Kung Fu Hustle

[Salazkin]

Anyone seen this yet? I saw the trailer and thought it pretty zany, but wasn't sure what to make of it. EW says it's side-splittingly funny. The reviews are very positive: Kung Fu Hustle, (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kung_fu_hustle/) with 86% favorable rating thus far.

[A Pathetic Writer]

I notice the lack of the superlative "Overwhelming..."

[Salazkin]

There are those around here who can get rather persnickety over such things. :rolleyes

[Camera Obscura]

I saw this film 3 times on opening weekend. Each time was a sold out crowd at the Arclight and the audiences were roaring with laughter.

It's very funny, endlessly inventive, and a great kung-fu film too.

[refriedwhiskey]

I saw a trailer last year that was much, much funnier than any of the TV spots I've seen for the official U.S. release. If I hadn't seen them and didn't know this was from the guy who did Shaolin Soccer, I'd have no interest in Kung Fu Hustle.

Fortunately, I did and I do, so I'm looking forward to it.

[fairtrax]

I thought it was hilarious. Very funny and enjoyable.

[Burakus]

I didn't think it was anything special. The cartoony special effects got boring, and the plot, or rather a bunch of subplots crammed together, wasn't engrossing enough to support the comedy. 'Shaolin Soccer', with its simpler story and fewer characters, was more enjoyable and funnier. I wonder if 'Kung Fu Hustle' would be getting nearly the same reviews if it was an American film, or if it would be derided for cliches and an over reliance on CGI.

[SoulJackerUK]

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, but I found a lot of the humour in Hustle really...odd.

Don't get me wrong, it is funny...it's just most of the gags are “pain” based, so sometimes you’re laughing, and other times you’re wincing (imo, uncomfortably so in some parts)...

Sure, pain and laughs is nothing new, but some of the gags (stabbings and multiple venomous snake bites) seemed pretty harsh visual/contextual juxtapositions.

Anyway, some nice effects and set action pieces, but I didn't think it was THAT great.

Definitely worth a watch, though.

[billythrilly7]

I saw this film 3 times on opening weekend.

I've always heard about people like you.

What makes you tick, Cam? Tell me everything.

[Camera Obscura]

I just love movies, man.

[Loaded 4 Bear]

See, Billy? You're gettin yourself all worked up for nothin. Nothing sinister about it. 8o

[Bill Marquardt]

I watched the Chinese version on DVD and thought it was a pretty good movie, but found the mixture of black comedy and slapstick humor a bit odd.

A good English-dubbed version (if that's what this release is) would probably bring out the humour better than my limited understanding of the Chinese language provided me.

[Will Write For Food]

I saw the preview to this film when I went to watch Sin City and it was definitely better than any preview shown on the tube.

[JackBarrister]

I love this movie. I think I've watched the DVD a gazillion times now, and I saw it on opening day at the theater and I have the soundtrack and

OH MY GOD I'M SUCH A DORK! :)

[Salazkin]

Goes wide today.

[Salazkin]

.

[whistlelock]

Good movie- I liked it. This movie would not have survived the Hollywood system. Too many subplots given too much screentime and the protagonist comes in late, very late.

But I've noticed that about asian movies, they want to tell you ever part of every story that's in the movie.

[A Pathetic Writer]

Goes wide today.

Funny, I say this about my belt on a regular basis.

[Loaded 4 Bear]

:lol

[Camera Obscura]

What is this, open mike night?

[Republic of Stephen]

Loved it, really fun stuff. Unlike most movies today, the story is unpredictable and the characters are unique (sort of).

[dclary]

I liked Shaolin Soccer better.

[refriedwhiskey]

I think I did, too, but Hustle comes very close. I loved it.

[wolfy262]

Visually impressive, lots of ideas, great fights, unusual characters. I loved the humour and the violence. I also liked the unconventional structure.

[CoalBunson]

One of the best I've seen this year.

Inventive.

[ravravrav]

I think I read this was one of the most expensive Chinese films ever made and the effects are really cool. The story is quite good as well and it has some funny parts too. The fight scenes are cool. :p

[Cycstorm]

I don't know about expensive but it was the most successful. Broke all time domestic box office records.

[Free]

I don't know about expensive but it was the most successful. Broke all time domestic box office records.

Shaolin Soccer has is the highest grossing movie in China.

I enjoyed both movies, more than I did any American comedy/action release in 2005.

[Pipe]

I love this movie. I especially liked:

The landlady. Always walking around with a cigarette hanging out. She was priceless. I loved her chasing Sing down the road. It was just one of those moments. Like Harold and Kumar riding a cheetah. Too funny.

The knife throwing scene. Hahaha.

Landlady (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm1228408/): How come you became righteous? Have you anything to say?
[sing draws a stick of candy on the ground with his blood]
Landlady (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm1228408/): I can't read it, it's not in Chinese!

The Beast (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0398760/): [He takes the pistol from Brother Sum] Do they make these for men?

Sing (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0159507/): [after noticing the Two Harpists carrying their covered-up harp on their back]
Sing (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0159507/): They look like two gravediggers taking one of their customers for a walk.

Man I could go on.

edit: one more thing. The axe dance/montage at the beginning was priceless.