Martial arts and comedy rarely go together, unless you're laughing at a Steven Seagal movie. Only Jackie Chan seems able to get the mix right and to be frank, most Chan movies are fairly similar anyway. But now, there is a new judo-chopping comedian on the scene - Stephen Chow. Having given us a taster of his films with the amusing but bizarre "Shaolin Soccer", Chow goes well and truly overboard with "Kung Fu Hustle" which is possibly the most over-blown, chop-socky action film in existence but unlike some, this film is a great deal of fun.
The film take place in 1940's China where the police are powerless to stop the vicious Axe Gang from ruling the city. But down in Pig Sty Alley, things are much more peaceful. At least, until petty thief Sing (director Chow) and his overweight companion Bone (Chi Chung Lam) begin masquerading as Axe Gang members and begin panicking the locals. Soon, real Axe gang members arrive and chaos ensues. Before long, a full-scale riot is on the cards between the gangsters and their prize fighter The Beast (Siu-Lung Leung) and the residents with their assorted fighters. But where will Sing's loyalties lie, with the Axe Gang or the citizens of Pig Sty Alley?
Let me just say that although story-telling isn't the strong point of martial arts movies, "Kung Fu Hustle" is one that bucks the trend. It is, at times, hilarious as well as being one of the most visually stunning films I've seen. Imagine "Matrix-style" violence and kung-fu with Looney Tunes touches such as the banter between Sing and Bone (the moment where they try to assassinate the landlady (Qiu Yuen) is just brilliant). This is probably the best Asian film I've seen since "House Of Flying Daggers" and is probably even better - I enjoyed watching this film more than I did watching Daggers, despite more CG being used.
So what's not to like? There are more moments that confuse than annoy, such as the dance scene involving hundreds of axe wielding, top-hat wearing gangsters that feels more like Bollywood than Hong Kong cinema. There are a lot of people who like their kung-fu films and who wouldn't like this - this is not your traditional martial arts film, not by a long way. But I love this film because it is different, because it's not sticking to the formula and is daring to do something original in a genre that has been stagnant for too long. Chow is to be commended for producing a brilliant, witty and exciting film that will delight fans bored with seeing the likes of Seagal grunting through various set-pieces. Watch it and enjoy - I just did!
The film take place in 1940's China where the police are powerless to stop the vicious Axe Gang from ruling the city. But down in Pig Sty Alley, things are much more peaceful. At least, until petty thief Sing (director Chow) and his overweight companion Bone (Chi Chung Lam) begin masquerading as Axe Gang members and begin panicking the locals. Soon, real Axe gang members arrive and chaos ensues. Before long, a full-scale riot is on the cards between the gangsters and their prize fighter The Beast (Siu-Lung Leung) and the residents with their assorted fighters. But where will Sing's loyalties lie, with the Axe Gang or the citizens of Pig Sty Alley?
Let me just say that although story-telling isn't the strong point of martial arts movies, "Kung Fu Hustle" is one that bucks the trend. It is, at times, hilarious as well as being one of the most visually stunning films I've seen. Imagine "Matrix-style" violence and kung-fu with Looney Tunes touches such as the banter between Sing and Bone (the moment where they try to assassinate the landlady (Qiu Yuen) is just brilliant). This is probably the best Asian film I've seen since "House Of Flying Daggers" and is probably even better - I enjoyed watching this film more than I did watching Daggers, despite more CG being used.
So what's not to like? There are more moments that confuse than annoy, such as the dance scene involving hundreds of axe wielding, top-hat wearing gangsters that feels more like Bollywood than Hong Kong cinema. There are a lot of people who like their kung-fu films and who wouldn't like this - this is not your traditional martial arts film, not by a long way. But I love this film because it is different, because it's not sticking to the formula and is daring to do something original in a genre that has been stagnant for too long. Chow is to be commended for producing a brilliant, witty and exciting film that will delight fans bored with seeing the likes of Seagal grunting through various set-pieces. Watch it and enjoy - I just did!