Shaolin

If the movie feels old-school (with new-school production values), consider its pedigree. It's no wonder: Shaolin is a reimagining of the 1982 "Shaolin Temple," in which Jet Li made his debut.

Shaolin is simultaneously regal and stilted, stirring and sluggish.

Jackie Chan's cameo as a monastery cook is a tiny joy. To see Chan use his once-great physical skill on a hunk of bread dough is to see a giant work in miniature.

This new movie features stylishly filmed and choreographed battles. But in between the set pieces is a lot of sentimental blather that slows down the film. More action, less talk should be the order of the day, but it isn't.

Well-mounted Chinese-Hong Kong martial-arts co-production Shaolin elevates enlightenment above brute strength, but weak helming undercuts the pic's punch.

Only Jackie Chan, in a comedic supporting role as a Zen-trained cook who applies his culinary techniques on the battlefield (he "stir-fries" one enemy in a giant pot and "kneads" another like dough), provides any measure of relief.

This crude, overlong chunk of kung-fu kitsch lays its scene in a 1920s Republican China, torn by internecine fighting and weighed down by drably expensive production design.

Benny Chan's Shaolin is a solid film for those seeking a good martial arts drama. The film is not as action-packed as some may hope but there's enough fighting to appease the majority while Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse deftly portray the battle of forgiveness in the face of ruthless betrayal. While the pacing falters at times and some of the characters could have used some more depth, the film is still quite enjoyable and well worth seeing if you get the opportunity during its theatrical release.