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Kung Fu Hustle

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I just came back from watching Stephen Chow's latest film, "Kung Fu Hustle", and I'd like to say a thing or two, and maybe discuss it with anyone who has seen it.

It's kinda sad how the Hong Kong film industry is changing itself to please ocidental audiences. Kung Fu movies were pieces of art, crafted by hand, with no computers or expensive special effects, and yet filling each frame of the film with pure art.

Jackie Chan had been criticised, and even clashed with some HK directors, because he didn't want any wire work or special effects in his action scenes. At first, I didn't understand why he didn't want any wire work - Jet Li used it in such films as "Tai Chi" and "Fong Sai Yuk" in a good way, improving the action scenes and making them more comical and enjoyable. But J.C. kept his movies simple, always with a good, simple story and with jaw-dropping action sequences, with no computers or wire work. I mean, watch the last fight in "Drunken Master 2" and you'll know what I mean.

But Jackie Chan knew what was going to happen: kung fu films would become a product. Now, with today's technology, anyone can be a kung fu master. Suddenly, the plot was forgotten, and the kung fu movies became a bunch of CGI-filled kung fu scenes with a dumb plot between those scenes. "Matrix" was the last nail on the coffin. Suddenly, the HK film industry had to keep up with the new trend...

Stephen Chow tried to make a good movie with Kung Fu Hustle, and you can feel he really wanted to. The scenes are beautiful to watch, the comedy is there (even though it's made for oriental audiences), the scenery is amazing, but there's something missing. The plot is confusing, a real mess, you never know what's motivating the characters...

The action sequences are good, quite good, although the CGI is a little weird looking, almost cheap. And, in order to keep up with this new trend on kung fu movies, Stephen Chow had to let the ancient kung fu art go, and stick with CGI fights... even though it is good to watch, and somewhat funny, it's not the same. It works when the film is spoofing this technique, as Stephen Chow did in his last movie - Shaolin Soccer - but it does not work when the action sequences are supposed to be real kung fu fights...

Well... all in all... Kung Fu Hustle is not a bad film. Not as good as Shaolin Soccer, not as good as many other HK films, but worth a watch. Who knows, you might enjoy it...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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I have to agree with ricarleite-

I recently watched both 'Kung Fu Hustle' and 'Ong Bak'. 'Hustle' *is* fun to watch but the effects do take away from the heart of the story (hear that, Lucas?). I will say that I sensed some good old 'studio vs creator' tension with 'Hustle'; I can just hear the studio saying "More Matrix... More effects" and Chow thinking "More Looney Tunes... more sillyness... more heart". Trouble is, whenever that occurs the final product always suffers.

'Ong Bak' on the other hand, though weak plot-wise (are are many classic but fun films), I found to be pure bliss to watch. Here again are those days ricar speaks of when the action of the martial arts star is real and creative; action that doesn't rely on editors to create but instead comes from elaborate and difficult set-ups and from actors who display incredible athletic skills.

Then again not every film a creator puts forward is going to be better than the last, nor should it in my opinion. We love filmmakers who have a better than average track record and we should give them credit for trying. It is certainly not an easy industry to work in, either in the USA or elsewhere.
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Originally posted by: greencapt
I recently watched both 'Kung Fu Hustle' and 'Ong Bak'. 'Hustle' *is* fun to watch but the effects do take away from the heart of the story (hear that, Lucas?). I will say that I sensed some good old 'studio vs creator' tension with 'Hustle'; I can just hear the studio saying "More Matrix... More effects" and Chow thinking "More Looney Tunes... more sillyness... more heart". Trouble is, whenever that occurs the final product always suffers.


Exactly, I felt it too. Yet, Hustle's script felt like it had one too many drafts. Stephen Chow should have kept it simple, bad characters vs. good characters. I mean, look at Stephen Chow's character: you never know what side he is, what are his reasons to act like that, his whole "past" thing was too shallow - what was the thing between him and that girl? And the whole thing about him being a kung fu genius who SUDDENLY gets to be the best kung fu fighter in the world...

Stephen Chow was obviously trying to please the distributors, producers, to top "Shaolin Soccer", and to create a good film, at the same time. I'm not so sure he achieved it...

BTW, does every modern ocidental-styled kung fu film have a "one man against 100 black-dressed men kung fu fight"? Matrix, Kill Bill vol 1, and now this...?

I didn't see "Ong Bak", I might...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering