Kung fu
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Movie Reviews of Kung fu
Movie Review: 'Hustle' To "Kung-Fu', A Funny, Tarantinoesque Spoof
Summary: 5 Stars
First, let me say that I am glad that Buster Keaton and Quentin Tarantino have finally teamed up. It's one of the things I've been waiting for for a while. I enjoyed "Kung-Fu Hustle" for the first two acts. The last act, however, falters when it tries to become one extended fight scene. Everything preceding that is like the old Looney Tunes cartoons, and the last act is full of delimbings and decapitations, and a ton of blood. I felt that the excessive violence, although a little too much when one character is bludgeoned so much that brain is exposed, was still entertaining and did not take the movie down or anything, like it may have in any other film. I really liked how the movie, although set in the 1930's , feels like it takes place in the 1800's. I loved the exterior shots and how the cars looked so bright they looked practically computer-generated. Some aspects of the film work well, others work wonderfully, and some work just alright. One scene in the film reminded me of "Kill Bill", and that is the battle sequence where one man faces about 100 guys, and he scares them all away. I have to say that this may be one of the best choreographed, best edited, best spoofing fil so far this year. It's not the best. It's not the worst. It's a very good movie.
Stephen Chow plays Sing, a Japanese man who apparently has no job, and wants to be a member of the Axe Gang, a group of toughs who swing axes and stick their victims in the most uncomfortable places. Sing's first place that he sets for a takedown is Pig Sty Alley, an impoverished section of China. It is run by a tough landlady who enjoys beating on her hubby, a cheating landlord who likes to give women "Full body exams". Sing attracts the Axe Gang to the Alley, and an 80 minute battle ensues.
See this film if you feel like watching an entertaining and thoroughly pleasing action-comedy-spoof.
Rated R.
Movie Review: The Best of Both Worlds...Comedy and Action in Great Form
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen Chow's past films have been "good". While they typically displayed some very enjoyable if goofy martial arts scenes, much of the humor was lost on Western audiences. The movies probably played very well to the original Asian audiences.
Kung-Fu Hustle is a new beast. The humor present here is partly Asian, but it plays much better to a wider audience and includes so many obscure references to American movies that only a true movie buff will catch them all. Everybody I saw it with in the theater was laughing their heads off for a majority of the run time. Suffice if to say, the comedy works with full force.
In addition, the martial arts scenes are fantastic. As comical as the movie can be, some of the fight scenes were pure art (the one with the "instrument" struck me in particular). The choreographer, Yuen Wo Ping, is the same guy who did the fight scenes for the Matrix movies.
Some people complain that the movie has no plot. This is only true in the sense that before the final scene (if you don't look at your watch, which you won't) you won't know when the movie is going to end. That is, the plot doesn't have a pace where you can see a very clear exposition, build-up, and ending. I found this to be a strength rather than a weakness. I was so wrapped up in enjoying every scene as it came; I didn't want it to end, and the fact that the plot didn't have a pace that revealed the end was near just allowed me to enjoy each scene more.
Stephen Chow has been funny in the past, but his work has reached a new level. If you saw Shaolin Soccer, think of this as Shaolin Soccer times 10. This is a movie that all audiences should enjoy. I'm seriously chomping at the bit for a chance to go see it again.
Movie Review: Kung Fu Hustle Is Super Duper
Summary: 5 Stars
'Kung Fu Hustle' personifies why Asian cinema is some much more exciting, original, and flat-out better than just about anything that American film studios release in this day and age of bland remakes, Vin Diesel action crapfests, and Ashton Kutcher comedies.
Being a big Asian cinema fan, I had the Chinese release DVD of 'Kung Fu Hustle' about six months ago, but that didn't stop me from going and seeing it on the big screen. I won't recap the film's plot because its already been spat out dozens of times in many other reviews here but to put it quickly: think 'Looney Toons' meets 'The Matrix'. The action scenes are wildly inventive, the comedy guffaw-worthy, some very funny violence(mostly cartoony and nothing you couldn't really show the kids)and the entire thing is filled with some of the most memorable characters you have ever seen. Not to mention probably the finest CGI I've ever seen in a film.
I'm a huge Stephen Chow fan and I will recommend all of his films, many of which you can pick up right here on Amazon or on some great Asian film sites(AZNfilms.com or HKFlix.com). This film is just as good, if not a smidge better than 'Shaolin Soccer'.
On a sidenote: Check out Chow's 'King Of Comedy', which he made right before 'Shaolin Soccer'. It doesn't have the hyper-kinetic pacing or amazing CGI of either '...Soccer' or '...Hustle', but if you liked them you'll also like this one. I personally think its his funniest film.
Anyways, from the first frame to the last, 'Kung Fu Hustle' is endlessly inventive, entertaining, mindblowing, hilarious, and wonderful. Its films like this that make going to the theatre exciting again.
Movie Review: What a Funny, Original and Fantastic movie experience
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of Stephen Chow for more than ten years and I have to give him props. If you think he is funny in this movie you'll be surprised at how much more hiliarious he usually is because this is considered one of his more dramatic roles! Fans should check out "God of cookery" which can easily translate to western audiences. "Royal Tramp" and the sequel are classics and my personal favorites although I would recommend those for adventurous viewers.
There absolutely is a plot to this movie for the reviewer that said there is not.
Spoiler ~
The conflict between Sing choosing the gang or helping the people. Finding out that when he was young he tried to be good and was humiliated which is why he so desperately wants to join the gang because he thinks that good people don't get anywhere.
An example of the heart in this movie is the scene where Sing finally sees the girl in front of the candy store and instead of the usual Hollywood, run into each others arms and make out scene, the camera pans around them in a circular motion and by the time the circle is complete they have reverted back into children and walk hand in hand into the store.
Props also to Yeun Wo Ping for the choreography, the acting is really good and the soundtrack is well put together. This movie has a very stylish look with vivid colors and surprisingly good CGI. The subtitles are also very well translated.
I am happy that Stephen Chow is finally getting the recognition that he deserves because he is truly a comedic genius. And now a great director, writer and producer as well.
Keep up the good work Stephen!
Movie Review: This movie has everything!
Summary: 5 Stars
Absolutely everything!
-- Better fights scenes than The Matrix
-- Better attitude than Men in Black
-- Better chase scenes than Roadrunner and Coyote
-- Better dialog than the Three Stooges
-- Better sets than The Honeymooners
The "Axe" gang moves into town, a bad-axe bunch with lines like "I'm the bad guy!" They attack the old order, en masse, with hatchets, tommy guns, tuxedos, and top hats. Once they control everything worth having, they move into the poor section, called the Pig Sty. People here make humble livings when they can, as a noodle chef, coolie, or foppish tailor raising the hem just a bit for Bucktooth Jane's attempts at selling herself (or offering short-term rentals).
They picked the wrong chef, laborer and - in their words - fairy. These men (more or less men, anyway) have mastered mysterious martial arts, and promptly kick the goobers out of a half-hundred or so bad guys. The first round of heroes falls, but more and stronger take their places. Watch The Landlady - watch her landing, especially, after she evades a truck in that road chase. Then watch her loud Capri pants in the penultimate fight against The Beast. The ultimate battle comes after that, but I'll leave it for you to discover.
I can't think when I last laughed that hard at a movie. It's a self-concious send-up of so many stereotypes I lost count of them all. Heck, I probably didn't even know what half of them were, in the Chinese idiom, but the satire was broad enough to enjoy anyway.
This is insanely funny. Just take it as it comes, and try not to hurt yourself laughing.
//wiredweird