Chinese steampunk martial arts blockbuster about the early years of Tai chi master Yang Luchan, the man who founded in the 19th century what has now become the most popular Tai Chi style in the world. The second instalment of the "Tai Chi" trilogy continues the journey of Yang Luchan, a gifted child with a fleshy growth on his forehead who helped save a village from a frightening army of steampunk soldiers bearing strange machines with the knowledge of Tai Chi that they entrusted him with.
This sequel is sluggish and rote where its predecessor was aggressively perky and desperate to please.
– Simon Abrams,
Village Voice,
23 Apr 2013
rotten:
Purist fans of martial arts cinema probably won't embrace this film any more than its predecessor.
– Bruce Demara,
Toronto Star,
25 Apr 2013
rotten:
"Tai Chi Hero" merely fills the eye, offering little that stays with you.
– Andy Webster,
New York Times,
25 Apr 2013
rotten:
There's less of the hyperventilated genre-pinging (video games, manga, comic books) from the first film. But there's still a nagging, cartoonish emptiness ...
– Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr 2013
rotten:
While Fung's attempts to err on the side of seriousness in this one after the stylized video-game high jinks of its predecessor are clearly purposeful, they don't necessarily make for a more pleasurable viewing experience.