Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

*Minor Spoilers*I love Jet Li and I love Martial Art films. The first Shaolin Temple is not one of my favorites, but at least it was proficient in its approach. I have no idea what they were going for here, but it's one of the stupidest martial art films I have ever seen, and I wasn't able to finish it all. What was with all the singing? This is not a musical, this is martial arts. It also was a little too weird for me. There are some traditions here that really raised my eyebrows. The kids encourage spankings from their Father, and a Mother gives birth continuously from what I saw. I realize that may be part of a tradition of sorts, but it didn't fly with me, and tuned me out even further. I'll continue. Jet Li's character is extremely silly. We do get some fight scenes, but I was so angry at what I was seeing, I wasn't able to enjoy them. Not everyone will feel the same way, but this is just too crazy for its own good.Final Thoughts: I'm not a big fan of the first one either, but it's at least proficiently done. I can't say the same for this one. One more sequel to go, and I'm not looking forward to it. Hopefully it's better than this crud3/10

Like the first Jet Li's movie, the Shaolin Temple (1979), this movie is also excellent in that all actors are professional martial arts athletes of Chinese national and provincial teams, including the boys and girls from the national/provincial junior teams. Hence, all moves are realistic and there is no stunts, no cranes, no cable, no fakes, and no special effects like Jet Li's later works such as Lethal Weapon 4. As martial arts flicks in China developed, it inevitably took the similar road to that of Hong Kong and Taiwan with increasing fakes, and earlier flicks like this is thus really a masterpiece in comparison.

I liked this movie. I did not in any way see how it was a sequel to "Shaolin Temple" though. It was funny, showed how human Jet Li is. It had some great fight scenes. The biggest downside to this movie was when the father of the Pheonix family finally got a boy and kissed him several times......If you see the movie you'll understand.

What this film lacks in plot, cunning script and subtlety, it more than makes up for in stunning Kung Fu action and amazing acrobatics from every member of the cast (however young). It's 'Romeo & Juliet'-esque storyline is cliched and quite predictable but the the film is worth a watch simply in order to wonder 'How did Jet Li do that?'.