Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 2005 Home Video 08/01/07 MPAA Rating Rated R for sequences of strong stylized action and violence Running Time 1 hour 39 minutes Genre Comedy, Action Directed by Stephen Chow Cast Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Leung Siu Lung, Dong Zhi Hua, Chiu Chi Ling, Xing Yu, Chan Kwok Kwan Studio Sony Pictures Classics |
KUNG FU HUSTLE
Stephen Chow takes the opportunity to hustle us all with his
latest endeavor. Never have there been executed such
moves as those busted by the cast of this all out spoof of the
kung fu scene. Set in Shanghai, China, in the 1930’s a young,
aspiring gangster longs to become a member of the
outrageous Axe Gang. The poverty stricken town of Pig Sty
is the location of most of the action. It is there that a landlady
(Qui Yuen) and her browbeaten husband (Wah Yuen) collect
rent from almost everyone. And with her duns for payment,
the landlady bestows a giant serving of whip-ass to her
renters.
When a dispute arises, the Axe Gang decides to take on the
little town and wipe it off the map. Much to the dismay of the
Axe Gang, the town of Pig Sty is far from being beaten into
submission. It seems that they have some secret moves of
their own to use in warding off such invading enemies.
No kung fu movie before, or probably after, will offer such a
graphic array of fighting styles. And no such film will have
you laughing as loudly. As you will see, even the soundtrack
can be a deadly force. In February of this year “Kung Fu
Hustle” became the highest grossing film ever in Hong Kong.
Need I say more? It's filmed in Chinese, but is fully subtitled
for the US market. And besides, you may not even need the
subtitles, sometimes pictures speak more loudly than
words!
Not only is it funny, but it strikes very quickly, with a running
time of about an hour and a half. But that‘s just the right
length to poke a good deal of fun at the genre. Hit and run.
latest endeavor. Never have there been executed such
moves as those busted by the cast of this all out spoof of the
kung fu scene. Set in Shanghai, China, in the 1930’s a young,
aspiring gangster longs to become a member of the
outrageous Axe Gang. The poverty stricken town of Pig Sty
is the location of most of the action. It is there that a landlady
(Qui Yuen) and her browbeaten husband (Wah Yuen) collect
rent from almost everyone. And with her duns for payment,
the landlady bestows a giant serving of whip-ass to her
renters.
When a dispute arises, the Axe Gang decides to take on the
little town and wipe it off the map. Much to the dismay of the
Axe Gang, the town of Pig Sty is far from being beaten into
submission. It seems that they have some secret moves of
their own to use in warding off such invading enemies.
No kung fu movie before, or probably after, will offer such a
graphic array of fighting styles. And no such film will have
you laughing as loudly. As you will see, even the soundtrack
can be a deadly force. In February of this year “Kung Fu
Hustle” became the highest grossing film ever in Hong Kong.
Need I say more? It's filmed in Chinese, but is fully subtitled
for the US market. And besides, you may not even need the
subtitles, sometimes pictures speak more loudly than
words!
Not only is it funny, but it strikes very quickly, with a running
time of about an hour and a half. But that‘s just the right
length to poke a good deal of fun at the genre. Hit and run.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
