CJ7

First I do realize that this style of humor is not for everyone, and in fact some of the jokes fall flat on me, but I must say, for the most part I found this film to be hilarious. The young kids in this film, both the main character and his enemy at school are amazing actors for their age, the director Stephen Chow not only directs a good film but delivers a great performance as the main characters father as well. If I had any complaints at all it would be about the special effects, I do admit that they are very good at times and I'm willing to guess that they were intended to look the way they do, but I personally thought they just looked to fake. Also for this being a kids film, I sure thought there was a lot of anger coming from the main character towards CJ7 especially in a few surprisingly violent films, sure it's cartoon violence but in a kids film that doesn't work for me. I have heard many comparisons between this film and E.T. which in some ways I would agree with, but correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember Elliot ever beating the crap out of E.T. So yes there is that small detail, but that is all easily over looked along with some of the jokes that fall flat because despite it, a great film with great acting that at times is down right laugh out loud hilarious lies beneath.

This is a very good movie. I have laughed out loud and cried real tears, and that doesn't happen often! There are elements in the movie like in Shaolin Soccer, and it has some of Gremlins. Not everything that happens is possible (like in Shaolin Soccer), but that doesn't disturb the slightest, on the contrary, it's very funny. The young boy is a very good actor; amazingly so (he appears to be at most 10 years old). If anything is wrong with movie then it's that it's too short. I wish it was twice as long! I can highly recommend to watch this with children, but don't let them watch alone, as it contains a very sad scene that might need some hugging to get through.

"It can be demonstrated that the child's contact with the real world is strengthened by his periodic excursions into fantasy. It becomes easier to tolerate the frustrations of the real world and to accede to the demands of reality if one can restore himself at intervals in a world where the deepest wishes can achieve imaginary gratification." Selma H. Fraiberg, Child Psychologist

Stephen Chow is a big star in Asia, and his fantasy CJ7 is a big hit. Although I'm not sure American audiences will return a Jackie-Chan-like box office bundle for this E. T. knock off, I do know that allegorical, off-the-wall, science fictional kid flicks like this are rare and fun if you give yourself into their absurdity.

Some critics liken Chow to Jerry Lewis; Chow is much more imaginative than Lewis, relying as Chow does less on slapstick and more on the intriguing impulses of a small Chinese boy, whose poverty serves as a catalyst for his life-defining experience discovering an outer space dog-like companion and his own love for a hapless but adorable father. Overcoming the bullying about his status in the playground and finding love in a classmate, teacher, father, and alien are enough for most of us in a lifetime.

Chow handles the eccentric material with ease as he minimizes CGI and marginalizes himself for the impressive talents of young Jiao Xu (actually a girl) as the growing-up-fast Dickey. The film comes close to Lassie-like sentiment but never fully settles in that territory. The requisite moralizing, in this case about the importance of love and education, is not suffocating, and the imaginative dream sequences are just that: out-there fantasies of a boy who needs a faithful toy and loving father.

The Yangtze River is known as "Changjiang" in Mandarin, therefore the shortened "CJ," which is also the name for Chinese activities such as space probes. No matter, for these multiple references serve to emphasize the lighter than air world of a man, his boy, and a space dog.

E. T. has come home again in a different form with much less fanfare, yet every child has to love the anarchy.

Funny and moving, in different parts and just really appealing. Who doesn't like boy-and-his-dog stories? Well, with this interesting sci-fi twist it adds humor and adventure and makes the story more than the usual.

Definitely one of the funniest things is what he IMAGINES the 'dog' can do versus the reality. (You'll have to watch to find out.) My family and I were laughing our heads off.

I accidentally rented this, not realizing it would be in a foreign language. I do not speak Cantonese, but I don't think this effected my enjoyment to a great degree. And it didn't effect my children's enjoyment either, as I read the subtitles aloud to them and we laughed along to much of the movie together.

There were a couple moments that I thought were lame, but they didn't weigh down the otherwise great acting and inventive script.

It was completely worth my time and I'd absolutely watch it again. (And by the way, non-Cantonese parents, this is a way you may not have thought of before, to show your children that reading can be fun. We may do it again, and this time on purpose!)

This was a totally entertaining movie. A movie from a different culture. The winer about brutality to CJ7 needs to view the movie completely, without the sappy American insights. Hey, the kid thought it was a toy - we don't all have the insight of the movie viewer. This was like a revised E.T. without the Spielberg sermonizing. Lots of fun. Interesting in the similarities in the father's workplace, and his boss to our culture. Rent it, don't buy it as once is enough... but once is enjoyable. I loved Kung Fu Hustle, and this movie shows another side of Stephen Chow. Of course, I can't wait for Kung Fu Hustle 2! Watch this one forthe fun of it... kids should enjoy it immensely.