Title: KUNG FU HUSTLE (Gong fu)
Director: Stephen Chow
Writer: Tsang Kan Cheong, Stephen Chow, Xin Huo, Chan Man Keung
Starring: Kwok Kuen Chan, Stephen Chow, Xiaogang Feng, Dong Zhi Hua, Shengyi Huang, Shengyi Huang, Chi Chung Lam, Siu Lung Leung, Hsiao Liang, Chiu Chi Ling, Leung Siu Lung, Qiu Yuen, Wah Yuen, Xing Yu
Genre: Action, Comedy
Runtime: 99 minutes
Release Date: April 8th, 2005
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Official Site: http://www.kungfuhustlemovie.com
Well, it’s been about a week since attending a special press screening for KUNG FU HUSTLE, and unfortunately I still feel as if I’ve been ripped off. Maybe I just expected too much from this movie due to all of the talent that was involved, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
This may explain why rather than feeling totally satisfied in seeing an entertaining spoof on classic Hong Kong cinema with a 2005 twist, I have nothing but questions.
If this is supposed to be a comedy, then why am I not laughing that much?
Is it be possible that most of the witty dialogue was lost in translation from it’s original language to subtitles?
Did KUNG FU HUSTLE fall victim to additional editing by Sony Pictures Entertainment, so that they could cram more showings of this film into their affiliated multiplexes?
If so, could this be the reason why Sony changed the title from Gong Fu (it’s original 2004 name) to KUNG FU HUSTLE?
I have so many more questions, am I just being a bit too critical?
Perhaps I am just being too critical. Basically, KUNG FU HUSTLE is the simple story of a small time thief named Sing (played by Stephen Chow) who believes that becoming a member of a ruthless axe wielding gang will finally give him happiness. Of course, this is not the lesson that you should to walk away with, so our once good guy turned bad must defeat his past and present demons and become a good guy once again.
Visually this movie is quite entertaining even though at times the computer generation seems to slightly take away from the fight choreography of Yuen Wo Ping (Kill Bill, The Matrix, Crouching Tiger), and Sammo Hung (The Medallion, Knock Off, Double Team). However, Dragon Ball Z fans will definitely get a kick (no pun intended) out of the final battle between Sing and The Beast (played by Leung Siu Lung).
One thing for sure, this movie is now sending me on a quest to learn Cantonese and find it’s original 2004 version (Gong Fu) to see if there was any additional character development that may have been excluded from this release.
So look forward to a follow up review in the near future 🙂
Favorite Super Power:
Landlady’s Lion’s Roar
