21 August 2005. Kung Fu Hustle is one of those few movie that is able to capture the elements of various diverse movie genres and successfully balance them to produce a viable, intact movie experience that an audience can relate to. In the tradition of "Kill Bill," and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Kung Fu Hustle brings together elements of the old martial arts movies, the contemporary retro feel of drama and comedy in a way that singes the senses. The blatant, visceral murders and killings along with the slapstick comedy bounces the audience in a tumultuous, emotional cosmic ride while the leading characters are both intriguing, compelling but in their own ways despicable. The eclectic use of special effects along with the uncertainty of who will live or die sets up the movie in a delicious way. There were some disconcerting elements with a few scenes left hanging, the jerky jump between scenes, abrupt that left little time for the audience to react. The tone of the movie shifted between the first third of confusion and disorientation and the last two-thirds of the movie that required the audience to re-mold their perception where the separate threads seem to be tied together (awkwardly, as this was no mystery thriller or detective movie). However, overall, Kung Fu Hustle was one of the best movies to come out in 2004.