Two weeks ago I watched "Shaolin Soccer", a film written, produced and directed by Stephen Chow, who also played the leading role. That's why I bought "Kung Fu Hustle", also written, produced and directed by Stephen Chow and featuring him in the main role.
An unnamed city in 1940's China has been taken over by the Axe Gang, whose members all wear black suits and top hats and carry an axe. They ignore poor areas that would bring no advantage to them, such as Pig Sty Alley. Unknown to the gang a few retired martial arts masters are living here. After a third party provokes a fight between the gang and the alley's residents the Axe Gang decides to take over the alley. This leads to a minor war.
Whereas "Shaolin Soccer" is all about soccer, obviously, this film is a parody of the whole Hong Kong martial arts film genre. It has all the set pieces of the kung fu films of the 1960's to the 1990's, such as the fight scene between one man and dozens of opponents. It also has over the top mystical effects, where we see the magical powers of kung fu.
After watching it once I don't enjoy "Kung Fu Hustle" as much as "Shaolin Soccer". Some of the mystical fight scenes were just too extreme for me to accept, even as a parody. Nevertheless, I'll give it another chance. I'll probably watch it again next year.
I think that Kung Fu Hustle should be viewed more as a live-action cartoon than as a parody, though obviously a cartoon parodying the genre. They go full Looney Tunes at times to emphasize that feel. I'd personally give it another star.
ReplyDeleteOf course, i may be biased as a Stephen Chow Sing Chi fan, and it was great seeing old faves like Yuen Wah and Bruce Leung Siu-lung (the Landlord and the Beast). And i quite like the sequence with the visualized Sonic Attacks which was mirrored 6 years later in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.
Stephen Chow is amazing!
DeleteYou're obviously not going to get any argument from me there. A quick scan shows 27 of his films in my library without digging into the archives.
DeleteHave you seen Out Of The Dark? It's a 1995 parody of the Spooky Comedy genre, which might sound odd since they can be parodies themselves. Watching somebody hold their breath so a hopping vampire can't find them has comedy woven into it, even when their life is at stake.
Anyway - he goes for an extra side of Odd and pulls heavily from Leon (the Luc Besson film from the year before) for a parody with ghosts and supernatural evils. Strange mix indeed.
I think i'm going to watch that later tonight; it's been quite a while.
I haven't seen "Out of the Dark". I'm just a bit confused. What's the connection with Stephen Chow?
DeleteIt's his film. He plays Leo, the main character. (Note the year: 1995)
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