James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo's taut, engrossing 2004 documentary on Chinese basketball player Yao Ming's first year in the NBA offers insight into the game and its stars.

| Mar 25, 2008

The film never feels like some sort of shill, but an actual historical document of this strangest of cultural immersions for a national superstar.

| Original Score: A- | Jun 21, 2007

By playing up the hoopla and glitz, the filmmakers have created a vacuum at its center.

| Mar 1, 2007

The film is happily as fast paced as the sport of basketball itself: there are no bearded, stuttering academics discussing any aspect of the story.

| Original Score: B | Jan 19, 2007

there's plenty to see in this engaging film

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 18, 2006

...a particularly crude sales job.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 10, 2005

Should be a natural for NBA fans and please non-enthusiasts as well.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 5, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 5, 2005

As bright and shiny as you would imagine something co-produced by NBA Entertainment to be, The Year of the Yao provides little insight beyond hanging out with its super-sized star.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 4, 2005

[A] glorified infomercial.

Full Review | Aug 4, 2005

There appears to be much more to Yao than is captured here. That's where the movie drops the ball.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jul 22, 2005

A surprisingly layered portrait of a rookie with the hopes of a nation -- a big nation -- riding on his shoulders, and the frustrations and small victories that entails.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 15, 2005

Sporadically charming basketball documentary.

| Original Score: B- | Jul 7, 2005

Easily the best basketball film I've seen in years.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 16, 2005

The movie's focus on Yao is limited by his lack of narrative abilities.

| May 9, 2005

Sure, it's fun to watch big-screen close-ups of Yao battling with O'Neal, though it feels like another ESPN special.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 6, 2005

From language barriers to international political barriers, Yao promises something most documentaries miss entirely -- insight and hope.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 6, 2005

There's not much else of interest going on.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 6, 2005

...while their subject is amiably charismatic, the filmmakers fail to fully get beneath his skin. Still...it's a sports documentary that can be enjoyed by anyone...

| Original Score: B | Apr 29, 2005

The excitement on the court and the banter and good-natured ribbing in the locker room is handled by the book by the behind the camera crew.

| Original Score: B | Apr 28, 2005