The Shaolin Temple

Rating:
Summary: the beginning
Review: World Video has released this on dvd AND vhs, and- for no apparent reason- put the widescreen print on the VHS edition and the fullscreen edition on DVD. Same holds true for "Kids from Shaolin", which is part two in the trilogy completed by "Martial Arts of Shaolin". These were Jet Li's first films and are stellar in their representation of the arts and the actors' talents, but the fullscreen format- in my humble opinion- compresses the picture and you don't get to see the range of action afforded in the widescreen format. The quality of the film transfer between the DVD and VHS editions is comparable, same for sound, so if you're a widescreen [fan] you might go ahead and hunt down a copy on tape AND dvd. If you can ascertain that the edition you are buying IS in fact manufactured by World Vision, then the tape should be widescreen, per any copies I've seen for sale and rent on a store shelf.
I don't work for World Vision, but I own the two formats and was miffed to find the dvd in FULLSCREEN- alone and as part of the "Jet Li Action 3-pak". Picky viewers be warned!!!