MOVIE REVIEWS
Kung Fu Hustle/ Shaolin Soccer
Matt Jameson
Attention Kung Fu fans!!! You must see these movies.
I recently rented two of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, both directed by Stephen Chow. Chow also stars in each of these films, and gives exceptional performances in both.
Now if you have seen previews for these films, you may have disregarded them as the next Kung Pow movie, both ridiculous and pointless. This assumption could not be further from the truth. These movies are stunningly beautiful examples of the genre, while at the same time hilariously funny. These are not spoof films, and in fact both boast excellent plot lines and characters.
Kung Fu Hustle is a story of 3 unlikely Kung Fu masters, the notorious Axe Gang, and the Pig Stye villagers. There are moments in this film that had me crying with laughter, but also some very touching moments as well. Chow has the uncanny ability to make you root for all the characters both good and bad - which is quite different from most films.
In addition, the DVD has two versions of the film: the campy Americanized version, and the original film release. For those of you how despise subtitles, these versions are also dubbed in Enlgish. My favorite scene depicts a chase sequence between the village landlady (who has a very cool secret revealed later in the film) and Stephen Chow's character. This film also has sub-plots which are great for the continuity of the film.
Shaolin Soccer is no less impressive in its own right. It deals with a family of washed up Kung Fu masters, who find them selves giving up on the idea of using their talents to earn a living. Only one of the brothers still continues to harbor hopes of using Kung Fu to pull himself out of poverty and into the life he dreams of living. Combining a very unlikely love story, great sports movie, and a touching film about brotherhood and Kung Fu - this film is loaded with reasons to love it.
Having seen both films I am now a permanent fan of Chow's work. These films are both exceptionally, yet unexpectedly cool and once again prove that the Kung Fu film genre still remain a force to be reckoned with. Eat your heart out Spielberg.
