Tai Chi Master (1993)

Aka: Twin Warriors

It saddens me that when most people hear the name Yuen Woo-ping the first thing they think of is The Matrix (1999). I love The Matrix, but what he achieved with actors only partially trained in combat is a mere shadow of his ability; for the real Woo-ping you need to go to his Chinese films.

Every bone-crunching and ankle-busting flight of fancy in Tai Chi Master was achieved in-camera with no CGI. If that wasn't enough you also have Jet Li, the greatest movie martial artist of his generation, and Michelle Yeoh who is arguably the most graceful. Jet is on top form, using his innate ability to be both effortlessly bad-ass and endearingly naïve simultaneously.

4 pole dances out of 5

Fist of Legend (1994)

Good guy Gordon Chan remade Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury (1972), and through careful writing managed to surpass the original in many ways.
Jet Li took on the Chen Zhen role, making the character less two-dimensional, less consumed with rage, and much more emotionally aware of the consequences of his actions. Jet’s wireless martial arts ability flourished under Yuen Woo Ping’s instruction making the action scenes equally as legendary as Bruce’s own, and a hell of a lot more violent.
The film earns a place on the list of remakes that don’t suck.

4½ invading ants out of 5