Went to see Kung Fu Hustle last night. I haven't laughed so hard in a theater in a long time. If Tex Avery and Jackie Chan had a baby, this would be it. Like Shaun of the Dead, this isn't so much a parody of its genre as it is a funny movie that uses the conventions of its genre to full effect. It definitely makes me want to look for other Stephen Chow movies, like Shaolin Soccer and From Beijing With Love. (It also makes me ashamed to find myself lumped in with the rest of the West in limiting my martial arts fare to Jackie Chan movies).
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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Article comments
1 - Joseph Clore
I think you are in a distinct minority if your "martial arts fare" is limited to Jackie Chan. In the past there were Lo Lieh, Sonny Chiba and of course, Bruce Lee. Now you have Jet Li who has surpassed Jackie Chan in popularity. tsk, tsk.
2 - Solonor
Actually, the last 2 or 3 in that genre of movies that I have seen haven't had Jackie Chan in them. So, I was being a little hard on myself there. However, I do think that the majority of "normal" folks would immediately jump to the names Jackie Chan or Jet Li, if you mentioned "martial arts" (and maybe Bruce Lee for those who haven't seen one since the 70's.)
I doubt that more than a handful of people you ask on the street would have heard of Stephen Chow, much less Lo Lieh or Sonny Chiba.
3 - HW Saxton
I can't recommend this flick more after
seeing it this past weekend.It's a laugh
fest,has homages to many movies past &
present,some of the greatest fights I've
seen since "Crouching Tiger,..." and is
full of inside jokes and references to
many Chop Socky movies for the hard core
fans. If you weren't a fan of the genre
before this film you may be a convert
after seeing this.