The Shaolin One details
| Format: | 12 LOVEFiLM Instant |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Hao Zhi Hua, Jet Li, Jing Jun Wang, Yu Shao Wen, Zhao Chang Jun, Li Zhi Zhou |
| Director: | Chia Hui Liu-Zhong Yi |
| Genre: | Documentary - Music |
| Collections: | Tenuous Numbers |
| Title | Runtime | Certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
The Shaolin One |
1hr 27 mins | 12 |
LOVEFiLM Instant Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 27 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | To be confirmed |
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Most helpful review
The Shaolin One
By spacespider (2 reviews) from Cornwall , 24 Aug 2010[Highly rated reviewer]
If you are a martial arts fan, practitioner or enjoy chinese history then this is worth watching. It came out in 1987 so it is not cutting edge but opens up china and it'd heritage quite a bit considering it has always been closed off until the last few years. It helps to understand why they have been so good in olympic sports and their success in holding them.
You will be able to see Jet Li as a young boy and see why he became what he is today. You will also be taken through the different styles of boxing, kung fu (and the animals they were based on), weapons and the family's, sacred mountains (regions along with there religious, spiritual and philosophical beliefs and practices), where these styles were born. You will meet older people in their 70's, 80's and even a one hundred year old gentleman who moves like he's in his thirties.
There is also a family who have incredible breath control and are able to move their breath/chi to various parts of their bodies, and are able to protect themselves from spear tips, swords and from having bricks broken across their backs. The father can even brake rocks with his fingers.
You also get to see parts of the national martial arts games in china, with some demonstrations.
The quality is a bit rough in parts and the narration is old fashioned, but this could be seen as the for runner to the 'mind, body and kick ass moves' TV series.
Give it a go.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(2)A rare gem of a film for kung fu connoisseurs
By FistOfTheWhiteLotus (1 review) from Sheffield , 21 Nov 2012The commentary is ridiculous, the production values sub-standard and the music repetitive yet this film remains a must see for martial arts' fans. All of the major styles (such as Shaolin boxing, praying mantis style, drunken boxing, eagle's claw, monkey boxing . . . ) are demonstrated, along with most of the weapons' forms, and some more obscure techniques - all performed by genuine kung fu masters.
There is no story-line, message or even point of view being delivered - just a tour of China showing kung fu as demonstrated by highly-skilled practioners accompanied by little snippets of history from the narration, which was clearly over-dubbed in English post-production and is for want of a better word appalling. At times the film loses focus or picture altogether and despite being made in 1987 feels at least ten years older. Yet none of this matters as the kung fu on display is so good.
Endure the narration (turn the volume off if it gets too irritating), ignore the picture quality issues and enjoy the pure skill and artistry of what you're being shown. The performers are not gymnasts, dancers or actors, they are masters who have dedicated their lives to their art - a fact which in itself makes this a rare gem of a film, containing some of the most proficient practioners of kung fu that I have ever seen.- Was this review helpful to you?
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The Shaolin One
By spacespider (2 reviews) from Cornwall , 24 Aug 2010If you are a martial arts fan, practitioner or enjoy chinese history then this is worth watching. It came out in 1987 so it is not cutting edge but opens up china and it'd heritage quite a bit considering it has always been closed off until the last few years. It helps to understand why they have been so good in olympic sports and their success in holding them.
You will be able to see Jet Li as a young boy and see why he became what he is today. You will also be taken through the different styles of boxing, kung fu (and the animals they were based on), weapons and the family's, sacred mountains (regions along with there religious, spiritual and philosophical beliefs and practices), where these styles were born. You will meet older people in their 70's, 80's and even a one hundred year old gentleman who moves like he's in his thirties.
There is also a family who have incredible breath control and are able to move their breath/chi to various parts of their bodies, and are able to protect themselves from spear tips, swords and from having bricks broken across their backs. The father can even brake rocks with his fingers.
You also get to see parts of the national martial arts games in china, with some demonstrations.
The quality is a bit rough in parts and the narration is old fashioned, but this could be seen as the for runner to the 'mind, body and kick ass moves' TV series.
Give it a go.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (3) Yes |
- No (0)
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