Keanu Reeves invests in Chinese action film

CRI, December 14, 2010

"The Matrix" actor Keanu Reeves signed with China Film Group Corporation on December 10 to invest in Chinese action film "Taiji Hu" or "Tai-Chi Tiger", the Chinese Businessmen Newspaper reports.

Chen Hu, a kung-fu master from China's Sichuan Province, will be the film's lead actor. Chen was a student of Yuen Woo-Ping, a famous action choreographer who has worked in numerous popular action movies such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (Wo Hu Cang Long) and the Matrix trilogy. Chen Hu himself also worked in Hollywood for many years.

Filming is due to start in April, 2011.

http://china.org.cn/arts/2010-12/14/content_21538820.htm

*please excuse me for 5 minutes while I have a fatal happy-heart attack*

http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/639114/keanu-reeves-would-play-the-villain-in-his-kung-fu-movie.jhtml#id=1661285

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661387/keanu-reeves-man-of-tai-chi.jhtml

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/61854853.html

source : twitter

Man Of Tai Chi
The Matrix Got Keanu Reeves Hooked On Martial Arts

I like what the writer says about Keanu in the Matrix:

He had to acquire some serious martial arts skills (choreography and stunt performers certainly helped, but I don’t want to diminish or downplay his performance in this regard).

.....even if Tiger Chen apparently once said that Our Man wasn't too talented at martial arts, but on the other hand was very hard-working.

I guess being 47yo with busted-up knees won't help, either. Still, it's amazing what a hard-working man can achieve.

http://themartialartsreporter.com/tag/man-of-tai-chi/

Edit:

Here's an article from 2004 about Tiger, which also refers to how he said that Keanu wasn't "gifted". There's also a mention about a biography about his venture into Hollywood, where Keanu is mentioned.

http://www.wu-jing.org/News/M04/2004-06-Tiger-Chen-Hu-Interview.php

I have been around for a few days. This is such a cool site!

I can't wait to see 47 Ronin. Carl Rinsch is amazing and I love his style. Hope both Keanu and Carl deliver!

I also hope Keanu can drop Tiger Chen as soon as possible. I am from China. Tiger Chen does not have what it takes to warm to Chinese. What he said about his master (Yuan He Ping) was so weird. Setting up high tech stuff for older generation is such a natural thing to do and he boasted about it? I can imagine he doesn't have a lot of friends. Besides, he doesn't have the looks or charisma as a leading man.

I hope that Keanu's trust in Tiger Chen will result in a great movie, even if it's an indie sort of project. I also look forward to Keanu playing the bad guy, and this will also be his first attempt at directing. Maybe it's a good thing that Tiger Chen isn't a big movie star, because it gives them both more freedom to explore and experiment. I'm sure there would be much less freedom if there were big name movie stars involved besides Keanu himself.

I guess I was quite anxious about him making another great movie, but I can see Arya's point: Keanu is friendly towards Tiger and helping him. As long as Keanu and good and happy, I shall be happy as a fan.

Ink,China is rapidly moving towards "blockbuster" era,with big productions, no plots and beautiful actors.

http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=952471342

It was last December. According to the director(Lu Chuan), Keanu is a good drinker.

Hmmmm... That reminds me: I must google kung fu and tai chi and find out the difference between them.

Edit: So here's one comparison:

What is the difference between Kung Fu and Tai Chi?

Chinese martial arts can be divided into two different divisions; internal and external. Each one tries to arrive at the same destination, but they get there by different routes. External Kung Fu uses physical strength and speed. Internal Kung Fu (Tai Chi) uses balance, awareness, sensitivity, and an opponent's force against them.

Most fans believe he is in Beijing, but the photo showing him in front of Jet Li's movie poster seemed to be photoshopped, as his hair there was long while the photo at the airport taken by a fan was shot.

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/1226781929

There was a famous movie more than ten years ago about the creator of taichi, made by Hongkong.

Pure Kongfu movies have been on the wane in terms of popularity in China and Hongkong for quite a long while. Ang Lee's success of "hidden dragon, crouching tiger" only rebooted this gene for a couple of years. Nowadays, Kongfu is often used as a devise in grander scope of historical epics and folk stories.

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According to the director(Lu Chuan), Keanu is a good drinker.

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According to the Chengdu Business Daily (Reporter Chen Lingli) Keanu Reeves China this still is to him and his "master of Sichuan," the film project co-Chen Hu, "Taiji Hu" from. The film, starring by the Chen Hu, Keanu Reeves appeared in the person, willing to become green. Yesterday Chengdu Chinese Commercial News reporters Cai Fangchen and Hu Dezhi, "Taiji Hu" will start in April next year, the "Li" (Chen Hu on Keanu Reeves's "nickname") in China, is to last preparatory work, December 7, two similar Hong Kong to see King, but the next day via Macao, rushed to Beijing the evening of 9, the day before yesterday afternoon and Film formally signed. (Chengdu Business Daily)

http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=952471342

Oh, and the photos are obviously from a previous visit to Beijing, judging by his longer hair.