Kung Fu Hustle
The FilmDirected by: Stephen Chow
Written by: Stephen Chow, Tsang Kan Cheong, Xin Huo, Chan Man Keung
Starring: Stephen Chow as Sing, Yuen Qiu as the Landlady, Yuen Wah as the Landlord, Chan Kwok Kuen as Brother Sum, Hua Dong Zhi as Doughnut, Ling Chiu Chi as the Tailor, Yu Xing as the Coolie, Huang Shengyi as the girl, Lung Leung Siu as the Beast
Released: 2004
Kung Fu Hustle did it again for Stephen Chow, breaking box office records for domestically produced films in Hong Kong in a shorter time span than its predecessor, Shaolin Soccer. Another special effects extravaganza, this film marks Stephen Chow's first foray into the kung fu realm. It's both a lampoon on and a tender homage to classic kung fu films. Chow got several of the actors, especially Lung Leung Siu who plays the Beast, to come out of retirement for this movie.
Columbia Tristar released this film wide in America, a first for the work of Stephen Chow.
The Reviews
I'd imagine a film like this has been wandering around in Stephen Chow's mind for years and now he's finally done it. Is this what he's wanted to do all along? Is this the kind of film he's going to do in the future? I don't know, all I know is this is one of the most unique and awesome experiences I've ever... experienced. Yes, there's some absolutely gut-busting comedy, but there are some very true moments, and some absolutely amazing CG-enhanced kung fu fights. A great crowd-pleaser all around, it is not to be missed. -John Moore
The DVD
Region 3 NTSC
Released by Columbia Tristar. No extras. English, Traditional, and Simplified removable subtitles.
Very good transfer, good sound. A little disappointing in its lack of on-disc features, though a special edition is available that includes this disc and a plethora of supplemental materials including an imprint of Stephen Chow's hand.
Subtitles: Virtually flawless