspiring and revolutionary. Also, many of these stunts are amazing.While there are many serious fight scenes, there are some comical moments to break the ice when there is very little action. There is also some interesting pivots in the story line.Obviously this is not a westernized Jet Li film and shall remain untouched by Hollywood. So there is no hip-hop for background music, nor clichéd car chases, nor is there a typical rapper as a co-star. The directing and settings are both successful in their classical Chinese form. The only thing western is the English dubbing, which is cheesy yet funny to listen to.I cannot give enough praise on this movie as it is but you will have to see Tai ji: Zhang San Feng (a.k.a. Twin Warriors) for yourself, even if you are not into Kung Fu movies or even if you don't like foreign films. One of my favorite movies all time!