Don't expect to learn too much, but prepare to be entertained.

This "documentary" about the origins of kung fu is interesting, but it is certainly no documentary.  And it's not all about Jet Li.  There is footage of Jet Li as a child, performing at various competitions, and some shots of him with his family. The closing segment has Jet Li doing "Drunken Sword Fist", a style I'd seen only in Jackie Chan's famous Drunken Master films.

The bulk of this movie is simply various kung fu students and masters demonstrating their skills, at a variety of locations and schools.  A long central segment is devoted to the more exotic kung fu skills - chi levitation, wall scaling, tree punching, etc.  The customary (and distracting) HK-movie kung fu sound effects have been overdubbed, and some of the footage has been sped up.  And, while there is no plot per se, some kind of love story is attempted between the two narrators. Weird.

So don't expect to learn too much, but prepare to be entertained.

Mandarin-language cinema across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore explores historical reflection, cultural identity, and personal sacrifice, often expressed through poetic visuals and sweeping narratives. In Mainland China, this takes the form of allegory and large-scale epics that reflect on national history. Taiwan emphasizes intimate modernist realism, generational change, and the search for identity. Singapore contributes stories of migration, multiculturalism, and the negotiation of tradition in a globalized city.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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Jet Li is among those featured in this exploration of the history and practise of China's martial arts.

Jet Li and Louis Fan in Dragons of the Orient (1988)

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Dragons of the Orient

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