Kung Fu Hustle (2004) Kung Fu Hustle (2004) 7.7 122,414. "I was indeed in the midst of making the movie, but it is currently put on hold in view of other incoming projects". Centro Digital performed extensive tests on CGI scenes before filming started, and treatment of the preliminary shots began immediately afterwards. [23] He remarked that despite the comedic nature of the film, the shooting process was a serious matter due to the tight schedule. Use the HTML below. "There will be a lot of new characters in the movie. We suggest moving this party over to a full size window. NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS [68] A number of reviewers viewed it as a computer-enhanced Looney Tunes punch-up. Brother Sum hires the Harpists—two assassins who use a magical guzheng—to kill the Pigsty Alley masters. [34] Sing studied the fighting style used in Palm of Ru Lai ("Buddhist Palm style"), from a young age and used it at the end of Kung Fu Hustle. [57][58] In France, the film is known as Crazy Kung Fu, and the Hungarian title is A Pofonok Földje, meaning The Land of Punches. The film was released to most of Europe in June 2005. The Asian version of the soundtrack was released on 17 December 2004 by Sony Music Entertainment and has 33 tracks. [5], Directors and their contemporaries changed the martial arts cinema together to gain more universal appeal. [49][69] In a 2010 GQ interview, actor Bill Murray called Kung Fu Hustle "the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy". [74] When it was expanded to a wide release in 2,503 cinemas, the largest number of cinemas ever for a foreign language film, it made a modest US$6,749,572 (US$2,696 per screen), eventually grossing a total of US$17,108,591 in 129 days. Both Kung Fu Hustle and "House of 72 tenants" captured the everyday life, the struggles and celebrations, of the poor, ordinary folks of China. [72], However, it was considered reasonable, as the Kung Fu Hustle production team chose to make the film's characters largely one-dimensional. In 1940s Shanghai, petty crooks Sing and Bone aspire to join the notorious Axe Gang, which rules the town through violence under the leadership of the cold-blooded Brother Sum. [102] The game was created by Japanese game developer Point Zero and plays as a point-and-click beat 'em up. A group of six people followed the production crew throughout the shooting. [9] Those scenes were initially choreographed by Sammo Hung, who quit after two months due to illness, tough outdoor conditions, interest in another project and arguments with the production crew. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turns out to be the greatest kung-fu masters in disguise. He specializes in the, Gar Hong-hay and Fung Hak-on as The Harpists, two killers hired by the Axe Gang. The martial arts choreography is supervised by Yuen Woo-ping. [44], Kung Fu Hustle premiered at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival. [6][32] The scene in which the Beast prompts an axe member to punch him harder is reminiscent of a similar scene in Raging Bull, with Robert De Niro's character prompting Joe Pesci's character. "[62], Hong Kong director and film critic Gabriel Wong praised the film for its black comedy, special effects and nostalgia, citing the return of many retired kung fu actors from the 1970s. "[49] On Metacritic, the film received a score of 78 out of 100 based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews. [31] There are two references to Chow's previous film, Shaolin Soccer: When Sing arrives at Pig Sty Alley, he plays skillfully with a soccer ball, then says, "You're still playing football?". [17], Bruce Leung, who played the Beast, was Stephen Chow's childhood martial arts hero. During the altercation between Sing and the hairdresser, the hairdresser states, "Even if you kill me, there will be thousands more of me!". Although defeated, the Beast treacherously attempts to stab Sing with a poisoned weapon. [59][60], In Korea a Limited Collector's Edition DVD was released which included a leather wallet, Stephen Chow's Palm Figure with his signature, a photo album and Special Kung Fu's Booklet with a certificate of authenticity. [55], The Portuguese title of the film is Kungfusão, which sounds like Kung Fu and Confusão (confusion). Settle in with a copy of this film, and believe... Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The second reference is the scene in which a clerk beats Sing up on a bus. As Sing arrives at the door to the Beast's cell in the mental asylum, he hallucinates a large wave of blood rushing from the cell door, similar to a scene in The Shining. We let you watch movies online without having to register or … From wildly imaginative kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've … However, the difference provides one of the reasons why Kung Fu Hustle was so well received. Many of the props and furniture in the apartments were antiques from all over China. The Landlady deduces that Sing is a natural-born kung fu genius; he effortlessly dispatches the gang members before confronting the Beast. [32] The scene in which Sing is chased by the Landlady as he flees from the Alley is a homage to Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, characters in the Looney Tunes cartoons, even including the pursuer's (the Landlady's) ill fate. [39], When Donut dies, he says, "In great power lies great responsibility", a reference to 2002's Spider-Man, said by Uncle Ben before his death. Jo Mion (sound editor) ... 7 Commandments of Kung Fu Martial Arts Movie English dubbed _RETRO101_ _Retro101_ 1 year, 10 months ago. The Landlady and her husband, the Landlord, intervene and reveal themselves to be kung fu masters as well. [40] Afterwards, with his dying breath, Donut gets up, grabs the Landlord by the shirt and utters in English, "What are you prepared to do? They arrive at the alley undetected at night to overwhelm and kill the three masters, who were moving out. With the Beast on our side, we shall see for whom the bell tolls", a reference to the 1943 film. Sing then became adamant the good guys never win and resolved to be a villain. Wah considered starring in Kung Fu Hustle to be the peak of his career. [27] Kung Fu Hustle was nominated for Best Original Film Score at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards. Sing comes into inner peace by envisioning Buddha in the clouds before arriving back down to incapacitate the Beast. Kung Fu Hustle is an action-comedy movie that hit the theatres in China on 23rd December 2004, Kung Fu Hustle 2 followed by its release in the USA on 25th December the same year. Kung Pow! There're no 'perfect' people or places, and it somehow makes the wire fighting that appears in parts seem believable. [84] The majority of the voters originated from Taiwan, and included film scholars, festival programmers, film directors, actors and producers. [64][65][66] Other critics described it as a comedic version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. ", a nod to Sean Connery's character Jim Malone in Brian De Palma's 1987 film The Untouchables. [48], The North American DVD release was on 8 August 2005. [53][54] On 8 April 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a Blu-ray version. When Sing challenges a boy in the Pig Sty Alley, Sing calls him "The Karate Kid", a reference to the 1984 film of the same name. The site's critical consensus reads: "Kung Fu Hustle blends special effects, martial arts, and the Looney Toons to hilarious effect. [50] The United States DVD releases was censored and cut in a number of scenes that featured a lot of blood or human excrement, a later release, called "The Kick-Axe Edition" restored these scenes. A rich playboy gets blown up by a gangster when he flirts with the gangster's wife. Another Yuen promptly accepted the offer. The film received positive reviews and grossed US$17 million in North America and US$84 million in other regions. [99] By 2017, Chow had already completed The Mermaid and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back. [33] The Landlady says at one point, "Tomorrow is another day", which is a line from the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation. Mario Vaccaro (foley artist), In 2005, Chow announced that there would be a sequel to Kung Fu Hustle, although he had not settled on a female lead. [100] In February 2019, during a promo interview for The New King of Comedy, Stephen confirmed that the sequel is in the works. Paul Pirola (sound design) The film tells the story of a murderous neighborhood gang, a poor village with unlikely heroes, and an aspiring gangster's fierce journey to find his true self. The original became an instant cult favorite when it arrived in 2004, but here's why it took over 15 years for Kung Fu Hustle 2 to get moving. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive. Stephen Chow was appreciated by the audience for his tremendous acting as the lead role in the film as well as his far-sighted direction. [82] In the United Kingdom at 59th British Academy Film Awards the film was nominated for a BAFTA. Disguising himself as a houseboy, he indentures himself to a rich family in order to pursue the ravishing servant girl who has stolen his heart. [35] Kung Fu Hustle also contains direct references to characters from Louis Cha's wuxia novels. A bumbling thief named Sing (Stephen Chow) desires to be the toughest member of the dreaded gangster hit squad known as The Axe Gang, but to completely join the gang he has to commit murder. Television actress Eva Huang, in her film debut, was chosen from over 8,000 women. The scene in which the landlady confronts Brother Sum in the back of his car is a homage to Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon, where he cracks his knuckles and gives a quick upper nod to the mafia boss, telling him to back off. However, the Beast demonstrates his skill as a lethal fighter, and he destroys half of the casino next door to confront the Landlady and Landlord, who are waiting to settle the score with the gang. [79] In the United States Kung Fu Hustle was well received by various film critic associations winning awards for Best Foreign Language Film from Boston-, Chicago-, Las Vegas- and Phoenix-based critics. [16][20], Filming took place in Shanghai from June 2003 to November 2003. The gang then calls for reinforcements while three of the tenants—Coolie, Tailor, and Donut—reveal themselves to be kung fu masters and triumph over the gang members. However, Chow clarified that he still wants to act, but has not found a role suited for him. Kung Fu Hustle [105], A North American release for PC and PS3 was planned for late 2009,[105] but never came to fruition. A hilarious satire of kung fu films, Kung Fu Hustle is entertaining and full of laughs. Kung Fu Hustle is basically a live-action cartoon, and it borrows several conventions straight out of the Looney Tunes archive. [78] Five more awards were later picked up at the Golden Horse Awards including an award for Best Director for Stephen Chow. [63] Film critic Roger Ebert's description of the film ("like Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny") was printed on the promotion posters for the film in the US. [84] In 2014, Time Out polled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films. It was tenth on the list of highest-grossing foreign-language films in the United States as well as the highest-grossing foreign-language film in the country in 2005. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung-fu … With Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular Kung Fu Hustle animated GIFs to your conversations. The two visit Pigsty Alley, a rundown slum, where they claim to be Axe Gang members and attempt to extort the residents before being chased off by the slum's Landlady. In an attempt to bluff them, Sing throws a firecracker that he claims will signal the rest of the gang, which blows up the hat of a minor Axe Gang boss passing by. The film tells the story of a murderous neighborhood gang, a poor village with unlikely heroes, and an aspiring gangster's fierce journey to find his true self. [5], Different with traditional Chinese wuxia cinema, Chow's new kung fu movies help with reflecting the extent to force the globalization within the entertainment industry, which later influenced local construction of self-identity. 170 2:14. I was less than enthusiastic when I tossed it into the drive of my Athlon, but a promise is a promise, after all. The work of international superstar Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Hustle is a humorous, special-effects-filled, action-packed martial arts epic set in early '40s China. Due to his focus on behind-the-scenes production and the fact that he has not made an appearance since CJ7, it was suspected that he had stopped acting. Vic Kaspar (sound editor) Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung-fu battle. Action. Get great deals on Kung Fu Hustle DVDs. The convoluted continuation of the adventures of the time-traveling, now-human Monkey King, who attempts to fulfill his divine destiny. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. Two years later a preview of the game was featured at E3 where it received mixed reviews from critics with many comparing it to similar MMO games such as Guild Wars and Phantasy Star Online. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}. Title: [19] Along with Wong's compositions and various traditional Chinese songs, classical compositions are featured in the score, including excerpts from Zigeunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate and Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Eva Huang, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan and Leung Siu-lung co-starred in prominent roles. Certificate: Not Rated [83], In 2011, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival listed Kung Fu Hustle at number 48 in their list of "100 Greatest Chinese-Language Films". A UMD version of the film was released for the PlayStation Portable. [41], The last scene, in which the beggar tries to sell martial arts manuals, refers directly to the greatest skills in Louis Cha's Condor Trilogy (Nine Yang Manual, "Yiyang Finger", and "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms"), "Thousand Hand Divine Fist", and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer ("Nine Swords of Dugu"). Through a series of circumstances, his professor makes him a synthetic body that allows him to change into anything he wants. [98] Production of Kung Fu Hustle 2 was delayed while Chow filmed the science fiction adventure film CJ7. [80] it was later nominated for six Satellite Awards[81] and one MTV Movie Award for best fight scene. Kung Fu Hustle makes references to a wide range of films, animated cartoons, wuxia novels, anime and other sources. [85] Kung Fu Hustle was listed at 50th place on this list. [5] The work has built martial arts as a viable mode of behaviour expression in the movie, also displayed how the martial arts could be transformed in the cinema industry to reflect both "contemporary local issues and the increasingly important reality of globalization. After becoming unpopular in the Taiwanese film market in the late 1980s following a visit to China, he switched to a career in business. It's a parody of martial arts films but everyone enjoys repeatedly because of how wacky and ridiculous it can be. The Beast initially gains the upper hand and sends Sing flying high into the sky. He is 41 years old, and has been busy. Basically, the real heroes of the story are ordinary folk, not the classic ideas of individual heroes. She offers him a lollipop as she did in the past, but he swats it away, ashamed of how far he has fallen. Kung Fu Hustle (Chinese: 功夫, lit. [26] The song, Zhiyao Weini Huo Yitian (只要為你活一天; Only Want to Live One Day for You), is sung in the background by Eva Huang at the end of the film. Welcome Guest! : Important Announcement. The fight choreography is stellar, and special care was taken to make sure that every character in the piece is human. Chow accepted the offer, and the project eventually became Kung Fu Hustle. [36], References to gangster films are also present. With Kung Fu Hustle the myth of Stephen Chow achieves critical mass—not just for the enduring cult he has created, the phenomenal box office his work generates, or even the collective pleasure his local audience experiences whenever he releases a film. Kung Fu Hustle was his return to the film industry after a fifteen-year hiatus. Best Foreign Language Film China/Hong Kong. [5], Kung Fu Hustle opened in Hong Kong on 23 December 2004, and earned HK$4,990,000 on its opening day. Five minutes later, a nuclear strike warning in my town couldn't have torn me away from the screen, and it's been watched a dozen times since.There's always been a certain cheesiness to Hong Kong cinema, but on rare occasions a writer or director will directly tap a nerve and somehow weave that directly into the story: 'Kung Fu Hustle' is one of those films. Creative and imaginative characters slam together in a comic blend of Quentin Tarantino meets Jackie Chan in a film that goes beyond the limits of mere comedy. It's possible that we'll look for people abroad besides casting locals". [21] Two-thirds of the time was spent shooting the fight sequences. [25] One of Wong's works, Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, provides a stark contrast between the villainous Axe Gang and the peaceful neighbourhood of Pig Sty Alley, depicted by a Chinese folk song, Fisherman's Song of the East China Sea. [71] Criticism was also directed towards the film's cartoonish and childish humour. [31], Much of the criticism for the film was directed at its lack of character development and a coherent plot. The comedic bits are so well integrated into the story that it flows smoothly from one tone to another. In total, Kung Fu Hustle had a worldwide gross of US$101,104,669. Kung Fu Hustle 2004 Full movie online MyFlixer MyFlixer is a Free Movies streaming site with zero ads. The housing arrangement of the Pig Sty Alley is similar to that of a 1973 Hong Kong film, The House of 72 Tenants. [7] Kung Fu Hustle was produced with a budget of US$20 million. Kung Fu Hustle Martial Arts Movie English dubbed (BLOCKED WORLWIDE ON YOUTUBE) _RETRO101_ Watch; Next video playing soon. They defeat the Harpists and warn Brother Sum before he and his gang leave Pigsty. The game was only available in Asia for the PC. Seeking safety in a traffic pulpit, Sing is surprised as his body rapidly heals from the injuries sustained during the escape; the pain causes him to strike the sides of the pulpit with extreme force, covering the surface with hand-shaped impressions. A wild and hilariously anachronistic tale of an imperial guard of the Forbidden City who has no martial arts abilities but a talent for making futuristic machines and must save the kidnapped emperor. The three engage in a vicious battle that ends in a stalemate when the three are immobilized through an inter-joint lock. In reality, the Buddhist Palm fighting style does not leave palm-shaped craters and holes on impact. Kung Fu Hustle tells the story of Sing, a wannabe gangster attempting to join the famous Axe Gang (who during some of the early scenes seem to spoof Gangs of New York - look for a firework visual quote), a legion of black suits responsible for a series of gruesome … He regarded Chow as a flexible director with high standards, and was particularly impressed by the first scene involving the Beast, which had to be reshot 28 times. [15], Most of the special effects in the film, created by Hong Kong computer graphics company Centro Digital Pictures Limited, which had previously worked on films such as Shaolin Soccer and Kill Bill, included a combination of computer-generated imagery and wire work. [56] In the same way as Kungfusão, the Italian and Spanish titles were Kung-fusion and Kung-fusión, puns of "confusion". Sing, pressured by Brother Sum to attack the Landlord and Landlady to help the Beast, has a change of heart and attacks the Beast instead. A scholar in search of true love. Related Videos. Stephen Chow is a legendary figure in Chinese cinema and started his career with roles in movies like John Woo's Just Heroes and taking over from Chow Yun-fat for God Of Gamblers II and III. Sing is successful, and the Beast is brought to the gang's headquarters. 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. She chose to have no dialogue in the film so that she could stand out only with her body gestures. Earlier in the kung fu film industry, it usually involved complex characters, and also tried to explore and expose constructs ranging from gender to race as well as to nation. After the commercial success of Shaolin Soccer, its production company, Star Overseas, began to develop the films with Columbia Pictures Asia in 2002. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung-fu master of all. Was this review helpful to you? Pao Lung-Sing, a descendant of the famous Judge Pao Ching Tient, is a 9th degree corrupt judge (lowest degree) who changes his tune when he tries to champion a woman Chi Siu-Lin, who was ... See full summary ». We'll need a lot of new actors. [29] The American version of the soundtrack was released on 29 March 2005 by Varèse Sarabande and has 19 tracks, with 14 tracks missing compared to the Asian release.[30]. Kung Fu Hustle was a co-production between Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese companies, filmed in Shanghai. Two famous Chinese directors appear in the film: Zhang Yibai, who plays Inspector Chan at the beginning of the film, and Feng Xiaogang, who plays the boss of the Crocodile Gang. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turns out to be the greatest kung-fu masters in disguise. (A dust cloud envelopes a fighting throng at one point, for instance, and a chase sequence has the participants’ legs churning at breakneck speed while their upper bodies remain nearly motionless.) [18], In addition to famous martial artists, Kung Fu Hustle features legends of Chinese cinema. Many fight scenes and superhuman power displayed by Kung Fu Masters in the film are reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z and similar anime. Humbled, he sets out to reclaim his title. His only other film seen by me is "Shaolin Soccer" (2002), the top-grossing action comedy in Hong Kong history. "Kung Fu Hustle" is Chow's seventh film as a director and 61st job as an actor, counting TV. It was a co-production between Hong … It features a number of retired actors famous for 1970s Hong Kong action cinema and has been compared to contemporary and influential wuxia films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero. [46] The film was first shown in the US at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005,[47] and then opened in a general release on 22 April 2005 after being shown in Los Angeles and New York for two weeks. [77], The film was nominated for sixteen Hong Kong Film Awards, out of which winning Best Picture, Best Action Choreography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Effects, Best Supporting Actor and Best Visual Effects. This piece isn't simply a 'standard' kung fu movie; it's a romance, a sweeping portrait of good-versus-evil, and a moral lesson on the use of power. [73] The phenomenal box office this work generated as well as the collective pleasure its local audience experienced potentially saved the Hong Kong film industry during a politically unstable time in the territory. Kung Fu Hustle responded to and amplified a global demand for the reawakening of martial arts cinema—and one which was fulfilled by a multitude of reiterations of the genre, all of which can be said, without a doubt, to fulfill the criteria for 21st-century action cinema: high budget, stylish, and action-packed. Las Vegas Weekly, for instance, criticised the film for not having enough of a central protagonist and character depth. A bar girl hires a struggling actor to give her acting lessons so that she can feign a greater interest in her customers. [21], The majority of the film's original score was composed by Raymond Wong and performed by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. It was directed, co-written and co-produced by Stephen Chow, who also stars in the lead role.The other producers were Chui Po-chu and Jeffrey Lau, and the screenplay was co-written with Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, and Tsang Kan-cheung. Read Kung Fu Hustle from the story Arc's Multiverse by LeonardoTheHedgehog (LeonardoDHedge) with 7,797 reads. The climate of the film industry and the expectation of a 21st-century action film were different throughout the history of Chinese cinema. [7] Yuen drew on seemingly outdated wuxia fighting styles like the Deadly Melody and Buddhist Palm. [101], In 2004 a promotional flash game was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment on their Japanese website. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan, and Bruce Leung co-starred in prominent roles. The acting is excellent and the camera work is all rock steady.Feeling jaded? Instead, the user delivers powerful punches using his palm. The Beast casually kills Brother Sum for berating him, and assumes control of the Axe Gang. [41] Also, the Landlady's comment to Brother Sum—"We brought a gift you cannot refuse" is an obvious parody of the same, to which Sum replies (in the dubbed version of the film), "Ha! The same vagrant who sold Sing the pamphlet entices another child just outside the store, though this time he is selling multiple pamphlets teaching different styles. Infuriated, the Beast pummels Sing, who is narrowly rescued by the Landlord and Landlady, and the three escape. Sing blames the residents for throwing the firecracker, and the boss attacks a barber, only to be struck by an unseen assailant. His appearance is no indication of his power; a disheveled old man with seemingly no physical fitness whatsoever, wearing a wifebeater, boxer shorts and flip-flops and suffering from a receding hairline. Its box office tally made it the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong history,[73] until it was beaten by You Are the Apple of My Eye in 2011. [9] A senior Hollywood executive said Chow was "forced to grind through four successive scripts" and "found it very laborious". Fast & Free shipping on many items! Burdened? But which one is the best? As a result, Kung Fu Hustle 2 was slated for a 2014 release. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. During the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. [15], Auditions for the role of the Landlady began in March 2003. Kung Fu Hustle survives on a comical strand, drawing inspiration from martial arts humor as well as old Looney Toons. Kung Fu Hustle is no different. It stayed at the top of the box office for the rest of 2004 and for much of early 2005, eventually grossing HK$61.27 million. [22] Hung was replaced by Yuen Woo-ping, an action choreographer with experience ranging from 1960s Hong Kong action cinema to more recent films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix. [70], The combination of the necessary cynicism and sentential nostalgia which makes the audience laugh implies that a world of human complexity is beneath the interesting deceptive surface. KUNG FU HUSTLE perfectly blends original comedy and explosive martial arts action. Kung Fu Hustle was her first role in nineteen years.
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