Stephen Fung's steampunk martial arts epic 'Tai Chi Zero' on DVD/Blu-ray Jan. 22 (Photos)

Hong Kong action auteur Stephen Fung's "Tai Chi Zero" will be released on DVD and Blu-ray along with becoming available On Demand, Amazon and Apple iTunes for digital download Tuesday, Jan. 22.

The film was produced by the creators of "Ip Man" and "Detective Dee," featuring Martial Arts choreography by the legendary Sammo Hung. Its the first of a planned Steampunk Martial Arts trilogy.

"Tai Chi Zero" tells the story of Yang Luchan, a young genius who, tired of being picked on, travels to Chen Village to learn the art of Tai Chi. Luchan finds out the hard way that it is forbidden for a villager to teach an outsider. But when a frightening army of steampunk soldiers bearing strange machines shows up, the villagers must trust this strange outsider with the knowledge of Tai Chi. It stars Tony Leung Ka Fai, Jayden Yuan, Angelababy, and Eddie Peng Yu-Yen. For more info visit: http://www.wellgousa.com/tai-chi-zero

Here's the full synopsis:

As an uncommonly gifted child, Yang Luchan had a fleshy abnormality that holds tremendous power growing on his forehead. However being teased as the town fool, Yang’s mother spurs him to practice martial arts, and following her wishes, Yang travels the distance to come to Chen Village to learn TAI CHI.

At this legendary village, everyone practices TAI CHI and uses TAI CHI in every aspect of their lives. Nevertheless, it is forbidden for a villager to disclose TAICHI to an outsider, and Yang learned this the hard way.

Upon arriving at the village, locals discourage Yang by challenging him with fights. From the strong men to hold ladies to children, everyone defeats Yang with their TAICHI moves. After facing the toughest battle and being defeated by Master Chen’s beautiful daughter Yuniang, Yang is determined to master the art of TAICHI and he needs to find Master Chen.

Little does Yang know, the poor strange man who he befriended with is in fact Master Chen who then saved him from the duel with Yuniang. Master Chen realizes Yang’s genius and disguises himself to secretly guide Yang to his self realization of TAICHI.

One day, a frightening steam-powered machine came to the village, lead by Fang Zijing, a childhood friend of Yuniang. He has bribed government officials to permit him to build a railway that will run straight through the village. Yang decided to join forces with Yuniang to defeat Fang Zijing and destroy the machine. This brave act may just win the hearts of the villagers…

Tai Chi Zero

Director:

Stephen Feng

Cast:

William Feng, Eddie Peng, Angelababy

Producer:

Chen Kuofu

Genre:

Action & Adventure

Sub Genre:

Martial Arts

Run Time:

95 min.

Theatrical Date:

Oct 19, 2012

Original Language:

Mandarin

Dubbed Language:

N/A

Subtitle:

English

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, Asian Pacific Entertainment Examiner

Ed Moy is an award-winning Asian American journalist. He has written for Asian Week News, Asiance Magazine and 13 Minutes Magazine.

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