| Kung Fu Hustle (Widescreen Edition) |
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List Price: $19.94
Buy New: $9.79
You Save: $10.15 (51%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $5.99
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 186 reviews)
Sales Rank: 822
Category: DVD
Actors: Sheng Yi Huang, Qiu Yuen, Wah Yuen
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Studio: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Label: Sony Pictures
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Cantonese Chinese (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 99 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
ISBN: 1404979972
UPC: 043396108820
EAN: 9781404979970
ASIN: B0009S4IHY
Release Date: August 9, 2005
Theatrical Release Date: April 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Movie-kinetics genius. Kung Fu Hustle takes the gleeful mayhem of Hong Kong action movies, the deadpan physical humor of silent comedies, and the sheer elasticity of Wile E. Coyote cartoons and fuses them into a spectacle that is simple in its joys and mind-boggling in its orchestration. A run-down slum has been poor but peaceful until a bunch of black-suited gangsters called the Axe Gang show up to cause trouble--and discover that, hidden among the humble poor, are three kung fu masters trying to live an ordinary life. But after these martial artists repulse the gang with their flying fists and feet, the gang leader hires a pair of assassins, whose arrival leads to the unveiling of more secrets, until both the screen and the audience are dizzy with hyperbolic fight artistry (choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, who also choreographed The Matrix). Weaving through this escalating fury is a loudmouthed loser (writer/director/actor Stephen Chow) who suddenly finds himself having to live up to his bragging. Kung Fu Hustle more than lives up to the promise of Chow's previous film, Shaolin Soccer--it's a movie made by an imagination unfettered by the laws of physics. Hugely entertaining. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Stephen Chow (director and star of Shaolin Soccer) is at it again with his newest action-packed and comedic martial-arts adventure, KUNG FU HUSTLE. From wildly imaginative kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've never seen action this outrageous and characters this zany! With jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yuen Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix), KUNG FU HUSTLE will blow you away! In a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing (Stephen Chow) desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turn out to be kung fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung fu master of all.
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Customer Reviews: Read 181 more reviews...
 A Relentless Masterpiece! May 21, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Everything about this film is enthralling! The lush cinematography, with its brilliant blues, deep reds and browns, make the set designs stand as living sculptures. The situations are both tender and extremely violent. The acting is natural and confident from all sides. Some of the 1940's style costumes worn by the female characters can be matted and framed. The story is ridiculously far-fetched, yet it somehow works in that kung fu way; Anarchy usually reigns in these fictitious villages which are often in the midst of being oppressed by some ultra-violent group of thugs. Lastly, the score is a perfect complement to the visuals on screen. Stephen Chow is some talented actor/director! Anyway, if you are a fan of Quintin Tarrentino, and like the CGI effects of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then chances are, you will absolutely fall in love with this exciting action-comedy. Don't worry though if you're not a big action picture buff. Being a lover of film is enough to appreciate all the references to classic movies that are shown by Chow in Kung Fu Hustle. I can't wait to see the sequel that's been announced this year. Please, do yourself a favor, and see this amazing film!!! Trust me, I regret that I had waited this long to see it.
 China's Charlie Chaplin May 21, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Kung Fu Hustle" is the most beautifully crafted of my three favorite Stephen Chow's films - "Shaolin Soccer," King of Comedy" and this one. Comedy, martial arts and traditional Chinese fairy tale are all rolled up together in Chow's hilarious, inventive and masterfully told tale, "Kung Fu Hustle." If you're not familiar with Stephen Chow's enormous talent, you're in for a big treat.
Chow's leads, always played by himself, most resemble Charlie Chapman's characters. His physical comedy is especially reminiscent of Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chase - characters that are inept yet endearing and enduring. Chow's hero is a loser who always falls in love with a poor girl, innocent and trusting. Both of them apparently destined to remain at the bottom rung of society's ladder. But the similarity to Charlie Chaplin ends there. Ultimately, this comedy is about the resurrection of one's higher nature.
While he's a child, Chow's character is conned into buying a pamphlet that supposedly holds the secret to great spiritual power. Shortly afterwards, a humiliating incident causes him to lose faith in that power, and mistrust his better impulses. Consequently, as an adult, all he wants is to be a really bad guy -in the worst way,literally. Most of the film's humor comes from his ridiculous and self defeating attempts to prove just how bad he is. Like a misguided Don Quixote, his quest is to align himself with evil. At his side is his bumbling, confused and even more ineffectual, but ever loyal, companion.
Our hero chooses Pig Sty Alley, a rundown housing complex, for his first attempt to prove how bad he is. Thinking he's picked an even bigger bunch of losers than he himself, he tangles with the strange assortment of seemingly ordinary characters who inhabit this Chinese tenement. However, they aren't in the least intimidated by his criminal pose, and they prove to be a lot tougher than he anticipates. They're much more concerned about what's gong on in the neighborhood than about any potential danger he might bring. Desperate to be taken seriously, he accidentally gets himself involved in his first dicey situation.
His determination to hook up with evil takes him, and the people of the neighborhood, into ever more challenging, frightening, and serious confrontations with really bad guys, which brings out surprising strengths in the people of Pig Sty Alley. When finally faced with evil personified, the hero's true spirit emerges.
This movie is wonderful entertainment for all ages. But for anyone who wants to be a filmmaker, it's a lesson that shouldn't be missed. Stephen Chow is one of the best filmmakers of today. He writes, directs and acts in all his movies. He pays equal attention to every aspect of filmmaking - whether special effects, editing, set and costume design, sound effects, music, character, or story development. Every character is unique and distinct. He works against the expected. In one very funny chase scene, he uses classical music instead of typically comic music. Listen for the pinball sound effects during a free-for-all fight scene. I've seen this movie many times and I never cease to marvel at his ingenuity, complexity and originality.
As a bonus, his story is powerfully optimistic. It shows us that fighting courageously for the good, and to be truly yourself, can elevate you to heights you never dreamed of (really!) That the least among us may carry hidden greatness. That together we can win against enormous odds. That once we understand who we really are, and what we are here to give, love will be ours. And, last but not least, that we can laugh at ourselves along the way.
 technically brilliant but empty May 12, 2006
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
There are some pretty breathtaking special effects and handsome cast members but in the end this is a film all about virtuosity and technical brilliance at the expense of anything remotely meaningful.if you have an appetite for violence/orient,but want something deeper check out 'House of the flying Daggers' or 'Ong Bak'
The most surprising movie since the "Fargo" April 17, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
On the recommendation of a friend, I picked up Stephen Chow's "Kung-Fu Hustle" -- "It's a martial arts comedy," he said. He may have committed the worst case of under-selling a product I've ever come across.
"Kung-Fu Hustle" contains the most surprising, you'll-never-see-this-coming humor I've seen in a movie since I saw Steve Buscemi's leg (with sock) meeting its destiny in a woodchipper in the Coen brothers' "Fargo." I will be brief, so as not to spoil any of the surprises for you, but without giving too much away, you will see subtle and not-so-subtle references to such moments as Sean Connery's death scene in "The Untouchables," the "hallway of blood" from "The Shining," the fight scenes from "The Matrix," and the Roadrunner versus Wile E. Coyote.
Some movies, such as Stanley Tucci's "Big Night," just make you smile with their tone and general warmth. I never thought I'd say that about a martial arts film, but from the moment the Axe Gang shows up in "Reservoir Dogs" apparel, kills a few gangsters, and then dances some fantastic mish-mash step/line dancing, I was enthralled with "Kung Fu Hustle." Also, who can't love a movie mainly set in "Pig Sty Alley," ruled by the Landlady, a witty spoof of all "dragon lady" stereotypes.
Avoid all reviews and spoilers for this movie -- while I expect "Kung Fu Hustle" will hold up on repeated viewings, I will never again be as surprised or thrilled as I was the first time I saw it. A wonderful addition to the film library.
Impossible! April 13, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I firmly believe Stephen Chow's intention was purely to have fun with this movie. Nothing else could explain it, for me. It could have come off as grandiose and silly but instead it is a spectacle-fest, thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The violence may be slightly disconcerting at first. I'd heard it was action-comedy but I didnt expect that level of violence. However, when you get into the meat of the movie, it's priceless. I laughed harder than I had done in a long time. It's rather difficult to find adjectives to describe this movie, which stretches imagination and caricature. The synchrony is lovely. I loved the dance by the Axe Gang and the general kung fu choreography. The CGI effects are first rate. I've seen this movie more than once. Definitely highly recommended.
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