52
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe story's fundamentals remain solid, and the battle between the village of kung-fu experts and an army of 19th century technophiles is so cleverly staged and exciting that the inevitable sequel (already in the works) will be welcome, as will any future martial-arts movies that Tai Chi Zero may inspire.
- 75New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoTai Chi Zero is loads of fun to watch, especially a battle in which watermelons, bananas and other fruits and veggies serve as flying weapons.
- 67The PlaylistOliver LytteltonThe PlaylistOliver LytteltonIt won't linger in the mind longer than it takes for the credits to roll, but it's a lot of fun while it lasts, and we're genuinely looking forward to part 2 at this point.
- 65NPRMark JenkinsNPRMark JenkinsThe dialogue is merely functional, and not always delivered convincingly.
- 63Philadelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniPhiladelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniTai Chi Zero, the first film in a planned trilogy, will leave hard-core fight enthusiasts wanting. But it's a droll, pleasant diversion all the same.
- 60Village VoiceVillage VoiceGive some points to a genre flick whose style mash-up reflects uneasy relations between Asia and the West just as its fracas-intensive plot tries to dramatize them.
- 50Boston GlobeTy BurrBoston GlobeTy BurrAll this manic invention is great fun for a while, until Tai Chi Zero falls apart on the rocks of the eternal verities: story, acting, direction.
- 50Slant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneSlant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneEssentially a live-action anime, it sweats rivulets of Tarantino-era digital anxiety from all pores--every kick, punch, pan, and zoom exaggerated for maximum impact.
- 50The New York TimesRachel SaltzThe New York TimesRachel SaltzFast and mostly fun, the movie also seems compulsively too much, throwing everything it can think of at you, lest it fail to entertain.
- 40Time OutTime OutIf director Stephen Fung's frenetic visual style is the Red Bull in this cinematic cocktail, then the dozy plotting is the vodka - leaving you feeling momentarily excited but ultimately narcotized.