It is a great movie, even better than I expected. There are so many scenes worth mention. Here is one: It was the 1st game between Yao and Shaq (Was that a Satuday or Sunday morning in China?). A lot of Chinese fans in Shanghai were watching either at home or at sport bar. When end of the regulation, the game was tied (at 92?). Lakers tried to beat the buzzer. All the fans just jump up and down yelled '... Doesn't count! Doesn't count...'. And at one moment, Shaq went through Yao for a dunk. There was no call. One young female fan, obviously mad at the referee, protested loudly'...He pushed him!...' At the end, Rocket won. Several fans actually cried. It was like the Rocket just won a championship I thought 'Oh, man~~, Rocket got be happy for the fan base Yao brought along'. Hope they will have a DVD release. I'd recommend it to everyone.
Lol, indeed. I can soooo imagine the girl screaming "He pushed him!!! **** the referees. Cheating bastards!!!" lol But seriously, I certainly appreciate the fans Yao has brought in. Houston is certainly going to sell out every game this year.
beerghost: thanks for the rview. I too am lloking forward to seeing the film, but I have no idea when I will get the chance to watch in in Houston. I heard that the National Geographic Channel might air it.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040917/lf_afp/afplifestyle_canada_film_040917142036 Yao Ming opens his gilded cage on the silver screen TORONTO (AFP) - At 2.28 meters (seven feet six), Chinese basketball star Yao Ming has the hopes of 1.2 billion people on one shoulder and his sport's multi-billion-dollar dream of conquering his homeland on the other. It's a double burden which leaves Yao exhausted and torn between two masters, in a new documentary on his 2002-3 rookie year for the Houston Rockets in the US-based National Basketball Association. "I was caught between the expectations of China and Houston, the only thing I could do was forge ahead," the star says in "Year of the Yao," which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. That was before Yao discovered the true nature of his gilded cage, when he faced a string of advertising shoots as pitchman for the NBA and its corporate backers. The movie, a joint production of NBA Films, relates how China's communist authorities marked Yao out for stardom as a child and gave him little option to chose his own path. Authorities in Beijing clearly see Yao as a guinea pig for the country's foray into market economics, and there may be no better way to enter the hearts and minds of the mighty US consumer than through the NBA. "Yao Ming has played a very important role in expanding the cultural understanding of our two peoples," Yang Jiechi, China's ambassador to Washington says at the end of the movie. "Year of the Yao" takes as a theme the clash of cultures as Yao travels from his parents' tiny apartment in Shanghai to a spacious mansion home in the suburbs of Houston, and all the trappings of US consumer culture. Comedy generated by Yao's first visit to a "Taco Bell" fast food chain is salted by the star's distate for mass produced Western food, and dismay at being asked for autographs at every turn. Yao comes across as an intelligent figure of quiet dignity, bemused at the the huge egos of his jewelery-draped, preening NBA teammates. Ironically, "Year of the Yao" debuted here as Toronto's own NBA star Vince Carter demanded a trade from the hometown Raptors to another team. "It's time to look after me," Carter told the Toronto Star, with no apparent irony as he works through a 90 million dollar contract after missing a string of games through injury and failing to lead his team deep into the playoffs. "Year of the Yao" seems primarily designed to polish the image of the NBA's great Chinese idol, but perhaps unintentionally portrays him as much a pawn of the league's business strategy as a victim of China's expectation. Yao's multi-million dollar plight is reflected in his departure from his home on New Year's Eve for Los Angeles and an advertising shoot, and also at his exhaustion with the media circus at the NBA All Star game. The documentary's most gripping moments come in the showdown between the untested Yao and the most feared beast in the NBA jungle Shaquille O'Neal, then of the Los Angeles Lakers. Their bruising encouter is shown in stunning close up from a film camera apparently at floor level below the basket. But Yao's early success only stokes the pride of Shaq, who then dismantles his opponent, using his massive frame and a sharp elbow to jab him out of the lane. "Year of the Yao" had earlier shown how Yao struggled to adapt to the NBA, and tactics and teammates he couldn't understand. Lampooned by loudmouth pundit Charles Barkley, he struggled at first, but his determination, versatility and natural skill won out as he established himself and went on to qualify for the NBA all rookie team. One of the most interesting aspects of the film is Yao's growing trust of his rookie translator Colin Pine who not only translates language for Yao, but the bewildering new culture in which he finds himself. But at the end of the movie, the audience can only sympathise with the Chinese giant, who says at one point: "I felt that I was under water for some time and I can finally breathe."
So lazy Yao didn't show up to the filmfest to promote his movie/Documentary? I would expect him to head down here, promote the film and then head over to the US to check on his big toe and then to Houston all ready to begin the new season. Damn glad I didn't bought the ticket. I'll wait for this to come out on DVD if it's worth the watch.
So is this movie out for rent or buy on dvd b/c I don't see it in the paper as far as playing in theatres.
I doubt it will get a theater run, and in fact I heard that it will be on the National Geographic channel soon.
It will, as Fine Line Features got the distribution right of it, and probably will release it in the theatres. http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=19cba9e3756752df
