For unsophisticated viewers who are not particularly interested in the culture of China, the film "Shaolin Monks: The Wheel of Life" is sure to look very refined. It's a shame, but very few townsfolk are watching the film, perhaps because they do not particularly understand this genre, although they are not much more often in the theater. Especially popular is not even the advertised musical "Cats", but its specificity differs significantly from the performance about kung fu monks from Shaolin. This is understandable: singing in English, make up actors are perceived by the spectator unprepared mind much easier than screaming incomprehensibly that bald Chinese novices. The whole world has long known how the Shaolin monks look. Their photos, by the way, are quite aggressive and very unlike their emotionality for the stereotype that has developed in the brain thanks to our Slavic mentality. Shaolin monks practice kung fu, dress in orange and almost spit in the face of the laws of gravity, which is interesting in itself.
Such strange, dangerous and dissimilar to us Chinese
All the action of the film is reminiscent of the performance of the Chinese circus. Hardly twisted plot there is no trace, but quite a lot of beautiful music and amazing acrobatic stunts. The only thing that the film performance "Shaolin monks" can boast of, so it's a hint at a deep historical plot. There is no acting as such, it is not implied, because the emphasis is on the continuous demonstration of kung fu techniques. The plot line is seen there very schematically and with great difficulty. A decent part of the action that the skitniks did was left a mystery to the viewer. With all due respect to Chinese culture, language and traditions, it may appear several times seriously that some performers of leading roles suffer from an epileptic fit. Although, maybe all the Shaolin monks are so eccentric, and this behavior helps them to win in fights.
Eccentricity is almost always a guarantee of success
Especially very impressive are the very small pupils of the monastery, who write such pirouettes on the stage that the viewer only has time to lift the jaw from the floor. Respect for their colorful activities during viewing wakes up as if by itself, and not too clear moments do not spoil the overall impression. Strange fact: of what the Shaolin monks are doing on the stage, it was the British who guessed that the movie was made. At the beginning of the film's narration, a good British announcer slightly introduces the uninitiated viewer to the course of the matter, but when the main action begins, he stops for a long time. It would be much clearer if the voiceover, at least sometimes somehow commented on what was happening, then the impression would have been fuller. Unambiguously, this creation can be safely recommended for viewing by those who are interested in martial arts, culture of China or the East in general, as well as for all fans of an unusual format.
Total
The film performance "Shaolin Monks: The Wheel of Life" can be called a strange, but very entertaining and worthy representative of the genre. I would like to someday get an opportunity to see something like this on a real scene, and not on a small monitor of an old computer.