IMDb > Kung fu (2004)
Kung fu
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Kung fu (2004) -- In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.
Kung fu (2004) -- Hollywood mega couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, along with Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman, lined up for the red carpet premiere of DreamWorks' new animated flick, "Kung Fu Panda".
Kung fu (2004) -- In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.
Kung fu (2004) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Kung fu (2004) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   38,470 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stephen Chow
Writers:
Stephen Chow (writer)
Xin Huo (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Kung Fu Hustle on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 April 2005 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Comedy | Crime | Fantasy more
Tagline:
A new comedy unlike anything you have seen before more
Plot:
In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 19 wins & 27 nominations more
User Comments:
This movie will blow you away! more (335 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Stephen Chow ... Sing
Xiaogang Feng ... Crocodile Gang Boss (as Feng Xiao Gang)
Wah Yuen ... Landlord
Zhi Hua Dong ... Donut
Kwok-Kwan Chan ... Brother Sum (as Danny Chan)
Chi Chung Lam ... Bone (Sing's Sidekick) (as Lam Tze Chung)
Siu-Lung Leung ... The Beast
Qiu Yuen ... Landlady
Kai Man Tin ... Axe Gang Advisor
Kang Xi Jia ... Harpist #1
Hak On Fung ... Harpist #2
Shengyi Huang ... Fong
Suet Lam ... Axe Gang Vice General
Cheung-Yan Yuen ... Beggar (as Cheng Yan Yuen)
Chi Ling Chiu ... Tailor
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Kung Fu Hustle (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Gong fu (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for sequences of strong stylized action and violence.
Runtime:
95 min | Philippines:99 min
Country:
China | Hong Kong
Language:
Cantonese | Mandarin
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Shanghai, China

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The literal translation of the name of "The Beast" is in fact "Dark God of the Fire Clouds". The name was first used by the writer 'Liu Canyang' in his novels in the 50s and 60s, where his character was originally his protagonist's mentor. Comparatively lax copyright laws in Hong Kong and the menacing sound of the name have since however, caused the name to be appropriated in many other films, novels and comics. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The leader of the Crocodile Gang's hat changes as he leaves the police station, going from a straw cowboy hat to a shapeless fabric hat and back to a cowboy hat by the time he gets downstairs. more
Quotes:
[the Soccer boy accidentally kicks his ball to Sing, who does a number of tricks with one foot]
Soccer Boy: Wow, can you teach me that?
Sing: Sure, lesson ONE!
[pops the ball, the little boy starts crying]
more
Movie Connections:
References Gone with the Wind (1939) more
Soundtrack:
Fishermen's Song of the East China Sea more

FAQ

What are the differences between the US-DVD (Rated R) and the uncut Hongkong version?
more
96 out of 122 people found the following comment useful.
This movie will blow you away!, 3 February 2005
10/10

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Kung fu (2004)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Does Chow Yun Fat has anything to do with this movie? Azarazar007
Who attacked the mob boss? tearjerky22
Is there anyone cooler than the landlady? rhps2000
Funniest Moment (mild spoilers) thepilot17_71317
This is the greatest movie ever made. DefJeff
what the crap? Shteve3
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