''The Master'' (
traditional Chinese
A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays ...
: 龍行天下) is a 1992 Hong Kong
martial arts film
Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expres ...
written, produced and directed by
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark (, vi, Từ Khắc, born 15 February 1950), born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong film director, producer and screenwriter. Tsui has directed several influential Hong Kong films such as '' Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain'' (1983), the ...
, and starring
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singaporean citizen.
After three years o ...
,
Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah (born Yung Kai-chi; 2 September 1952) is a Hong Kong action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.
Early life
Born Yung Kai-chi on 2 September 195 ...
, Crystal Kwok and
Jerry Trimble
Jerry Trimble is an American actor, martial artist, stuntman, youth motivational speaker and former world kickboxing champion. Trimble played Detective Schwartz in the 1995 film ''Heat'' and Jonny in the 1989 film '' The Master''.
Career
Trimb ...
. The project was filmed in 1989, but it was not released until 1992 when the success of ''
Once Upon a Time in China
''Once Upon a Time in China'' (released in the Philippines as ''Enter the New Game of Death'') is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese et ...
'' made Li a major action star.
Plot
The story occurs in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, where a fight between Master Tak (
Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah (born Yung Kai-chi; 2 September 1952) is a Hong Kong action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.
Early life
Born Yung Kai-chi on 2 September 195 ...
) and Johnny (
Jerry Trimble
Jerry Trimble is an American actor, martial artist, stuntman, youth motivational speaker and former world kickboxing champion. Trimble played Detective Schwartz in the 1995 film ''Heat'' and Jonny in the 1989 film '' The Master''.
Career
Trimb ...
) destroys Tak's herbal medicine store. Johnny is prevented from killing Tak when Anna (Anne Rickets) comes to save him. During his recovery he stays in Anna's camper van. Anna is both a janitor and a student from a gymnastics school but was banned from competing and attending for physically attacking a fellow classmate. As a result, Anna ends up being fired by her coach, who is already fed up with Anna's bad behaviour.
Jet (
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singaporean citizen.
After three years o ...
) arrives from Hong Kong on the airport bus. When he arrives at Tak's store to resume as Tak's Kung Fu student, he finds the store shuttered and three thieves steal his bag. He chases their car on foot through the streets and eventually catches them. The thieves are so impressed with Jet's physical skills they beg him to be their master. They take Jet to their home (an abandoned
municipal building Municipal Building may refer to the following places:
United States Arkansas
* Crossett Municipal Building, Crossett, AR, listed on the NRHP in Arkansas
* Municipal Building (El Dorado, Arkansas), El Dorado, AR, listed on the National Register o ...
) but they're attacked by a larger gang. Jet reluctantly steps in to defend his new friends, but their home is set on fire.
Johnny and his gang are closing down kung fu schools and making a name for themselves. Jet meets May (Crystal Kwok), a bank worker responsible for the loan on Tak's store - but neither knows where Master Tak is. Jet finds himself in the middle of a robbery at a carpark. He finds himself fighting beside Johnny, but Johnny recognizes him from one of Tak's pictures and makes it clear he intends to kill both Jet and Tak. Anna and Jet's friends get beaten up, so Jet trains his friends to defend themselves. Jet is eventually re-united with Tak, but Tak claims he's no longer interested in either teaching Kung Fu or doing herbal medicine.
Jet and his friends go to Tak's store and prepares to deal with Johnny's gang. The three friends put their newfound skills into practice fighting four members of Johnny's gang. Jet and Johnny fight outside the store until the police step in.
Jet and Tak argue, and Jet decides to return to Hong Kong. On the airport bus he's attacked by two dreadlocked men armed with a
shotgun who was at the carpark. Jet manages to defeat the men and regain control of the bus despite a shotgun blast killing the driver. May has been following the bus in her car, possibly intending to express romantic interest in Jet. In the meantime, Tak and the three friends make their way to a rooftop where Johnny and his gang are holding Anna hostage.
Jet and May go to Tak's store to find a note and a will. They quickly make their way to the rooftop of a tall building where Tak has disabled 15 or 20 of Johnny's men but is beginning to tire due to his age. Jet takes over for his master and fights Johnny while Tak and the friends defeat the rest of the gang and rescue Anna. After an intense fight Jet manages to kick Johnny off a hanging wire to his death.
Anna goes on her trip with the gymnastics class for the competition, implying her ban was lifted. Jet boards the airport bus, once again intending to go to Hong Kong. To his surprise he finds May there as well; planning to go to with him for a holiday, but the three friends and Master Tak drive up beside the bus: Master Tak has stolen Jet's passport so he can't leave. Jet and the others laugh at May's misfortune of traveling alone but she in anger and frustration shoves her ticket in Jet's mouth as the credits roll.
Cast
*
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singaporean citizen.
After three years o ...
as Jet
*
Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah (born Yung Kai-chi; 2 September 1952) is a Hong Kong action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.
Early life
Born Yung Kai-chi on 2 September 195 ...
as Chan Hou-tak / Uncle Tak
* Crystal Kwok as May
*
Jerry Trimble
Jerry Trimble is an American actor, martial artist, stuntman, youth motivational speaker and former world kickboxing champion. Trimble played Detective Schwartz in the 1995 film ''Heat'' and Jonny in the 1989 film '' The Master''.
Career
Trimb ...
as Johnny
* Rueben Gonzáles as Cito
* Guy Fadollone as Ruben
* Derek Annunciation as Mouse
* Michael Burke as Oscar
* Camille Carrigan as Jeannie
* Wayne Post as Jimmy
*
George Cheung
George Kee Cheung is a Hong Kong actor and stuntman with an extensive career in American television and film dating back to 1975, often playing Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mongolian parts. His career has focused primarily on televis ...
as Paul
* Pamela J. Anderson as coach
*
Steven Ho as Johnny's student
* To Wai-wo as martial arts teacher
* Cheung Ching as Clerk of International Publication
*
Billy Blanks
William Wayne Blanks (born September 1, 1955) is an American fitness personality, martial artist, actor, and the creator of the Tae Bo exercise program.
Early life and education
Blanks was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He began his study of t ...
as Black Thug (uncredited)
*
Glen Chin
Glen Chin (January 27, 1948 – August 16, 2018) was an American actor of Chinese descent who starred in film and television.
Background
Chin was born in Stockton, California on January 27, 1948. He was the eldest of eight children. His father o ...
as taxi driver
* Anne Rickets as Anna
*
Corey Yuen
US version
Miramax's North American version of ''The Master'', which was distributed on home video and DVD, was dubbed in English, and the dubbing often strayed heavily from the original dialogue.
Four minutes of cuts were made, including:
* The opening scene, in which Anna fights a gymnastics student.
* A scene of Anna being banned from gymnastics school.
* A scene of Jet walking through Los Angeles is cut slightly. Also, acoustic guitar music replaces the original, more somber score, changing the intentions of the scene significantly.
* A scene in which Jet, after the clinic is raided, finds Anna beaten up.
Reception
Upon initial release, ''The Master'' was not particularly successful. In his audio commentary for the
Hong Kong Legends
Hong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007. Hong Kong Legends was initially part of Medusa Communications, who, along with Soulblade bought ...
DVD release, Bey Logan gives possible explanations why, citing characters' ridiculous behaviour and contrived situations. He explains that the characters' motivations are unclear - there is no clear reason why Johnny and his gang repeatedly go to Uncle Tak's store to intimidate him, and close down other kung fu schools. Also, if the bus driver is shot by the dreadlocked man with a shotgun, why does the bus keep moving while the action is still going? Lastly, the Hong Kong film crew doesn't have the same luxury as the American film crew which led to certain scenes that didn't work too well.
Despite the flawed plot, the film did give signs of what was to come from Jet Li's appearances in films with modern settings. Li's action style in ''The Master'' was an early example of what was to come in his Hollywood films ''
Romeo Must Die
''Romeo Must Die'' is a 2000 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak in his feature film directorial debut, and featuring fight choreography by Corey Yuen. The film stars Jet Li and Aaliyah in her feature film debut, It follows a C ...
'' and ''
Cradle 2 the Grave
''Cradle 2 the Grave'' is a 2003 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and starring Jet Li and DMX. The film was released in the United States on February 28, 2003.
Plot
Anthony Fait and his crew of thieves attempt to steal diamon ...
''.
Box office
''The Master'' earned a weak HK$8,096,542 in Hong Kong.
Home media
On 28 March 2005, DVD was released by
Hong Kong Legends
Hong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007. Hong Kong Legends was initially part of Medusa Communications, who, along with Soulblade bought ...
in the United Kingdom in
Region 2. Four months later, The Jet Li Collection DVD was released on 25 July 2005 at 2 disc set including
Hitman
Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may ...
.
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Master, The
1992 films
1992 martial arts films
1990s Cantonese-language films
Films directed by Tsui Hark
Films set in Los Angeles
Golden Harvest films
Hong Kong martial arts films
Kung fu films
Mixed martial arts films
1990s Hong Kong films