Columbia Pictures NTSC Region 3 DVD/Wide Screen/Dolby DTS / Dolby Digital 5.1/Cantonese with English Subtitles / Trailers.
(2005/HONG KONG)
Reviewed By-Paul Cooke
Director : Stephen Chow Scripted : Tsang Kan Cheong & Stephen Chow Starring : Stephen Chow , Wah Yuen , Qiu Yuen , Xing Yu , Kwok Kuen Chan , Siu Lung Leung , Chiu Chi Ling , Hak On Fung & Chi Chung Lam Source:
Wow , tape back your eyelids , purchase the super size popcorn and make sure it’s a full fat coke you have to slurp down on for the must see viewing of the year. Action , Comedy , Fu has just been redefined and the person wholly responsible is writer , Director and star Stephen Chow. He stars as a wandering hustler who has a special gift that even he is unaware of. Along with his belly rotund friend Sing strolls into Pig Sty Alley to lay the smack down with his quick wit and tireless tongue , but soon finds out there’s more to the poor folk who reside there than first meets the eye.
Opening with a violent overtone and a vibrant burst of pure cinematic colour , that bleeds across the screen , ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ immediately catches the eye and draws the breath. The sharp inhalation from a packed multiplex auditorium would be noticeable , as would the gasps and gleeful cheers that follow as are man Sing takes centre stage come the finale. The journey that leads to the show stopping finale is itself worth undertaking as this is majestic movie making mayhem with a highlight exclamation on the true meaning of Fun !.
Arrive late for the start and you will think that you have walked in on a Chinese remake of ‘Guys And Dolls’ but this one has two stepping gangsters throwing axes at non conformist infiltrators that don’t toe the line. The violent acts play out with balletic beauty and all to the toe tapping big band sound of sweet music. Losing a leg in full stride never looked so poetic and the celebrations of The Axe Gang doing their unified jig would put a smile on Will Smith’s face and most likely follow with a Big Willy video rehash.
Sing wants to be a part of The Axe Gang and even poses as a top member when he tries to take over at Pig Sty Alley , what he doesn’t allow for is true Axe Gang members gate crashing his con act. What follows is the introduction of the all powerful gang being humbled by the meek and mild residents who step up to the plate to knock nine bells out of them. The Fu is frenetic and the fists fly quicker than an army of Mohammed Ali clones , stinging like bees and floating like the proverbial butterflies. Just like in the old school spaghetti westerns Sing gets caught up between the two factions , but he has to find his true calling and when he does its like the impact of Buddha’s palm punching the Earth. The style of the whole movie is like a fusion of movie trend greats from the American Fifties stage show blockbuster to the swagger of the Italian Spaghetti Westerns , all spiced up with Hong Kong hokum and a spicy splash of diverse Kung Fu styles.
This is now way to be dismissed as a Comedy film , it is an Action movie that blends comedy and humour into its very fibre and anyone choosing to overlook it due to misrepresentation will be missing out on one of the most entertaining films of the year. Stephen Chows expressions in all of his scenes are humorous without trying but it is a lot of the subtle back ground plays and deftly played out minor characterisations that make this a multi re-watchable gem of a flick. It has been what seems like an eternity that the use of CGI has spoilt movies , here it is welcome , unobtrusive and nigh on seamless !. The blend of real fist flying fury and high kicking kung fu is actually enhanced by the wonderful use here of the dreaded CGI. A sequence midway through the movie that has a stand off in Pig Sty Alley between three of the Super empowered residents up against a hired pair of specialists is simply jaw dropping. The majesty of the special effects employed here to conjure up weapons and un-dead warriors to throw up against are heroes is truly stunning.
With an array of oddball characters that all add to the magical mix it really is quite brilliant how Stephen Chow has brought this epic Funster to the screen.
The power of ‘The One’ comes to be in the face of adversity as the unstoppable force comes up against an awakened raging power house. The main bad guy is nothing that you could imagine from the build up but he is so sublimely sleazy in his arrogance and self loathing that you just so want a hero to step up and snuff his lights out.
Grab any opportunity you can to see this foremost on the big screen as it will be a truly memorable experience lit up in all its energetic and colourful glory. Buy the DVD without fail and become a part of Hong Kong cinema greatness , Stephen Chow style. The movie kicks major movie ass , so ‘trotter long’ to Pig Sty Alley right away and get the ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ into your system Now.
