Customer Reviews

Shaolin Kung Fu [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not an action movie. This is a documentary about Martial Arts as practiced in the Shaolin temples. Many of the seemingly impossible moves are shown here without special effects. Some of the feats include, one finger handstand, breaking glass bottles with an open hand, withstanding kicks to the groin, pushing against the point of a spear with various parts of the body, having sticks broken across the throat, using the thigh as a cutting board and many more.

Jet Li shows up in this movie primarily as a commentator. He gives some of his personal history (The wushu tournaments) and philosophy (such as respect for elders). There are also some scenes from wushu tournaments in China, but the primary focus is on the training at the temple.

I can only give it 4/5 stars because the picture quality is not very good. But the content is great, just don't expect an action movie.

This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen on martial arts, and particularly, on Shaolin Kung-Fu. This documentary contains footage of some of the training methods of the Shaolin Monks, along with some of the more notably skilled Monks giving demonstrations of their great skill. A few of the more interesting examples are demonstrations of the "iron egg" skill, where the practicioner trains the groin area to become invulnerable, chi kung demonstrations of Monks breaking spears with their necks, and some really awesome displays of internal energy mastery where a monk breaks bricks, bottles, stones, bowls, etc, sometimes using only two fingers! After watching this documentary, I couldn't help but be completely amazed at how skillful and dedicated the Shaolin Monks are, and this documentary offers a very good glimplse into the lifestyle and training that makes the Shaolin Temple so revered and respected in the martial arts world. I really enjoyed watching this documentary, and I'm sure that anyone with an interest in martial arts demonstrations will love it as well. In addition, this documentary also includes some clips of Jet Li giving forms and weapons demonstrations, as well as some of his training footage. All in all, a really great buy for the martial arts enthusiast!

Not a movie, but documetary at best. Don't expect acting or high picture quality, just REAL Shaolin Monks at best, showing 72 of thier most honarable techiniques.

Also features Li as a young boy, simply amazing. A must have for TRUE Kung-Fu fans.

Great movie to appreciate the true art of Shaolin KungFu. Jet Li's kung fu is great and without tricks.

Jet Li barely appears in this documentary, but to be honest it doesn't need Jet to get its point across. The Shaolin monks have been practicing their martial arts for centuries, and this is a small window into what they put into their art. Wonderful film....

They should have indicated that this DVD is really a documentary on Jet Li's life as well as the life of the Shaolin Warrior Monks. Nonetheless, this is a great documentary on the life of the monks and if you are interested in their training methods and lifestyle, GET IT!

it was a great movie and a great actor

This isn't the same as Jet Li's Shaolin Temple movie - it's a cheapo documentary of Shaolin monks with godawful narration and subtitling. Not much Jet Li, and not much other interesting stuff. You get to see some monks get kicked in the groin and drag around giant stone rolling pins with their gonads, but that's not really what I want to see when I get a HK movie. Boo.

In the terms of action, this movie is fulfilling; a prime example of Li's famous agility and power. The only thing keeping this disc from being of 5-star quality is the somewhat mediocre acting. Don't get me wrong, it's better acting than some martial arts movies display, but the acting gives it the feel of a "generic kung-fu" movie at times. However, in the end it is worth watching and for the true Jet Li fan, it should be a part of your collection.

it was a great movie and a great actor