The_Grim_Reaper_(BG)
14th July 2006, 12:10
Hello everyone...As the title says, I'm back with another movie from my favorite type - martial arts movies. But this one is more than an ordinary martial arts "chop-socky flick", it has won lots of awards on the last Hong Kong Movie awards and it well deserves the "cult" status among the martial arts movies fans...The fine addition of comedy entertainment in Asia is called "Kung Fu Hustle" starring the now most famous comedian from Hong Kong - Stephen Chow...He stars, directs, co-writes this piece of magnificent entertainment setting a new standards in comedy and martial arts choreography...With the addition of action directors like Sammo Hung (no need for introduction) and Yuen Woo-ping this film is a near perfect experience for every fan (including myself)...The story is about a poor district called "Pigsty" where some extraordinary people live and share the miserable life in the small apartments all under the tyrannical reign of Landlady (played by Yuen Qui). When some unfortunate events happened in the district, involving Stephen Chow character, the gang known as "The Axe gang" storms the little community and starts to give "justice" to the poor people...But when a family is about to be burned alive by the boss three local heroes (a carrier, a tailor and a baker) step in and basicaly destroyed the gang with some brilliant martial arts skills...This scene alone show the action mastery of Sammo Hung (which has left in mid-production due to health problems, and was replaced by Yuen Woo-ping). Later on the Axe gang boss hired two killers (playing a Chinese harp) to get rid of the three masters in a spectacular CGI-martial arts scene, but at the end they have discovered that these three are not the only one masters in the community...It turned out that the Landlord is a master of Tai-Chi and Landlady posses the infamous "Lion's Roar" and the two shocked killers escaped in great fear...Then the boss uses the ability of Stephen Chow character to free "The Beast" - the most deadly killer and put it against the last masters of Pigsty" district...What followed was a battle to death between the opponents, and at the end the Landlord and the Landlady escaped (heavily injured) with the battered body of Stephen Chow character, who makes a transformation using his "c'hi" and turns into a great martial art master for the final battle with "The Beast"...An amasing film (in my opinion) and one which delivers as much comedy as fists and kicks, and even a bit of drama in it...Skillfully incorporated by Stephen Chow (responsible for the hilarious "Shaolin Soccer") and adding great action choreography, which is only surpassed by other two movies "Fearless" (the last film from Jet Li) and SPL "Sha Po Lang" starring Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen...When I see thes etwo I'll write a review on them to keep you updated with the wonderful world of martial arts movies...Cheers and all the best from The Grim Reaper (BG)...