Filmed in 1989 but not released until 1992, when the success of “Once Upon a Time in China” made Li a major action star, “The Master” marked another effort of HK (action) cinema to open the US doors, which, however, was met with failure, like a number of similar titles (Jackie Chan‘s in particular) did, in the beginning at least.
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The story takes place in Los Angeles, where Master Tak has migrated to, and is now operating a herbal medicine store. Tak is missing his ace student from Hong Kong, Jet, who has not agreed to be smuggled in the country. At one point, and for no apparent reason, he is attacked by the gang of Johnny, a huge American martial artist, who almost kills the older man. Anna, a janitor and student of gymnastics who has just been unfairly banned from competing for assaulting a fellow classmate who started the whole thing, arrives just in time to save him, and even takes him in her van to recuperate. A bit later, Jet finally arrives from Hong Kong, only to find his teacher’s place in ruins. His “interactions” with three Latin-Americans who try to rob him end up with him saving them from another, bigger gang, and three young men becoming his comrades. A bit later, he also meets May, a bank worker responsible for the loan on Tak’s store, who is exploited by her boss, and the two strike a peculiar friendship. Eventually, he manages to find his sifu, but Johnny and his gang are set on killing them both.
Tsui Hark‘s effort to include a number of social comments regarding racism towards minorities, immigrants, and women in the US ends up in disaster, as much as the reluctant romance (?) between Jet and May. Instead of adding depth to the narrative, these elements fill it with cheap and occasionally cheesy cliches, while Jet Li‘s effort to channel the style of Jackie Chan for comedic purposes ends up highlighting the difference in level of acting in that regard, maybe with the exception of the very last scene. Furthermore, this approach also results in the action essentially starting about the one hour limit, at least the parts that involve Jet Li, in a decision that definitely faults the overall result even more. Lastly, there is almost no justification for anything anyone does in the movie, particularly the reasons Johnnie is attacking various kung fu parlors, while the presence of the dreadlocked man borders on the ridiculous.
Regarding the actual action, what becomes evident from the beginning is that the HK crew and the US one are on completely different levels, with the exception of former world kickboxing champion Jerry Timble as Johnny, whose fighting skills are rather evident throughout the movie. What remains are a number of rather brutal fights, with the one between Johnny and Master Tak being particularly impressive, a couple of ones Anne Rickets as Anna participates in, and most of all, the final fight between Jet and Johnny, which is essentially the one the whole film leads to. This particular one is rather lengthy as it is impressive , both in terms of technique and choreography, with Li’s speed being more than obvious, and regarding the stunts, with the last scene seeming quite dangerous.
In the end, what remains of “The Master” is if this scene will justify the whole movie for anyone who watches it, because as a whole, it is definitely below average, not to mention an almost complete waste of Jet Li’s talents.
