This DVD showcases a live stage performance by China's Shaolin Monks, who recently toured the world with acrobatic kung fu demonstrations. But the performance doesn't simply contain feats of strength and staged fights (although it does contain many of these)—it also tells the story of the Shaolin temple's history.

In all honesty, I found the dramatic sections of this show fairly tedious. After some initial kung fu acrobatics, I was somewhat disheartened to see the show detour into ponderous history lessons. I can imagine attending the live show and thinking, C'mon, show us some more bendy guys! Show us some more bald dudes balancing on spears! More fights, less drama! Isn't that what most of the audience is there for? Be honest. There's certainly an element of Barnum & Bailey to this presentation—an Asian echo of Cirque du Soleil.

Roughly half of the show is devoted to such history, with admittedly fine acrobatic choreography sprinkled throughout, as wushu warriors take turns demonstrating their strength and flexibility and focus. You might find yourself skimming through the drier sections in search of the fun stuff, most of which can be found in the second half. At about the hour mark, this DVD really gets going.

A series of strength demonstrations climax the show, and there are some monks here that defy the laws of anatomy and physics. The startling fact is that many of these performers are mere boys that have apparently lived their short lives without solid skeletal structures. In the place of bones, they must have flexible rubber rods. You also get the inevitable smacking of flesh against cement blocks common to this type of production, as well as many, many shots of monks gathering internal strength by furrowing their brow, whipping their arms about, and shouting "Hoy!" Some of the feats feel as staged as pro wrestling, but some seem eye-poppingly genuine.

Universal presents Shaolin: Wheel of Life in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen, which I found surprising. Most video-source stage shows come in fullscreen, so this was a pleasant discovery. The image quality is above-average, considering its video origins. However, the digital transfer shimmers with motion artifacts in just about every shot. Colors are bold but have a tendency to smear or bleed.

In general, the cameras are on the move, and the cuts come quick and urgent, seemingly at odds with the subject matter. These MTV-type cuts are more in tune with a Jerry Bruckheimer production.

The DVD contains a fairly impressive Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. Surround activity is focused on crowd noise and musical effect. Otherwise, the stereo imaging across the front is wide.

The primary extra is a 45-minute documentary called Enter the Shaolin. As this piece started up, I was somewhat alarmed that it would be a history of the Shaolin temple that basically repeated what I learned in the stage dramatization. Thankfully, after a few minutes of Zen Buddhism history lesson narrated by John Hurt, the documentary focuses on the creation of the show. The behind-the-scenes crew talks you through the challenges of auditions, choreography, and rehearsals. The video is non-anamorphic fullframe, but its image is detailed and bright.

There's also a photo gallery, and a text history of the Shaolin temple that's surprisingly brief.

If you're interested in kung fu or the history of the art, this one's a no-brainer. And even if you're not, there are some stunts on this disc that will surely impress you.