Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu about ancient life force has some language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Power of Chi
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE POWER OF CHI begins with big claims and vague statements about chi, the Chinese word for a combination of life force, breathing, movement, posture, and intent. We hear narrator Morgan Freeman and others offer such nuggets as, "Harmony beats intensity." "Consciousness is not matter—it is formless." "Injuries heal like when you were young." "Our bodies are filled with energy but it's blocked; the key is to get the body out of the way" so the mind can work. This extraordinary power, we're told, is "open to anyone willing to put in the time." And, most poetically, "Chi is like the wind: You can't see it or touch it, but you can feel it and see its effects." Adam Mizner, a tai chi teacher who shows how relaxing his body allows him to take the energy of professional athletes and turn it against them, says that such strength can be achieved by anyone who studies and practices. The invited athletes—a kickboxer, a former linebacker, a former NBA star, a four-time world's strongest man—ooh and aah as Mizner easily leans a finger on his large opponents and strategically changes the direction he seemed to start pushing them in. That throws them off balance and makes it seem as if Mizner is more powerful.
Is It Any Good?
The Power of Chi starts with a line that can only be described as important-sounding mumbo jumbo. The director says, "I've always wanted to be able to irrefutably show there exists a force here on earth that is of a far higher level and more powerful than what most people believe is attainable." How does he know what most people believe is attainable? And "a far higher level and more powerful" than what? Next, we hear about the Star Wars movie franchise and the phrase "May the force be with you," as if the existence of a movie franchise helps prove the existence of magical powers for humans. There is no doubt that people who train in martial arts can achieve wondrous abilities, but the demonstrations here feel like a series of party tricks. A small man pushes and pulls a larger man at will in a way that has no practical use in real life. If athletes could use a power Chinese people unleashed three thousand years ago, why aren't the NFL and NBA training all their athletes in it?
A good guess is that possibly this cute little trick won't make athletes better at what they do. If Mizner challenged World's Strongest Man Brian Shaw to a weight-lifting contest and beat him at that, at least the strength comparison would be apples-to-apples. Note that veteran tai chi and martial arts teacher Rob Poyton is also skeptical. After seeing a trailer for this movie, he went to the trouble to create a short video showing that the way Adam Mizner moves big strong people has little to do with chi as a form of power and a lot to do with the biomechanics of pushing over a large, muscularly tense person.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what to make of demonstrations that may not actually prove what they claim to prove.
Apart from pushing strong athletes off their feet, what ways do you think chi could be used in a practical way?
Where could you go to learn more about chi?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 25, 2025
- Director : David Grovic
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief sports violence and language
- Last updated : March 11, 2025
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