After subjecting myself to Sin City not long ago, I have to admit that I was surprised by the praise that City received by my fellow epinionators. Sure it had its moments, but it was a perfect example of a movie weak on creativity and cleverness using ultra-violence as a crutch. Throngs of movie fans rushed to the Net to give City a BJ, juggle its nuts, and put their tongues in the dirtiest of places to give praise. Figures.

Forget that cesspool of a movie, if you want action, comedy, something refreshingly new that oozes style, Kung Fu Hustle is the ticket. Make no mistake, Hustle is no cheesy, low-budget Fu flick. Hustle is big budget without throwing the money in your face every second. Large sets, loads of extras, CGI that isn’t heavy handed along with great camera and wire work brings us an amazing piece of cinema.


Kung Fu Hustle is the story of two hapless wannabe gangsters (“Sing” Stephen Chow) and his sidekick (Lam Tze Chung) in 1940's Shanghai. These two clowns try and fail to join the dominant “Axe” gang. The Axe gang are a spitting image of the Gangs of New York complete with edged weapons and big top hats. Having just dispensed with the Crocodile gang, the Axes seem to be the force to be reckoned with.

That is until they attempt to move into rural territory where the gangs have no influence. In rural China, two fake Axes visit the “Pigsty” a small town filled with the poor, hoping to be big shots. Unfortunately, they only upset a community harboring Kung Fu masters living the quiet life in the sty. The fake axes summon the Axe gang to assist them, causing a clash that goes on till the end of Hustle.

The Pigsty, a little town sporting a low-class apartment building for laborers, is home to a colorful gang of quirky Fu masters. Examples: A light in the loafers crybaby tailor (Chiu Chi Ling) and a Looney-Tunes-fast, angry, hair full of rollers landlady (Yuen Qiu). Hustle is an even split between an amazing Kung Fu movie, and a comedy/parody. Hustle mixes traditional Kung Fu wire work, big budget American movies, namely The Matrix with a hint of Japanese Anime. There’s even a little love story sub-plot, that while a bit sweet, it’s innocently so.

While there are giant, spectacular fights, and even a slick dance number, there are so many smart and amazing details that I won’t bother to share, you’ve got to see them for yourself. As for the fights, when the poor souls involved aren’t flying in all directions, the movements are clean, clear and are more reminiscent of a beautiful dance than a fight. These fights are without question breath taking in their poetic movements.

This film, in its moves, camera work, and detail could only be the result of something that was painstakingly crafted rather than simply being churned out. I not only found myself laughing, and gasping when appropriate, but I caught myself simply smiling several times. Humor is truly a universal language it seems. Even though Hustle is a Chinese language film with English subtitles, don’t let that turn you off even a bit. I never found myself having a problem keeping up, and when amazing acrobatics are taking place, the only thing you need to do there is soak in the imagery. At times Hustle eschews the movements of masters, and shows that someone can get the crap beat out of them with just a shoe. I don’t care how many times I see it, an old lady beating the crap out of a guy with a flip-flop is funny, especially considering that she could’ve just opened up a can on the guy.


Of course I do recall someone getting their head cut off, but where lesser movies do it in a ham-fisted way (far too many times) Hustle is a little more clever. The final fight between two top masters is not to be missed. Bottom line: I had every intention of handing Hustle four stars, but with City and countless other movies sporting tons of extra stars they didn’t deserve, I’ll gladly realign Kung Fu Hustle’s chi and tack on an extra star.

★★★★★

© Tony Flores 2005




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Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older