User reviews

This is one of the most richly imaginative, creative, downright enjoyable movies I've ever seen. I haven't enjoyed myself this much since Pulp Fiction.

It took me a while to figure out who the hero was. First I thought it was the barber guy who got himself constantly smacked about by the landlady. I suppose it's because he looked so dim, he therefore had to be a kung fu master in disguise. I've read some of the other posts, and everyone seems to think the knife scene was the funniest. I didn't expect to come to this movie for a laugh, but the knife scene almost killed me. Luckily it was just me and my friend in the movie theatre, so I could let it all out.

If you go to the movies to free your imagination, then this is the movie for you. Stay away from people who say it's far-fetched and unrealistic. If they want realism, they should go to the laundromat.

Kung Fu Hustle was one of the most visually imaginative and unique movies I have seen in quite some time. Upon first viewing the trailer, I thought we would have another Kung Pow: Enter The Fist on our hands but, boy, was I wrong. Unlike Kung Pow, the jokes did not grow tired on me and the special effects were definitely top notch. The scene with the two assassins playing that stringed instrument (don't know the name of it) in such a way that it kills was incredible.

Although there was not much to the story, it was not non-existent, either. There was a simple story happening which made sense for what we were watching. Even the jokes with the subtitles came across as funny, and from my experience, humor does not translate as easily as this movie would have you believe. It borrowed or spoofed a bit from Spider-Man and The Matrix as well, which was a bit unexpected for this film, initially. At least for me.

To be honest, I could enjoy this movie without sound or subtitles, too. It was that appealing to the eye. It would be a good background movie for a party or poker game which could catch your eye at any moment and still hold your attention. It could also be great if you feel like a good comedy. I was entertained throughout and even though I was dead tired when I saw it in the theater, it held my interest all the way to the end. 9/10

Before we went to see this movie we had heard about many good reviews of it. After spending approximate 100mins in the movie theater we were extremely satisfied and entertained. This movie is even better than we have expected. There were full of laughters almost from the beginning to the end in the theater.

Stephen Chow displays his talent as both a director and an actor. It maintains the previous Chow's style and humor as in other movies, such as "Xi Ju Zhi Wang" and "Xing Yun Yi Tiao Long", while those CGIs were not expected. In Chow's movie, what the Chinese people like is that it says no to super heroes. It just tells the stories of ordinary people, particularly those people leading insignificant and unsuccessful lives.

Several characters in this movie were played by popular Kung-Fu stars, in the 1980's - 1990's in China. Stephen Chow shows respects to them, as the way he respects Bruce Lee.

Above all, Kung-Fu Hustle is a movie with great hilarity, stunning CGI effects, fantastic Kung-Fu, and the lives of ordinary people. I give it 9 out of 10. Highly recommended!

Now this movie is in theaters in Europe and North America. The recent comments have shown a good sign already.Best wishes to Stephen Chow! Hope western people like this movie as well.

In my opinion this is the best Chinese comedy kung fu movie yet to be made. I'm not very familiar with the previous work of the director Stephen Chow except for Shaolin Soccer but this flick has everything to entertain any movie fan.

Both the humor and the drama made me weep like a small girl, even thou I'm a guy almost at my 30's. The impressive camera techniques and the story sure made this a phenomenal viewing experience.

Sorry Jet Li & Jackie Chan - None of the Hollywood movies has ever touched me like this movie did. I recommend this movie to be watched with friends in order to share the feeling of joy and laughter. We'll be waiting for a sequel - don't let us down!

Chaplin, Allen and now actor, writer, producer and director Stephen Chow can join the select few whose remarkable talent as a performer matches his ability behind the lens; Kung Fu Hustle proves it.

Chow is no stranger to direction. In 1994 Chow co-directed Love on Delivery and since then a number of other self starring projects and many of these projects are considered the best of his acting career. However his skills as a comedian - be it his brash physical comedy (Shaolin Soccer), his manical scenarios (Tricky Brains) or epic historical parodies (A Chinese Oddsey) - have never outshined his talents as a director. Kung Fu Hustle not only reminds us of Chow's terrific comedic timing, it introduces us to his stunning visual eye and exhilarating action direction.

More importantly this addition to Chow's superb filmography finally allows us a means of defining his technique. A master of blending both comedy and visceral action with artistic integrity and traditional melodrama. It has been awhile since a director has been able to take me from quite serious and intense graphic violence to over the top ridiculous spoofing. The contrast of atmosphere and mood throughout the film is incredible and even more incredible is Chow's ability to make it all work. When the scene is funny you appreciate the comedy, when it switches gears to action you are blown away by the terrific sequences, when it switches to melodrama you are on the edge of your seat awaiting character responses, and when they're all fused together you do exactly what Chow is hoping you'll do. You laugh.

So I liked the film, but what is the film exactly. Like most Stephen Chow films while the concept is simple to describe, the execution is far more complex. Kung Fu Hustle tells the story of Sing, a wannabe gangster attempting to join the famous Axe Gang (who during some of the early scenes seem to spoof Gangs of New York - look for a firework visual quote), a legion of black suits responsible for a series of gruesome murders and complete dominance over a 1940s Hong Kong. Sing's reasons for wanting to join the gang are simple: bad guys are cooler. His arrogance causes a war to break out between a poor housing complex that secretly holds a number hidden talents and the murderous axe gang. What starts as a relatively small skirmish (and I mean relatively) explodes into a war of Miike's "Dead or Alive" proportions.

The use of digital effects in this film are extreme. Chow having succumbed to the digital revolutions in Shaolin Soccer, manages once again to use his effects wisely. There are a terrific number of effects shots in this film far more then I've ever seen in a Hong Kong production (save maybe the terrible Wesley's Mysterious File) and while I am disappointed at the lack of practical effects the impressive quality of them more then makes up for it. This film simply does not look like a Hong Kong film. It rivals Hollywood features in every category (set, costumes cinematography), but amazingly enough the CGI is really good! You can notice most of the effects, but that doesn't matter because they are used for laughs and effectively so. Some of the effects not only will have you in stitches, but also in shock and awe at the sheer incredibility of some of the scenes. One scene that sticks out is a terrific spoof of the Road Runner. Its not hilarious, but also a visual feast.

The impressive action is thanks largely to the great choreography talent including both Sammo Hung and Yuen Wo Ping (each working on the film at spate occasions). Yuen Wo Ping manages to take a scene that appears to be rehash of the Burly Brawl (hundreds of suits against one guy) and manages to make it not only fresh, but a thousand times more exciting and intense. These fight sequences demand the attention of any cinephile who claims themselves a fan of marital art cinema. Wachowski's take not, this is how you direct Yuen Wo Ping to this artistic peak.

So everything seems great, right? This has to be Chow's best, right? Actually not everything works and is not at all Chow's best film. It is not his funniest film, but that is because it takes the risk of exploring the action genre. It also relies a bit too much on CGI, and while its use is effective, it can occasionally bring you out of the film. Compared to his other films this film ranks #1 for its visuals and action, but in terms of laughs and writing it cannot surpass the classics. That being said Kung Fu Hustle is absolute blast. See it if you can at the Toronto Film Festival, import it on DVD and catch in theaters when Sony Classics brings it here (in Febuary I believe). It is action comedy at its finest.

Three cheers for Chow Sing Chi!

Goodness me, what a fantastic movie. Caught the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and the entire theater laughed until they cried. Amazingly directed, HILARIOUSLY funny, it blends a 1930s gangster stylishness into a Hong Kong kung fu movie to astonishing results. Who would've thought you could top Shaolin Soccer? Not me, until I saw this movie. Stephen Chow pulled it off. Chow's comedic timing gets better and better with every movie he makes, and while his films are depending more and more on CGI these days, and makes this movie much more a fantasy kung fu film than a traditional one, it hardly detracts from the enjoyable experience. Make it your mission to see this film - it will be one of the most entertaining you ever see. I can't remember the last film I enjoyed myself in more. My eyes still hurt from wiping away tears of laughter. Seriously.

After nearly two decades of avoiding kung fu movies, a copy of this one was pressed into my hands by a very dear friend... who then extracted a promise from me that I'd take the time that night to sit and watch it. I was less than enthusiastic when I tossed it into the drive of my Athlon, but a promise is a promise, after all. Five minutes later, a nuclear strike warning in my town couldn't have torn me away from the screen, and it's been watched a dozen times since.

There's always been a certain cheesiness to Hong Kong cinema, but on rare occasions a writer or director will directly tap a nerve and somehow weave that directly into the story: 'Kung Fu Hustle' is one of those films. This piece isn't simply a 'standard' kung fu movie; it's a romance, a sweeping portrait of good-versus-evil, and a moral lesson on the use of power. The comedic bits are so well integrated into the story that it flows smoothly from one tone to another. The fight choreography is stellar, and special care was taken to make sure that every character in the piece is human. There're no 'perfect' people or places, and it somehow makes the wire fighting that appears in parts seem believable. The acting is excellent and the camera work is all rock steady.

Feeling jaded? Burdened? Wonder if it's possible for one person to make a difference? Settle in with a copy of this film, and believe...

There is no score high enough for this... except Stephen Chow is a Kung Fu Director/Writer/Producer GENIUS! Mr. Chow does for movies what Jimi Hendrix did for guitars... My guess is that all Hollywood directors are saying "you can do that?!?"

...just thought of this...

Hollywood Director: "you can do that?!?"

Mr. Stephen Chow: "you want to learn?"

Hollywood Director (bowing): "... yes, Master."

After this movie the history of movies will have 2 time periods: pre-Mr. Chow and post-Mr. Chow.

20 out of 10.

-Zafoid

This is great fun. Stylised Matrix like action with slapstick Chinese comedy characters. Lots of laughs and totally over the top action. Great fun!!!

I don't know where to start with this movie. My expectations were blown away. In fact, I wasn't sure what to expect. But let me tell you that the experience was worth more than my disgustingly overpriced admission. With the popcorn and drink on top of it.

Perhaps i'll start with the least important element of the movie. Firstly, Kung Fu Hustle has officially replaced all other overblown martial arts films by a long shot. The fighting in this movie is spectacular. Half the fights are so loaded with creativity it makes fighting movies look like something you've seen for the first time. The CG is great. The other half are part parodies of other films, and they are hilarious as well as spectacular. In fact, I need to see this a second time because there are a ton of movie references in it I don't think I've caught yet. Depending on your library of watched films, you'll catch more of them. I got quite a few and they were well done.

And here's the most important part about this movie. This is where Kung Fu Hustle succeeds where so many other martial arts movies fail. It has a believable, simple, touching, intertwined and well flowing story. I can't tell you how many times where I've walked out of a martial arts - or even action - movie, and been immensely disappointed because the fighting and explosions were great, but the rest of it simply fell short. These movies are typically way unbalanced.

But Stephen Chow is talented enough to take both elements of the movie to their rightful place. I don't know how he did it, but it worked. The acting is incredibly enjoyable. The plot is likable. The fighting will make your jaw drop. And all the fighting actually has something to do with the story. It's absolutely amazing.

If you're tired of action movies not making the mark, go see this one. Now. 10/10.

This amusing film deals about a a pair small delinquents named Sing(Stephen Chow) and his sidekick Bone(Chun) in Shanghai during the 1940s.Sing wishes unite with Axe gang led by heinous criminal Brother Sun(Chan).A slum named Pig Sty Alley is the solely location where the Axes band don't extort but the inhabitants are hapless and poor.The slum is ruled by a loud-mouthed landlady(Qiu Yen) with an apparently feeble husband.The wannabe mobsters,Sing and Bone,attempt swindle a barber when the authentic Axe gangster appear in Pig slum.Them,it results to be that various Kung Fu experts with breathtaking strength are living into slum and an incredible fighting take place.The Axes gang leader contract a magician violinists fighters and an obnoxious assassin which break out from the prison for eliminate the slum rebels.And Sing spontaneously decides save the day,turning a extraordinary transformation.

This entertaining film displays noisy action,slapstick comedy,tongue in check,spectacular martial art struggles and is pretty bemusing.Stephen Chow- combining his facet of actor and director-introduce his comedy talent and hilarious moments here and there,developing his trademark,creating parodies along with hard-hitting Kung-Fu scenes.He frequently utilizes Chinese name ¨Sing¨ in his films.Stephen Chow collaborated with another legendary Kung Fu choreographer,Yuen Wo Ping,famous since '70's for his Hong Kong movies and nowadays working in Hollywood(Matrix ,among others).The overwhelming fighting and sensational action scenes are made by cables and wires and by computer generator,as well.Besides appear,one of the most notorious experts, Sammo Hung(Martial law) as additional action choreographer.The supporting cast is frankly magnificent,special mention for Qiu Yen,as the landlady,she apprenticed Chinese martial art and Beijing-opera skills with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung under the same master in her younger days and played as a girl wrestler saving Roger Moore in Bond 007¨The man with the golden gun(1974)¨,in order to add fat for the picture,she took a Japanese sumo fighter's diet(like Renée Zeelweger for Bridget Jones).The motion picture is produced by Columbia Pictures Production Asia,Beijing film studio and China film group.Chow's creativity into comedy and Kung Fu action had been demonstrated with the successful¨Shaolin soccer¨,now with ¨Kung Fu¨going on to amuse viewers around the world .He's recently shooting the following the sequel with similar actors.

Being a complete sourpuss when it comes to most comedic film offerings from the last three decades (though I attribute a lot of that to inanity rather than taking full credit for being a wet blanket), I find that when there is a film that makes me laugh so hard that I am concerned about the possibility of a stroke, I have no choice but to rave about it. So having said that, consider this a rave review of Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Hustle".

While the film itself was entertaining, the prospect of summarizing the scattered plot is not. Set in 1940's Shanghai, "Kung Fu Hustle" basically centers on a tenement ruled over by a mean, chain-smoking landlady (Qiu Yuen) and her whipped husband (Wah Yuen). When someone deigns to complain about the fact that they don't have enough water to take a quick shower, she pounds them senseless, with everyone standing by completely helpless. Flip to another part of town, where the notorious "Axe Gang", a deadly bunch of dancing, axe wielding guys are wreaking havoc on a city that can't even be protected by the police. The two areas of town don't concern themselves with one another until a wannabe member of the Axe Gang, Sing (Stephen Chow) and his sidekick (Chi Chung Lam) poses as a member in the tenement to extort money, causing a series of events to occur in the tenement that wind up with most of the Axe Gang either killed or injured and Brother Sum (Kwok Kuen Chan), the leader of the gang, to do everything in his power to wreak revenge on both the tenement and its occupants, particularly those who act as its safeguards.

As I mentioned earlier, there were a lot of parts that I found so funny that I was either finding myself almost lightheaded from laughing so hard, or finding myself obnoxious because I would struggle to recoup in order to read the subtitles in time to not miss anything. While there are several movie "in jokes" (even one dedicated to Chow's prior film "Shaolin Soccer") it was the sight gags that really did it for me. The chase between Landlady and Sing and especially the knife scene with Sing and his sidekick were brilliant slapstick. A lot of the action was extremely over the top, and complimented by some pretty decent CGI work.

While anyone who has seen "Shaolin Soccer" knows that Chow does not employ a normal cast of "heroes", it was still interesting to see that for the most part, almost anyone who could have heroic qualities attributed to them did not fit the "normal" model. As a matter of fact, several of the major players in the film were middle aged or even elderly, a notion that is both funny and refreshing for anyone who looks for something a little different in their heroes. Surprisingly, there was also a very well conceived scene in the middle of the film involving two professional assassins who are trying to kill the main defenders of the tenement that I found to actually be a pretty kick-ass action sequence. Despite a couple of gags here and there, until the end when the Landlady got involved, the scene was playing off like something I would say "cooool" in an awed tone about in a Tarantino film or something. So while the film was overall one of the funniest I've seen in recent memory, there were a couple of great moments of highly stylized action.

"Kung Fu Hustle" wasn't a perfect film by any means, but the criticisms I have about it are completely nitpicky. For instance, the romance between Sing and the mute girl was just kind of thrown in, though some of it was necessary for background on his character. And a purely aesthetic complaint; I wanted more dancing by the Axe Gang. Chow shouldn't have teased us with the little bit that they danced and then abruptly take it away for the rest of the film. Hey, it's a review – I've got to air the good and the bad.

But since the good outweighs the bad exponentially, I highly recommend "Kung Fu Hustle" to just about anyone because of both its action and comedic elements. For making me laugh to the point of near-aneurysm, "Kung Fu Hustle" gets a solid 8/10.

It is hard to mark a movie such as this, I give it a 7 just before I liked more a lot of other movies, but essentially, for what the movie wanted to be, it was almost flawless.

The script is funny, with a lot of irony and humor unlike the silly childish humor most Chinese movie have. Combine this with the references to American cult movies and you get something edible for the western public. But it's not only this. The action scenes are great, but so are scenes in other movies. What sets this one apart is the choice that the director makes NOT to follow walked paths, be innovative, funny and subtle in the same time. You will find major themes of human stories in this movie, but packed so nicely in unexpected and vision that you end up feeling you've seen a film unlike any other. And so it is.

Watch this one, especially if you are am Asian movie buf.

Kung Fu Hustle is one of many high rated modern Chinese movies where I don't understand how comes it's so well received and critically acclaimed in the whole wide world.

I must admit that the movie kicks off with a couple of solid jokes and some sympathetic characters that may addict you. The first twenty minutes or so are entertaining and promising.

But the downward spiral starts soon after. The lazy, stereotypical but somewhat sympathetic character of the main hero's corpulent friend almost disappears. The fight scenes move away from aesthetics and get more and more random, ridiculous and unreal. The plot development is strange but not in a good sense. The dialogues are thin and seem as if they were written in a hurry. We get some horrible special effects towards the end that add the little cherry on the top of your cheese cake.

I'm aware of the fact that this movie somewhat wants to parody the stereotypes of classic Chinese and Hongkong Kung Fu movies. I'm a big fan of these old films and I have no problem with a good comedy or a solid homage to them. This movie is not an original parody with many déjà-vu moments but a very childish attempt to attract a larger public. The jokes work in the beginning but the same ideas are repeated all the time and we get to see more and more exaggerated fighting techniques with over the top slapstick moments throughout the whole movie. Many movies that mix martial arts with comedy fail to find a good balance between both styles and I don't like most of these attempts but this film here is one of the worst attempts to combine these two genres. I usually adore Asian humour a lot, especially in many South Korean movies but this one is comparable to the bunch of Hollywood parodies that came out when Scary Movie rose to fame.

In the end, I would only recommend this movie to somebody that laughs about anything and almost only watches any kind of comedy movies. Any fan of the artistic side of martial arts or modern Chinese cinema should stay away from this superficial embarrassment.

I saw this movie at the Toronto filmfest and I have to say I loved it, I really didn't know what to expect as I didn't know the director and had only really seen some pretty bad kung fu many years before. There are many pop culture references in there like reservoir dogs and the matrix.. all done very tongue in cheek.

The fight sequences are very well done and keep the movie moving at a frenetic pace, the jokes tend to be visual in nature and as such side step the normal translation problems.

All in all I thought this was a great movie and suspect this will be a huge hit !

In general, it's a movie which puts tribute to all the Kung Fu Movie.

Some argue that Stephen uses a lots of old jokes and routines in this movie that makes it a little bit weak on the script. However, I think it's one of his best. He doesn't make as many dirty jokes as usual, but you can really learn his philosophy through this two-hours movie and have a very good laugh at the same time. If you really watch the movie carefully, you will know what kung-fu is. Stephen Chow truly understands kung-fu, in my opinion, and it a sure thing that he crazies about it.

It's not a common kung-fu movie like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "Hero". Stephen Chow uses his own way to express kung-fu. I sincerely recommend this movie to those who still has the slightest hesitation whether you should watch this movie or not.Just Go!!!!!!!!!! You won't regret it!!!!

I liked Shaolin Soccer, it was full of laughs and Stephen Chow has done it again with Kung Fu Hustle. It's not in the same vein as Shaolin Soccer and it is not a belly full of laughs, but it certainly emphasised his love of action movies especially Martial Art movies. The film pays homage to all those Hong Kong Martial Arts Serials, Bruce Lee and the action genre in general. I would even say that Kung Fu Hustle is a more refined Shoalin Soccer in terms of storyline, action sequences and acting.

The setting is great with some nice scenes of old Hong Kong and the way people used to live. The fight scenes were pretty good, especially at the start with the three masters fighting the Axe Gang. Okay, the story was predictable but that didn't take away the enjoyment one bit.

Overall, it is a highly recommended movie to watch and I can't wait for his next film.

In the wildly imaginative and action-packed Kung Fu Hustle, petty thief Sing (Stephen Chow) aspires to be a ruthless gangster. Stumbling across a gang-controlled apartment to extort money from the locals who are actually kung fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions attracts the notorious Axe Gang, and set off a relentless chain of events that brings the clans together in an explosive battle.

From kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've never seen martial arts action this outrageous! With jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yeun Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2 and The Matrix) Kung Fu Hustle will blow you away! Chow's movie is set in 1940s Guangdong Province, China. Chow plays Ah-xing, a street rascal who fools around constantly. He is good at talking glibly, but at the core he is feeble-minded and stuck in poverty with an unknown future. So, it doesn't look good for A-xing at the beginning of the movie.

It doesn't get any better, either a little later as we discover it is A-xing's goal is to become a member of the notorious Axe Gang, the fiercest, cruelest and most widespread gang of the city.

One day when A-xing goes into a slum, Pig Cage Town, to do his usual extortion, he witnesses a real clash between two gangs: the Axe Gang is clearing out a local gang that has not shown allegiance to the Axe. A-xing realizes the slum residents -- including the plump landlady and her skinny and wimpy-looking husband -- have each turned into kung-fu masters to fight against the large group of gangs.

A-xing then realizes this is a battle between good and evil and that he is called to choose one side.

Stephen Chow continues his unique comedy style, twisting the slapstick jokes and reinterpreting them with his composed face. In Kung Fu Hustle, Chow intensifies the self-torture sequences and creates more funny points in his suffering. For example, when Chow shows his characters practising kung-fu while faced by a middle-aged woman in the slum, he is quickly kicked in the groin. He is also stabbed by three flying daggers which were supposedly aimed at his enemy and is later bitten in the face by two poisonous snakes. Through all these trials he manages to survive for another day.

Apart from creativity, Kung Fu Hustle has also demonstrated a higher quality comedy than his early 1990s works such as Fight Back to School (1991) and King of Beggars (1992). The cinematography is more sophisticated, with an authentic 1930s aura. And like Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle heavily adopts computer graphics to present special effects such as the snake, daggers and flying axes.

I had an intention to watch the movie for the last few years, the only thing that stopped me was a thought that this was a typical type of an action movie, just with some comedy elements. Take for instance any film with Jackie Chan in the leading role, if you want to understand to what type of movie am I inclining.

However, to my biggest surprise, it's absolutely not the case.

The movie is something like a parody to the whole asian action genre. It's about enormously hyperbolizing action scenes, making fun of eastern philosophical dialogues (inherent to Kung Fu movies) by using proverbs and wise quotes absurdly.

The whole movie is about total absurd with quite decent visual effects for its time.

If you like absurd humor, you will most likely consider this movie to be a hilarious one.

Due to my humble opinion, it's one of the best representatives of its genre.

There is a dish in South East Asian countries called the 'rojak'; a mix of sliced greens, fried fritters, squid and eggs and topped with a thick peanut gravy. It doesn't sound particularly promising, looks much worse but locals justifiably pick their plates clean every time. This much can be said of Stephen Chow's erstwhile effort, the dodgy cornball humour of "Shaolin Soccer", and now, the chowster is back for another dose of shenanigans with "Kung Fu Hustle", already a huge hit in this region. Just like the 'rojak', Hong Kong cinema and movies like KungFu Hustle would never be mistaken for high art, with subtlety thrown further out the window than the protagonists are during the action sequences, and slapstick jarringly pitched at hysterical levels wedged in between dramatic sequences. There is a feeble plot about finding one's true self and being the "chosen one" as the denizens of a local town must fight against the powerful Axes gangsters, but one can't seriously discuss narrative possibilities when the lead in the film uses such gifts as the "hurricane power palm blow" (it's a kung fu move diametrically opposed to David Carradines "exploding palm" technique in Kill Bill; one strike and a 50 foot palm print appears on the side of buildings. You get the drift).

Stephen Chow is already a veteran in his native Hong Kong, where he first started out in collaboration with or in imitation of that other master of lowbrow humour, Wong Jing. One dimensional caricatures feature prominently in these movies, and Chow puts on the same deadpan expression and parochial cantonese drone in literally dozens of (best-selling) films. It is nice to see him maturing somewhat, just like Tom Hanks did; currently, Chow is already a reliable male lead in dramatic roles, not that his role in KungFu hustle would stretch any reasonably seasoned thespian.

It is interesting to note the role slapstick in Hong Kong films; it is similar to the recitativo in Italian opera, and the singing sequences in Bollywood films. They are interludes in the narrative designed to play to the audiences, which says a lot about audience tastes. Western viewers not familiar with Hong Kong cinema have generally been perplexed, but those of us in the know take it with a groan and quickly wait for the next kung fu sequence. There are, however, several laugh out loud slapstick sequences in Kung Fu Hustle that comes as a nice surprise (the surprise being that it was actually funny, and reasonably inoffensive).

The action choreography is first rate, the special effects are hugely imaginative, all in all the technical credits are above par for a Hong Kong film.

The references to the Matrix are courtesy of great wire-kung fu fights choreographed by the inestimable Yuen Wo Ping. But it is the less obvious references to Terry Gilliam's "the adventures of Baron Munchausen" that truly bring a chuckle. One of the characters is as fleet of feet as Berthold, while the ending is a nice touch: a small boy leads a girl by hand towards a movie theatre, and on the streets, a peddler sells a series of kung fu adventure comics to another urchin. As most young Asian boys will know, a kung fu comic promises fantastical adventures on the cheap, very much in the spirit of this often low brow but nonetheless exuberant movie. Just like the Baron on his horse at the end of "adventures", Chow seems to wink: It's silly but fun, hope you enjoyed the show! And yes, I did.

I saw this movie yesterday and it is definitely one of the best movies that was made in the history of Hong Kong. The plot itself is simple, and the storyline is all about kung fu. Yet, it is not just a funny comedy about kung fu. It is more than that. Somehow it is similar to Harry Potter (in this case is wizard) or animations by Hayao Miyazaki in which a world of imagination is created. The characters in the film are so funny and classic. Most of them appeared in some of Stephen Chow's movies before but because the context of every movie is different, the overall result is hilarious. This is a movie that make Hong Kong people proud. I hope it will be a box office success in other countries too. I think I'll definitely buy the movie DVD for my personal collection.

The stylish and stylized "Kung Fu Hustle" is, as its name implies, a goofy martial arts parody done with rare good humor and a keen sense of the absurd. It is a tale of gangsters and wannabe gangsters going up against a half dozen or so of the finest fighters in the lower class part of town. However, the plot is merely a framing device for a series of amazing fight sequences that showcase not only the performers' incredible skills as stunt men (and women) but the film-making prowess of those behind the camera as well. Writer/director Stephen Chow (who also plays the main role) turns his flesh-and-blood actors into the equivalent of cartoon characters, unaffected by the laws of gravity and physics, as they are stabbed repeatedly, fall from impossible heights, and suffer incredible bodily abuse, only to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and continue on fighting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The razor sharp editing and multi-speed camera-work - ranging from fast-motion to freeze framing - also contribute immeasurably to the surrealistic tone of the film.

It's true that "Kung Fu Hustle" is definitely an acquired taste, and to those who are not aficionados of the art form, much of the movie can seem repetitive and silly. And even for the most passionate of devotees, it can still be too much of a good thing. The plot is frequently incoherent and the characters wafer-thin, but the stunning look and extraordinary energy level of the film make it a must-see for die-hard fans of the martial arts.

Hi all, I started watching Kung-fu hustle out of sheer boredom on my flight to Japan. I expected it to be another boring martial arts movie with clichéd story lines and bad acting. What I found was an amazingly entertaining, crazy, novel story with slap-stick comedy that had me laughing my *ss off loud. Stephen Chow is definitely putting China on the world cinema map with his genre of movies. The action is of course not real and has used computer effects - but I don't believe Chow is trying impress everyone just by having real martial arts a la Ongbak. He is an entertainer like Jackie Chan was in his prime. He even takes a cheeky punt at western movies like the Matrix and Spider-man which is pretty cool. The story of Kung-fu hustle itself is set in a sort of 70's China and people like me who love travelling and different cultures get a real feel of being in China. The story throws up a lot of crazy surprises like that of a children's fairy tale and is very funny and refreshing. I watched Kung-fu hustle a few times now and bought it on DVD and cant wait for his next movie. Kung-fu hustle gets a well deserved 9/10

My brother in law rented this movie and I never really a big fan of Stephen Chow but nonetheless I knew his movies are funny (or expect to be funny). So I watched it and it turned out to be a funny movie. Forget about the lack of whatever, just enjoy the movie and all minuses will be forgotten. Because we are not critics and we go to the movies to be entertained, and that's what this movie does. It's entertaining and that's what matters. It's not about a movie with top notch special fx, or a movie with gorgeous girls and handsome guys. But it's about Stephen Chow's effort to combine martial arts with a bit of laughter and he succeeded. At the end of the movie you'd know you already spent your money wisely cause it made you laugh. There's another movie of his that is also very funny. It's about him looking for the 9th wife and hoping she's not a gambler like all his 8 wives. Can't remember the title but it's extremely funny from the beginning to the end. Hope you guys can find it.

Kung Fu Hustle reviewed by Sam Osborn.

rating: 1.5 out of 4

A couple years ago a little film called Shaolin Soccer tripped into theaters after being endlessly shuffled around by distributors. The film didn't get around to my area, so I rented it out of the godly Netflix a few months later. I expected a nicely goofy rendition of the typical formula soccer film with some interesting kung fu. What I got was a diluted mess of amateur CGI and a screenplay that seemed to be regurgitated from the mind of an infant. Not much more can be said about Chow's latest outing, Kung Fu Hustle. It's little more than a poor video game concept brought to the big screen. With no story, half-baked characters, and the stupidest sense of humor this side of Barney, Kung Fu Hustle is one of the most critically overrated films in years.

That being said, some credit must be given to Yuen Wo Ping and Sammo Hung for their brilliant choreography. Also, it can't go without saying that Stephen Chow does show some hints of talent among this convoluted disaster. He obviously has a sharp eye for visual treats and a creativity that can't be matched. But why does he waste it on this high budget, low grade comedy? I just don't understand.

If you must know, there's some excuse for a plot dumped out by the screenplay in the opening sequence. In pre-revolution China, gangs ruled the land. The biggest and most terrible of these gangs was the Axe Gang (original, I know). This Axe Gang goes through each town demanding tribute and killing all who refuse with, yes, axes. That is, until they stumble upon Pigsty Alley. Hidden within Pigsty Alley are a myriad of kung fu masters, all of whom duke it out with a warrior from the Axe Gang. But Pigsty Alley would be lost if it weren't for, wait for it, the chosen one. You get the idea.

The whole film plays out like one of those fighting games on video game consoles. If you haven't played one, they consist of a short CGI back-story explaining the beef between the two characters, then an extended duel of boxing, shooting, slicing, kicking, etc. After all this is over, you do it again. Kung Fu Hustle essentially pulls the same trick, creating cute good guys and diabolic bad guys to duke it out in CGI madness, where real prowess in kung fu is certainly not necessary. I have a feeling Yuen Wo Ping spent much more of his time choreographing a computer programmer than an actor.

Amidst all this fighting, Chow crams in his trademark "humor". This consists of many jokes concerning flatulence, male nudity, haphazard and silly slapstick, and males harassing females. It's just not funny. The humor has been related to that of Buster Keaton and the greats of the early years of cinema. From what I've seen of Mr. Keaton's work, I think he'd cry if he heard that.