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SHAOLIN (XIN SHAO LIN SI)Movie Reviews
Mandarin/Cantonese language action drama about two enemy generals whose war reaches the Shaolin Temple, where monks are ready to fight back. Cast:Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Jackie Chan, Fan Bingbing, Bai Bing, Wu Jing, Yu Shaoqun, Xiong Xinxin, She Yanneng, Shi Xiaohong, Chen Zhihui, Yu Hai, Runa ShimadaDirector:Benny ChanRelease Date:September 9, 2011DVD Release:October 25, 2011From:Variance FilmsRating:RLength:2 hr 10 min
OCTOBER 25, 2011
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si), Good (Not Great) Reviews Limited
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si) played in limited release to good not great reviews. • Mark Jenkins wrote for NPR, "...isn't quite distinct enough to stand apart from the many other Hong Kong and Chinese movies (including 'Internal Affairs') that riff on Buddhist precepts." • And Joe Neumaier wrote in the New York Daily News, "The epic feel to this Hong Kong action-drama helps balance a lack of hand-to-hand combat scenes." More Reviews Below...
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Rachel Saltz, New York Times: GOOD "Sadistic warlords square off against noble monks.... satisfying... fits in the more somber kung-fu tradition. But it also finds room for the genre's comic strain."(See all of Rachel Saltz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 355 words, 09/09/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a sprawling popcorn blast of action kept spinning with crazy cool kung fu, tons of fake spurting blood and slacker improvised, or inspired, U.S. subtitles."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 09/09/11
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...features stylishly filmed and choreographed battles. But in between the set pieces is a lot of sentimental blather... More action, less talk..."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 232 words, 09/09/11
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "Some vigorous fight scenes hardly compensate for the basely pious drama, spurred along by a fetish for child endangerment and slo-mo martyrdom."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 09/07/11
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Stan Hall, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "...bloody, battle-packed export from Hong Kong action guru Benny Chan is a new epic striving for that classic vibe of earlier movies centered around Shaolin Temple."(See all of Stan Hall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 91 words, 09/16/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (3 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "Some vigorous fight scenes hardly compensate for the basely pious drama, spurred along by a fetish for child endangerment and slo-mo martyrdom."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 09/07/11
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...director Benny Chan stages ambitious and enthralling set pieces... [but also] opts shamelessly for tiresome symbolism and a saggy middle section..."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 606 words, 09/04/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Rachel Saltz, New York Times: GOOD "Sadistic warlords square off against noble monks.... satisfying... fits in the more somber kung-fu tradition. But it also finds room for the genre's comic strain."(See all of Rachel Saltz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 355 words, 09/09/11
Mark Jenkins, NPR: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...isn't quite distinct enough to stand apart from the many other Hong Kong and Chinese movies (including 'Internal Affairs') that riff on Buddhist precepts."(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 542 words, 09/08/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a sprawling popcorn blast of action kept spinning with crazy cool kung fu, tons of fake spurting blood and slacker improvised, or inspired, U.S. subtitles."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 09/09/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Russell Edwards, Daily Variety: FAIR "Yarn about the spiritual redemption of a warlord fails to capitalize on Andy Lau and Jackie Chan's star power and the acrobatic support of real Shaolin monks."(See all of Russell Edwards's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 656 words, 01/31/11
Maggie Lee, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "...elevated by its emotional complexity but simultaneously dragged down by the relative shortage of propulsive, hardcore action."(See all of Maggie Lee's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 882 words, 07/13/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a sprawling popcorn blast of action kept spinning with crazy cool kung fu, tons of fake spurting blood and slacker improvised, or inspired, U.S. subtitles."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 09/09/11
Rachel Saltz, New York Times: GOOD "Sadistic warlords square off against noble monks.... satisfying... fits in the more somber kung-fu tradition. But it also finds room for the genre's comic strain."(See all of Rachel Saltz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 355 words, 09/09/11
17.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si)'s reviews are separated by an average 17.5 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si) (11 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si)'s reviews cover 14.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 4,571 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 416 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 9 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si)'s reviews on average broke 9 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Shaolin (Xin Shao Lin Si) (11 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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