Shaolin
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Martial arts epic is more violent than others in the genre.
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What's the Story?
In the early days of the Chinese Republic, a warlord, General Hou (Andy Lau), and his sworn brother, Cao Man (Nicholas Tse), ravage the land, conquering, stealing, and slaughtering as they go. Lusting for more power, Cao arranges to betray his old friend through a staged assassination -- in the violence, Hou's daughter is killed. Hou finds himself lost, wanted by his former men, and gravely injured. A cook (Jackie Chan) at the nearby Shaolin temple rescues him and nurses him back to health, and Hou soon finds that the monks' belief in Martial Zen helps him let go of his hatred. Unfortunately, Cao still has some evil plans up his sleeve.
Is It Any Good?
The movie's well executed, and it has many dazzling moments, but that's not enough to vault it to the top of the heap. Big, historical martial arts epics have been making money in China, so there are a lot of them; SHAOLIN is one of several to make the leap to the United States. Director Benny Chan, who's best known for some of Jackie Chan's more recent films, simply doesn't have the grace or style of someone like Yuen Woo Ping (True Legend) or John Woo (Red Cliff).
The plot has very few surprises, and Benny Chan's direction doesn't seem to get inside the material. However, Jackie Chan brings some warm energy to his supporting role -- a rarity for this big star -- and turns in a delightfully self-effacing performance. The character's "coming out" sequence is truly wonderful. In the other roles, while Tse doesn't bring much depth to his sneering villain, star Lau -- with his handsomely angular face -- gives a fine performance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does it compare to other martial arts movies? What about to horror movies? How are certain scenes different from others?
Why would the Shaolin monks practice fighting and martial arts when they're dedicated to compassion? Can violence lead to peace?
The cook learns to believe in himself by using skills he already had in new ways. What skills do you have that could be used in more active or more positive ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 9, 2011
- On DVD or streaming: October 25, 2011
- Cast: Andy Lau, Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse
- Director: Benny Chan
- Studios: Variance Films, Well Go USA
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 131 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence
- Last updated: March 25, 2023
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