So there’s this movie coming out soon called Taichi O . . .
From IMDB: Young genius Yang Luchan travels to Chen Village to learn the forbidden secrets of martial arts, but quickly learns that the village is menaced by a formidable battalion of Steampunk soldiers. The villagers realize that in order to save their home, they must trust this strange outsider with their knowledge of Tai Chi.
I love that the hero of this movie, Yang_Lu-ch’an, was a real person, an influential martial artist who lived from 1799-1872. For me, steampunk works better when wrapped around historical people, places, and events. I’m trying to work out exactly why I feel this way. (Maybe because technofantasy tends to drift off into isn’t-this-cool gadgetry unless grounded in the gnarly power relations and other unpleasant realities of the 19th century, or something.)
Anyway, steampunk soldiers versus soft-style martial arts FTW!
Click here to watch the trailer bigger, better, steampunkier.
PS This is not the first steampunk martial arts movie, by any means. That might be K-20, WHICH HAS A BIG-ASS TESLA CANNON IN IT. But there are no doubt earlier ones, depending on how much you’re willing to stretch the definition of steampunk.
