Kung Fu Hustle
"Gong fu" in Hong Kong, "Kung Fu Hustle" for the rest of us, is the Kung Fu buzz movie of the month. If you've already know about this movie, then it's a given that you'll like it. For everyone else if you choose to be brave, you might enjoy something new. "Kung Fu Hustle" invokes the campy style of the 70's badly dubbed martial arts movies that kept us entertained on Sunday afternoon television. This updated version of the good against bad goes against the artistic slant of Ang Lee's films and play more to the Jay and Silent Bob types. And in my book, there's nothing wrong with that!
In this movie our evil villans dance the hustle and throw axes. The good guys are all in hiding and trying to live a normal life. Inbetween are dudes who are just trying to fit in. We get music, fights, comic book style effects, more fights, a vague plot, more fights and finally the grand fight and resolution. I'd guess maybe 85 of the 95 minutes consist of kung fu fighting. (Rated R for the quick work of the axes.)
There's humor mixed in with the fights and I'm sure I'd catch more of it if I understood the cultural subtleties of China. Even dubbed in English, most of the humor translates well. Filmed on two main sets and with extras reappearing even after death, there is always something to watch for in the background. Stephen Chow, the hero to be of the film, is probably on his way to crossing over to American martial arts cinema in the near future.
I liked the movie but I can't say that I loved it. At times the 95 minutes dragged on but that was probably due to the relentless pace of the fighting. This is a different movie and full of tricks that you don't normally get to see, so extra points for creativity. Go with friends, preferably at a late night screening and enjoy the show.
In this movie our evil villans dance the hustle and throw axes. The good guys are all in hiding and trying to live a normal life. Inbetween are dudes who are just trying to fit in. We get music, fights, comic book style effects, more fights, a vague plot, more fights and finally the grand fight and resolution. I'd guess maybe 85 of the 95 minutes consist of kung fu fighting. (Rated R for the quick work of the axes.)
There's humor mixed in with the fights and I'm sure I'd catch more of it if I understood the cultural subtleties of China. Even dubbed in English, most of the humor translates well. Filmed on two main sets and with extras reappearing even after death, there is always something to watch for in the background. Stephen Chow, the hero to be of the film, is probably on his way to crossing over to American martial arts cinema in the near future.
I liked the movie but I can't say that I loved it. At times the 95 minutes dragged on but that was probably due to the relentless pace of the fighting. This is a different movie and full of tricks that you don't normally get to see, so extra points for creativity. Go with friends, preferably at a late night screening and enjoy the show.
i wanna see kung fu hustle, but i think i'll wait for DVD. as for me... i bought a REALLY bad film the other day. an asian kung fu film called "little mad guy"... if you can find it anywhere, AVOID IT!!!!! it was so bad, that it wasn't even "funny bad" it was just plain bad! UGH! :)
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