The Tai-Chi Master 1993
The Tai-Chi Master, or 太极张三丰 tàijí zhāngsānfēng in Chinese, is a martial arts film starring Jet Li. Toward the end of the Song dynasty, two young monks meet in a Shaolin Temple and become close friends, almost brothers. One is gentle and desires nothing more than peace of mind, while the other would go to whatever length to attain his goal. The two monks are expelled from Shaolin Temple due to errors committed by the latter. It’s a must-see in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
The Blue Kite (Lan Feng Zheng) 1993
Here’s a film about the varying backgrounds of various families in China during the Cultural Revolution. The narration of the storey from the viewpoint of a small boy is what distinguishes this film (Tietou). Tietou, the lead character, has a charismatic personality that draws audiences in as he journeys through his teenage years dealing with three different fathers. Conversations between the child and family members abound in The Blue Kite (Lan Feng Zheng) film. Furthermore, the contact between the adults is easy to understand. It’s an excellent film for people who are only starting to learn Chinese.
Hidden Man
Hidden Man (2018), 邪不压正 xié bù y zhèng in Chinese, tells the storey of Zhu Qianlong (朱潜龙 zhqiánlóng), who betrays his master and murders his master’s whole family in order to help Japanese cultivate opium. However, another critical character, Li Tianran (李天然 lǐ tinrán), escapes and is rescued by Lan Qingfeng (蓝青峰 lán qīngfēng). Li, who has been living in San Francisco for the past fifteen years, returns to China and seeks to assassinate Zhu in retaliation. Zhu, on the other hand, has been the city’s police chief and is now seen as a decent man.
Lost in Thailand (Ren Zai Jiong Tu: Tai Jiong) 2012
Two competing scientists, Xu and Bo, travelled to Thailand in search of their leader, who was staying in a Buddhist monastery. The goal was to be the first chemist to obtain a patent and commercialise a new chemical additive. On the way, Xu encounters Wang, a pancake sales representative from Beijing who is determined to achieve many dreams in Bangkok as a tourist with no prior travel experience. Following a bizarre turn of events, both join the squad and track down Xu’s boss in Thailand. The film’s storyline is straightforward, which adds to the comedy’s charm. It’s entertaining, and it’s easy to follow. It is an excellent introductory film for a beginner studying Chinese who intends to take the Mandarin Proficiency exam.
Let the Bullets Fly 2010
Let the Bullets Fly, 让子弹飞 ràng z dàn fi in Chinese is a comedy thriller. Set in Sichuan in the 1920s, the plot follows Ma Bangde, a county governor who pretended to be a simple counsellor in order to save his life after a train attack by a group of bandits killed his bodyguards and counsellor. He gives his assistance to the bandits in return for his survival and declares that he will impersonate Governor Ma in order to gain control of the town and its finances.
Wolf Warrior 2015
Wolf Warrior or 战狼 zhàn láng in Chinese, is a high-octane adventure film that has been dubbed the “Chinese Rambo.” Lengfeng (lngfng), the main character, works for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). During a raid on a drug-smuggling plant, he defies orders and kills the smuggling operation’s boss. As a result of his defiance, he faces expulsion from the PLA, but is suddenly confronted by Long Xiaoyun ( 龙小云 Lóng xiǎo yún), the leader of the Wolf Warriors, a separate division of the PLA, who invites Lengfeng to join them.
