Reviews

Present movies are more about life's lessons and the horrible consequences of war (a reflection of the times we live in), very few of them are actually meant to entertain us and even the few comedies out there have leaned more and more into scatological humor and innuendo, leaving the young audiences with scarce options. Stephen Chow has the right idea when it comes to movies.

Kung Fu Hustle is pure entertainment! The fights are very well choreographed, the humor is light and very physical (everyone will get the jokes), the drama is also light but very well accomplished (you can cry if you want) and to top it all, the special effects are great!

It is advisable that you avoid watching it with very young kids, but anyone 13 and above will enjoy it a lot. Watching this movie is bliss. The amalgamation of genres works very well and the pacing is near-perfect with ups and downs at all the right moments. If you want to spend a great weekend night, gather some friends, get some take-out food and watch this movie!

This movie is best known in the US as "A Man Called Hero". It is based on the comic book by Wing-Shing Ma that follows the adventures of Hero Hua, born under the Star of Death and cursed to bring unhappiness to those he cares for. This adaptation tells the story from the point of view of several people that knew Hero, told to Hero's son, who is searching for his father. We follow the path of Hero from his early student days in Mainland China and up to his eventual migration to the US. There are many characters from the comic book making small cameos. The final battle between Hero and his nemesis Invincible (what's in a name!) takes place on top of the Statue of Liberty!. Best enjoyed by someone who has either read the comic book or likes Asian Fantasy/Martial Arts films. An overall great movie for a Friday Night with a group of friends.

Although this movie may not be the greatest masterpiece of 2001, it is indeed a fascinating movie. For people that are not familiar with Stephen Chow's work, the plot involves a stray (and penniless) Shaolin student with the task to spread the teachings of Shaolin Kung-Fu to all the world. When the opportunity comes to use his Kung-Fu to play Soccer, he calls his "brothers" out of retirement to help him challenge the undefeated Evil Team on the China All-Star Championship. Excellent CG special effects make a great part of this movie and surprises the audience that still expects to see wires and bouncees. Even with all the technology involved, it still manages to retain that special B-movie charm that makes this movie light and enjoyable, and will make you see it again and again. An excellent addition to any collection.