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THE YEAR OF THE YAO comes out soon. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner saw an advance screening. Here's his take on the film.

One of the most fascinating and anticipated entrances to the NBA in recent years took place in June of 2002. Yao Ming, the most celebrated basketball player ever from Asia, was drafted into the league. Standing 7-5, Yao had been predicted by InsideHoops.com and most major media outlets to be the first player to be selected in the draft, so it was no surprise that the Houston Rockets, armed with a capable backcourt in Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, lacking a great big-man, with ownership of the #1 pick, took him.

THE YEAR OF THE YAO documents Yao Ming's transition from China into daily life in the NBA and America throughout his first season in the league. The documentary also focuses heavily on Yao's new America-born translator, Colin Pine. A former student who had worked for a while, lived in Taiwan for a few years, and then recently decided to go to law school, 28-year-old Colin always loved Chinese culture and was fluent in the language. A friend's tip that the Rockets translator job was open led to Colin getting hired.

Colin and Rockets staff met Yao at the airport upon his arrival. Both 22-year-old Yao and the 28-year-old Colin, who looked about 18, were nervous, as their lives were changing in dramatic fashion.

From that point on, Colin became Yao's right-hand man. In everything, everywhere. The two were constantly with or near each other. Not just in basketball, but in life. And in the same house. Living with Yao in his new Houston home was Colin, as well as Yao's parents.

In THE YEAR OF THE YAO, Colin is almost as much of a focal point as Yao. Be prepared; you'll be seeing a lot of the two together. The movie focuses a lot on their friendship and working relationship. It's almost like THE YEAR OF THE YAO AND THE COLIN.

A telling scene early on in the movie was an honorary dinner in China, taking place after Yao had officially been drafted by the Rockets but before he left for America. A speaker reminders Yao that overseas he represents not just himself, but his friends and family, coaches and former teammates, as well as all of China.

From start to finish, there's plenty of amusing, quirky stuff to keep your attention.

In one scene, the Rockets wanted to use a fairly standard medical technique to make Yao feel a bit better after he was excessively banged up during a basketball game. Or as Colin, in amusing fashion, described it to Yao in Chinese: "They want to put electricity in you."

The movie's villains, if you want to call them that, are former NBA superstar and current television commentator Charles Barkley and current (at the time) Lakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal. Barkley, covering the NBA Draft, said that Houston shouldn't take Yao. Later, during the actual season, Barkley predicted little of Yao, and when he turned out to be wrong, a lost bet resulted in amusing jackass moments. It was sort of overblown, though. It's not like Barkley said Yao would be horrible. He just thought Yao would take a while to get good and reach certain milestones.

In reference to Yao, Shaq made some off-color remarks. THE YEAR OF THE YAO shows what went down, reveals how Yao reacted to the verbal jabs, and provides NBA game footage from when the two met on the court.

At the start of the season, Yao struggled. And with Chinese fans watching, in America as well as back in China, disappointment increased as he initially appeared unable to keep up with the speed, flash and intensity of NBA basketball. After all, Yao doesn't just represent the Houston Rockets. He's playing for the pride of China.

The difference in personality between Yao and almost NBA player shown in the movie is remarkable. While Yao is polite, shy and reserved, his teammates and other players met along the way are always yelling, screaming, joking, and clowning around, almost constantly. Meanwhile, Yao remains humble and modest, no matter how much attention he receives.

However, Yao's don't-disturb-anyone personality carried over onto the court. That's a bad thing. Teammates and coaches had to help him get more aggressive. He needed fire, hostility and intensity to compete at the required level. THE YEAR OF THE YAO gives us an up-close view of this problem.

There's also plenty of funny, goofy stuff: Yao learning to eat junky American food, wishing he was back in China so he could make proper Chinese food, responding to ridiculous jokes from teammates, dealing with the obsessive media, handling the madness of NBA All-Star Weekend, joking around with Colin, enjoying the fact that his home's doorways are high and don't force him to learn over to avoid hitting his head, and other such stuff.

As for basketball, the big battle of the film comes when Shaq and Yao face off on the court, more than once. The world was watching.

Produced by NBA Entertainment, THE YEAR OF THE YAO stays away from any potentially shady stuff. It's called an "incredible adventure," but it's really an athlete from China getting on a plane, flying to America, and learning to be a good NBA basketball player while dealing with the language barrier. It doesn't touch on whether or not the Shanghai Sharks, his team back in China, were in some way paid off in exchange for allowing Yao Ming to become an NBA player. We don't learn any juicy stuff about the Chinese government and their possible involvement. We aren't told of any insane, jealous people who may have been up to no good. Also, no real mention is made of the Chinese reporters that followed Yao around all the time as a Rocket. Shaq and Barkley's content provides the only "dirty" stuff.

Of course, Yao Ming happens to be as clean as a whistle. And genuinely nice. So, it's fitting that a documentary on him would follow suit, and stay PG while providing lots of goofy (in a good way), fun stuff.

THE YEAR OF THE YAO is basically a light, fluffy, promotional, fairly fun documentary. It's amusing, but not revealing. It's more about how Yao and Colin go out to eat together than hard-nosed, compelling stuff that would fascinate basketball fans.

Fans of the NBA will probably enjoy THE YEAR OF THE YAO, because it's quirky and fun.

Movie buffs who aren't really into basketball or the NBA still should enjoy it -- possibly even more than educated basketball fans -- because the real-life tale of a giant from the Orient learning to live the fast-paced, hectic, stress and pressure-filled life of a pro athlete is unique and fascinating. A mountain of a man with the hopes and dreams of Houston, China, and Chinese people around the globe resting on his shoulders, trying to do his job on a world stage while also figuring out what the heck "soul food" is.

And really, how often do you get to see what a living, breathing, 7-5 Chinese guy eats for lunch, or how he fits on a plane?

THE YEAR OF THE YAO movie opens in April of 2005.