Kung fu (2004)

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writers:

Stephen Chow (writer)
Xin Huo (writer)

Release Date:

22 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Fantasy

Tagline:

A new comedy unlike anything you have seen before

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.

Plot Keywords:

Axe | Gang | 1940s | China | Kung Fu

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 19 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Kung Fu Hustle (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Gong fu (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

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

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Malaysia:18PL | Spain:7 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M (cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:14 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Company:

Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia

Trivia:

The names of the Landlord and Landlady that they announce to the Beast are "Yang Guo" and "The Little Dragon Maiden" in the original Chinese, which is a joke nod to Louis Cha's famous novel "Return of the Condor Heroes" that has been adapted many times for television and film. Part of the joke is that unlike the Landlord, the original Yang Guo was a handsome youth, and unlike the Landlady, the original "Little Dragon Maiden" was a beautiful, rarefied young woman.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the first fight with the Beast, the Landlord wraps his hand around the Beast's forearm and turns it sideways, but the next shot shows the motion being performed again, this time on the Beast's hand.

Quotes:

The Beast: In the world of kung fu, speed determines the winner.

Movie Connections:

References Ma Yong Zhen (1972)

Soundtrack:

My Dream Lover

The best comedy for this year. No super-hero.

Before we went to see this movie we had heard about many good reviews of it. After spending approximate 100mins in the movie theater we were extremely satisfied and entertained. This movie is even better than we have expected. There were full of laughters almost from the beginning to the end in the theater.

Stephen Chow displays his talent as both a director and an actor. It maintains the previous Chow's style and humor as in other movies, such as "Xi Ju Zhi Wang" and "Xing Yun Yi Tiao Long", while those CGIs were not expected. In Chow's movie, what the Chinese people like is that it says no to super heroes. It just tells the stories of ordinary people, particularly those people leading insignificant and unsuccessful lives.

Several characters in this movie were played by popular Kung-Fu stars, in the 1980's - 1990's in China. Stephen Chow shows respects to them, as the way he respects Bruce Lee.

Above all, Kung-Fu Hustle is a movie with great hilarity, stunning CGI effects, fantastic Kung-Fu, and the lives of ordinary people. I give it 9 out of 10. Highly recommended!

Now this movie is in theaters in Europe and North America. The recent comments have shown a good sign already.Best wishes to Stephen Chow! Hope western people like this movie as well.