Strong and Moving!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Bruce Lee introduced us to Gung Fu way back in the early 1960's. His approach eschewed what he termed "the classical mess" and opted instead for a practical, down-to-earth method of hand-to-hand combat. One need only sit through any one of the no-holds-barred competitions that abound these days to grasp what he meant. Still, there's a breathtaking beauty to the Martial Arts as practiced by adherents to "the old ways" that the more workmanlike method(s) sorely lack. The discipline alone is a thing of great (inner) beauty. The mind, the body, and the spirit become one. It is to be envied. This documentary demonstration is a thing to marvel at. I was in awe, and I've been keeping a close eye on all things Kung Fu for decades. If your desire is to excel at streetfighting, settle for the aforementioned martial sports shows; if, however, you would aspire to something more, marvel at these Martial ARTS.

This is not a documentary, sorry for Nick Morris! Even he did a great job filming it! If not really a documentary, in the meaning of that word, it is more... To describe what these performers-monks do with their body and Shaolin Wu Shu is a waist of time... You must see that show at any cost!But, you folks, you like guns and blood or anything of this kind, you'll be strongly disappointed... The ones who died, are killed in a way you don't fear for them, you know it's a harmless drama ! Me? I like that way...The show of the Shaolin Monks is in the perfect spirit of Martial Arts... with the deep understanding of what they are... and what only they should be :Not for fighting, but for increasing the inner spirit, and the body abilities and technical skills... the fights are just the side aspects of the practice, for checking the efficiency! About the show itself, al contrario to the other reviewers, for me, everything is just perfect! Music doesn't prevail the action, and yes, with their weapons too, they are not only good, the are fantastically hot!Even in a different optic, it has the same quality as Alegria's Cirque du Soleil, it is just amazing and incredible... It doesn't make you smile, no, but most of the time you could stay mouth opened... saying wow!!! and personally, considering myself as a very demanding critic, it is seldom and difficult to bring me in that state of mind... I like, generally speaking, martial arts quality movies... this one is not a movie, but mainly a full acrobatic martial art show! Yes, the simple plot has definitively no importance... because the action play and the technical skill is too superb...By chance, this show "falled in my hand" .... astonished and very glad, I told myself not to be lazy and comment it... so, if this review may help to look at "Shaolin Wheel of Life", I'm glad having taken time to write this down... Otherwise... sorry for you, not for me, I'm still enchanted...

This is not a good documentary about the Shaolin style nor is it a movie with some fancy storylineWhat this is is just a spectacular show by Shaolin Monks doing things that are just unbelievable.If you like martial arts movies and "crazy" Asian stunts, this show will show you lots of this stuff happening in real time.. Some fights these monks show up is just like looking at a great martial arts movie =)The only real bad thing about this is the slow motion effects and some bad cutting here and there.. but don't let that come in your wayIts an fantastic show made by fantastic Monks showing off what they can do with their bodies.How they handle different weapons is just fantastic.. you have to see it to believe it.Some things I strongly suggest that you NOT try to attempt at home =)

This movie/documentary is the Shaolin Monks own account of one of the most cinematically repeated events in history, the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. There have been dozens if not hundreds of films, both accurate and wildly inaccurate, about the events leading up to the destruction and creation of the 'five ancestors'Though this had the potential to become the definitive show about Shaolin, it is let down by horrible editing and the addition of slow motion to further create a sense and feel of otherworldliness the movement and style of the monks possess. The stage show itself is absolutely spectacular, and is a must see. This documentary style rendition of the show however leaves much to be desired.4/10