Python Hyena Year of the Yao (2004): Dir: James D. Stern / Featuring: Yao Ming, Colin Pine, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Frank Deford: Year of humility. Year of perseverance. Year of the underdog. This tremendous documentary tells of a seven foot five Chinese male who is picked to perfect his basketball skills for the NBA. Yao Ming hits fame fast during the 2002 / 2003 season but his attitude is always out of love for the sport itself. Colin Pine is his interpreter who assists Yao not only with basketball terminology but also with the lifestyles of Americans. We learn of the encouragement of his coach who eventually announces his leave due to a cancer threat. Yao starts out rusty but with team support and spirit he is soon facing the famed Shaquille O'Neal on the court. It might have been great had viewers received the opportunity to see these two celebrated athletes face off on the court. This is a must-see for sports film lovers who will no doubt be impressed with this seven foot plus tall athlete and Hall of Famer. Director James D. Stern counters the repetitious structure with light humour as Yao struggles to adapt with great humility. Teammates, announcers and friends from his homeland voice their impression and enthusiasm over his success. It showcases hard work that pays off big time not just in success but also rewarding respect from peers and fans. Score: 9 / 10

Desertman84 The Year of the Yao is a documentary that tells the story of Yao Ming's first year in the United States, how he adapted to American basketball, his relationship with his family and teammates, and what his success means to fans in the United States and China.It is narrated by his friend and former interpreter Colin Pine, who stayed with Yao during his rookie year, and interpreted for him for three years.While the traditional American stereotype of people from China portrays them as short, studious, and not especially athletic, Yao Ming breaks the stereotype considering that he stand seven foot six.He became the most talked about player in professional basketball when he signed to play with the Houston Rockets in 2002.He was largely unknown when he first suited up with the Rockets, and many were skeptical about his abilities, especially when he displayed an unsure command of the American style of basketball in his early games. But he adjusted and worked hard and by the end of the season he was proving his detractors wrong when he emerged as an NBA superstar.Among them player-turned- sportscaster Charles Barkley, who once on air promised to kiss the rear end of one of his fellow television commentators if Yao ever scored 19 points in a game and had to make good on the pledge when Yao managed the feat. Yao's story plays like the stuff of Hollywood fiction, from his disastrous debut to his emergence as a bona-fide NBA superstar of Shaq proportions. This Yao Ming documentary is the real thing, a satisfying chronicle of the international superstar's tumultuous rookie year. It is doubtful that any NBA player had to withstand the type of scrutiny that the 22- year-old Chinese NBA superstar endured. The first-overall draft pick in 2002, the NBA's first Chinese player was expected to make the Houston Rockets an instant playoff team, though he was unaccustomed to the speed and aggressiveness of American-style basketball. He was also seen as "a walking advertisement" and ambassador for expanding China's place on the world stage. Yao carried all the pressure aided immeasurably by Colin Pine, who put off law school to become his interpreter. Historical snapshots of China put Yao's story into cultural context, making it both compelling and entertaining even to those for whom basketball is foreign.

tnrcooper I saw this movie was produced by the NBA and thought it would be some typically slick merchandising PR, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's not overly thoughtful, but given the fact that it's done by the NBA, it offers a fairly insightful look into the life of Yao Ming and to a great degree his translator, Colin Pine. It tracks them and we get a good look at Yao's dry humor which has revealed itself over his stellar five plus years in the league. We see the crucial role which Pine plays in Yao's first year, perhaps more in helping Yao familiarize himself more culturally with the country. Yao seems to understand a fair amount of English from early on (those of us hoops fans remember his ability to understand spoken questions from reporters) even if he is less confident answering in English (as I can attest is a common occurrence from having taught English in a foreign country) but the cultural adaptations are more pronounced and Pine seems to be a great help to Yao, simply in offering moral support, and quite simply, a friend to a man in a new country. Yao is endlessly patient and puts up with all kinds of celebrity and fawning attention. The people in the basketball organization for which Yao works come across very well, understanding, before the media and many fans did, that Yao could really play. They are very supportive and generous and do what they can to make the big man feel at home. Watching basketball as much as I do, I remember this comradery and watching Yao, realizing that for such a big man, he had a very sensitive touch around the basket and very soft hands which would serve him well in the NBA. That said, you don't need to know a thing about basketball or Yao Ming in order to enjoy this film. It's essentially the story of a man adapting to some serious culture shock, in the midst of about the brightest klieg light imaginable from the media, and doing it about as gracefully as possible.

dennis medilo I found the movie quite entertaining, and also informative. Funny, but entertaining. Cleverly done, and well-written. Too bad this film focused only on Yao Ming's rookie season and not his other succeeding seasons. And because it focused on his freshman year only, it kind of gave the film an 'old' feel, not exactly up-to-date. After all, we're in 2005, and Yao entered the NBA in 2002. Still, I'd have to say this documentary was one heck of a ride. I also liked the way the guys behind the making of this film, gave it a really personal touch, not just portraying Yao as the basketball player, but also portraying Yao as a person. But my favorite part of the movie was when Charles Barkley had to 'kiss' some donkey's posterior live on TV, as part of the bet he had against fellow TV commentator Kenny Smith that Yao could never score even 19 points in a single game. As an NBA fan, naturally I would tend to like the movie. But I liked the movie, period. Coz it's fun. Really nice.