Kung Fu Hustle

99 Mins Distributed by Columbia Pictures Written, Directed and starring Stephen Chow Sing-chi Fight Choreography Yuen Wo Ping

Well what do you know Yuen Wo Ping was the fight choreographer (how did this bit of information slip under my film radar) and here I was thinking while watching the movie "we have a matrix imitator here who I must admit wasn't too bad and getting better with each fight" ... I should have known better that no one does hand to hand combat better than the master himself Yuen Wo Ping.

This movie is exactly what the Chinese title says Kung Fu (no Hustle) and even though its directed by Stephen chow half the credit should go to Yuen Wo ping because there are that many fights in this movie more than Crouching tiger, more than house of flying daggers ... its simply action packed with fist to fist combat interspersed with Stephen chow comedy segments (just as funny as those found in Shaolin soccer) and this is where the main difference lies with Stephen's previous effort (the action) and come to think of it with all his other previous films therefore Yuen Wo ping makes this movie his own as much as Stephen Chow does.

Action lovers will love this movie!

Acting - its so refreshing to see so many old faces in this movie and its a smart move by Stephen as this elevates the movie to something that is not just made for teeny boppers like how the majority of movies are in HK because the movie industry here are so afraid that no one will watch there movies without some current "fresh face" who simply can not act or even have a screen presence. The collection of so many fine experience actors in this movie is spot on and gives it more credibility as a movie. Thankfully the one young pop star in this movie is given a non speaking part.

Special effects - unlike the matrix the CGI in this movie was again used to enhance the action and the plot like shaolin soccer and there's plenty of it, no complaints.

How does it compare with Shaolin soccer? I would say overall its definitely a more complete movie with better acting, better story, better special effects, better characters, just better everything except in one department, the jokes are funnier in Shaolin soccer but only because there were more of them. Kung Fu Hustle has far more action in place of the jokes which is still very HK Cantonese in flavour I'm happy to say while still retaining the universal comedy element that is needed to travel across all cultures.

I have nothing but praise for this movie its Stephen's chow's best yet and the 100 million was well spent ... he is a very talented man indeed ... and Yuen Wo ping is THE master of Kung Fu.

Story/Plot: Stephen plays a lowlife hustler with ambitions to make it into the biggest triad society because he wants all the riches and women that comes with it but despite his "big talk" he doesn't have the heart to do bad.