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.
Comment
03/25/08
Rate this Movie 
The Year of the Yao (2005)
66
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:21
Rotten:11
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: This sports bio documentary is given a few fresh angles, including culture clash issues, and the friendship that develops between Yao and his interpreter.
Theatrical Release:2005
Synopsis: This documentary tells a unique story of Eastern and Western cultures merging within the world of professional basketball. Yao Ming, the seven-feet-six-inches-tall athlete who is a star in his... [More]
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for The Year of the Yao
Top CriticBy playing up the hoopla and glitz, the filmmakers have created a vacuum at its center.
03/01/07
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.
01/19/07
there's plenty to see in this engaging film
03/18/06
...a particularly crude sales job.
08/10/05
Click to read the article
08/07/05
Should be a natural for NBA fans and please non-enthusiasts as well.
08/05/05
Top CriticClick to read the article
08/05/05
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.
08/04/05
Top Critic[A] glorified infomercial.
08/04/05
There appears to be much more to Yao than is captured here. That's where the movie drops the ball.
07/22/05
Top CriticA 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.
07/15/05
Top CriticSporadically charming basketball documentary.
07/07/05
Easily the best basketball film I've seen in years.
05/16/05
The movie's focus on Yao is limited by his lack of narrative abilities.
05/09/05
Sure, it's fun to watch big-screen close-ups of Yao battling with O'Neal, though it feels like another ESPN special.
05/06/05
Top CriticFrom language barriers to international political barriers, Yao promises something most documentaries miss entirely -- insight and hope.
05/06/05
There's not much else of interest going on.
05/06/05
Top Critic...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...
04/29/05
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.
04/28/05
Latest News for The Year of the Yao
September 19, 2006:
Yao Ming Turns Down "Rush Hour 3"
Brett Ratner can cross out yet another celebrity from his dream cast for "Rush Hour 3." In an interview with a sports writer from a Chinese newspaper, it's revealed... More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Wes Anderson on Fox 
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Animated Oscar?
Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.
TIME's Holiday Movie Preview
Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.
Scenic Routes
The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds