Kung fu (2004)

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writers:

Stephen Chow (writer)
Xin Huo (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

22 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Fantasy

Tagline:

A new comedy unlike anything you have seen before

Plot:

In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.

Plot Keywords:

Axe | Gang | Kung Fu | 1940s | China

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 19 wins & 27 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 6	7:00 PM	SPIKETV
Sun. Dec. 6	11:30 PM	SPIKETV

Cast

Stephen Chow	...	Sing
Xiaogang Feng	...	Crocodile Gang Boss (as Feng Xiao Gang)
Wah Yuen	...	Landlord
Zhi Hua Dong	...	Donut
Kwok-Kwan Chan	...	Brother Sum (as Danny Chan)
Chi Chung Lam	...	Bone (Sing's Sidekick) (as Lam Tze Chung)
Siu-Lung Leung	...	The Beast
Qiu Yuen	...	Landlady
Kai Man Tin	...	Axe Gang Advisor
Kang Xi Jia	...	Harpist #1
Hak On Fung	...	Harpist #2
Shengyi Huang	...	Fong
Suet Lam	...	Axe Gang Vice General
Cheung-Yan Yuen	...	Beggar (as Cheng Yan Yuen)
Chi Ling Chiu	...	Tailor
Yu Xing	...	Coolie
Yibai Zhang	...	Inspector Chan (as Zhang Yi Bai)
Si Lu Ren	...	Suzie
Xiao Lung Ding	...	Mr. Gold
Ming Ming Zhang	...	Mr. Silver
Oliver Wong	...	Inspector
Kai Shi Chen	...	Rabbit-Tooth Jane
Wellson Chin	...	Neighbour A
Wen Hui He	...	Jiang Bao
David Hung	...	Mr. Big
Billy Ma	...	Axe Gang Member
Hao Tian Yuan	...	Little Sing
Min Hun Fung	...	Four Eye Clerk
Lun Yeung	...	Neighbour B
Chao Xia Liu	...	Neighbour C

Directed by
Stephen Chow

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stephen Chow		writer
Xin Huo		writer
Chan Man Keung		writer
Kan-Cheung Tsang		writer

Produced by
Bill Borden	....	executive producer
Wellson Chin	....	associate producer
Stephen Chow	....	producer
Po Chu Chui	....	producer
Rita Fung	....	associate producer
David Hung	....	executive producer
Jeffrey Lau	....	producer
Zhonglei Wang	....	executive producer
Connie Wong	....	line producer
Hai Cheng Zhao	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stephen Chow
Ying-Wah Wong		(as Raymond Wong)
Hang Yi
Xian Luo Zong

Cinematography by
Hang-Sang Poon

Film Editing by
Angie Lam

Production Design by
Oliver Wong

Art Direction by
Second Chan

Costume Design by
Shirley Chan

Makeup Department
Sai Hua Cai	....	assistant makeup artist
Man Kuen Chow	....	makeup artist
Maggie Choy	....	makeup artist
Chang Ming Gao	....	assistant hair stylist
Cong Lan Ji	....	assistant hair stylist
Jia Lu	....	assistant hair stylist
Yuan Tian	....	assistant makeup artist
Mike Tse	....	hair stylist
Ronald Yeung	....	hair stylist
Qian Zhang	....	assistant makeup artist
Ying Xia Zhao	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Paul Au	....	production manager
Ng Kam Chiu	....	unit production manager
Angie Lam	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sylvia Liu	....	first assistant director
Eddy Yeung	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Shi Bin	....	assistant art director
Yao Jun	....	assistant art director
Crystal Lau	....	assistant art director
Zhao Nuo Li	....	assistant art director
Chung Kim Wai	....	property master

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound designer
Steve Burgess	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Burgess	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound editor
Vic Kaspar	....	sound editor
Chi-tat Leung	....	sound
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound effects editor (as Rob Mackenzie)
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Mackenzie)
Jo Mion	....	sound editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound designer
Paul Pirola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven Ticknor	....	sound designer
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Chin-Wing Cheng	....	colorist
Frankie Chung	....	visual effects supervisor
John Galvin	....	colorist
Harry Ching Wei Hung	....	lighting and texture supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures
Kith Ng	....	CG supervisor
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Tommy Tom	....	visual effects producer
Manfred Yip	....	colorist
Phil Green	....	calibration (uncredited)

Stunts
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	....	additional action choreographer (as Sammo Hung)

Camera and Electrical Department
Saeed Adyani	....	still photographer
Baoquan Li	....	Steadicam operator
Chok Shun Tang	....	still photographer
Che Wai Wong	....	camera operator

Music Department
Ross Cockle	....	score mix: traditional music
Ian McLoughlin	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Petrina Ho	....	production coordinator
Joyce Hsieh	....	production accountant
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	....	action director
Peggy Lee	....	production controller
Christina Liu	....	publicist
Shun-Yee Yuen	....	assistant action director
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action choreographer
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action director

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
• Star Overseas
• Beijing Film Studio
• China Film Group
• Huayi Brothers

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Centro Digital Pictures Ltd. (visual effects)
• Pacific Ocean Make-Up Special Effect (special makeup effects)

Other Companies

• Centro Digital Pictures Ltd.  digital intermediate
• Cinerent  equipment supplied by (as Cinerent Ltd.)
• Cinevex  negative processing
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  titles
• Showreel Film Facilities  adr recording
• Soundfirm  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Kung Fu Hustle (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Gong fu (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of strong stylized action and violence.

Runtime:

95 min | Philippines:99 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Malaysia:18PL | Spain:7 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M (cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:14 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Company:

Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia

Trivia:

Most of the names of the superpowers in the film are taken from the pulp novels of Louis Cha, a household name in Hong Kong often compared to Alexandre Dumas père and credited with the invention of modern martial arts swashbucklers.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the final fight, when Beast is looking up to Sing, he's also facing the sun. In the next shot, the sun is on Beast's right.

Quotes:

Sing: [after noticing the Two Harpists carrying their covered-up harp on their back]
Sing: They look like two gravediggers taking one of their customers for a walk.

Movie Connections:

References The Untouchables (1987)

Soundtrack:

Fishermen's Song of the East China Sea

Stephen Chow is truly a great director...

Chaplin, Allen and now actor, writer, producer and director Stephen Chow can join the select few whose remarkable talent as a performer matches his ability behind the lens; Kung Fu Hustle proves it.

Chow is no stranger to direction. In 1994 Chow co-directed Love on Delivery and since then a number of other self starring projects and many of these projects are considered the best of his acting career. However his skills as a comedian - be it his brash physical comedy (Shaolin Soccer), his manical scenarios (Tricky Brains) or epic historical parodies (A Chinese Oddsey) - have never outshined his talents as a director. Kung Fu Hustle not only reminds us of Chow's terrific comedic timing, it introduces us to his stunning visual eye and exhilarating action direction.

More importantly this addition to Chow's superb filmography finally allows us a means of defining his technique. A master of blending both comedy and visceral action with artistic integrity and traditional melodrama. It has been awhile since a director has been able to take me from quite serious and intense graphic violence to over the top ridiculous spoofing. The contrast of atmosphere and mood throughout the film is incredible and even more incredible is Chow's ability to make it all work. When the scene is funny you appreciate the comedy, when it switches gears to action you are blown away by the terrific sequences, when it switches to melodrama you are on the edge of your seat awaiting character responses, and when they're all fused together you do exactly what Chow is hoping you'll do. You laugh.

So I liked the film, but what is the film exactly. Like most Stephen Chow films while the concept is simple to describe, the execution is far more complex. Kung Fu Hustle tells the story of Sing, a wannabe gangster attempting to join the famous Axe Gang (who during some of the early scenes seem to spoof Gangs of New York - look for a firework visual quote), a legion of black suits responsible for a series of gruesome murders and complete dominance over a 1940s Hong Kong. Sing's reasons for wanting to join the gang are simple: bad guys are cooler. His arrogance causes a war to break out between a poor housing complex that secretly holds a number hidden talents and the murderous axe gang. What starts as a relatively small skirmish (and I mean relatively) explodes into a war of Miike's "Dead or Alive" proportions.

The use of digital effects in this film are extreme. Chow having succumbed to the digital revolutions in Shaolin Soccer, manages once again to use his effects wisely. There are a terrific number of effects shots in this film far more then I've ever seen in a Hong Kong production (save maybe the terrible Wesley's Mysterious File) and while I am disappointed at the lack of practical effects the impressive quality of them more then makes up for it. This film simply does not look like a Hong Kong film. It rivals Hollywood features in every category (set, costumes cinematography), but amazingly enough the CGI is really good! You can notice most of the effects, but that doesn't matter because they are used for laughs and effectively so. Some of the effects not only will have you in stitches, but also in shock and awe at the sheer incredibility of some of the scenes. One scene that sticks out is a terrific spoof of the Road Runner. Its not hilarious, but also a visual feast.

The impressive action is thanks largely to the great choreography talent including both Sammo Hung and Yuen Wo Ping (each working on the film at spate occasions). Yuen Wo Ping manages to take a scene that appears to be rehash of the Burly Brawl (hundreds of suits against one guy) and manages to make it not only fresh, but a thousand times more exciting and intense. These fight sequences demand the attention of any cinephile who claims themselves a fan of marital art cinema. Wachowski's take not, this is how you direct Yuen Wo Ping to this artistic peak.

So everything seems great, right? This has to be Chow's best, right? Actually not everything works and is not at all Chow's best film. It is not his funniest film, but that is because it takes the risk of exploring the action genre. It also relies a bit too much on CGI, and while its use is effective, it can occasionally bring you out of the film. Compared to his other films this film ranks #1 for its visuals and action, but in terms of laughs and writing it cannot surpass the classics. That being said Kung Fu Hustle is absolute blast. See it if you can at the Toronto Film Festival, import it on DVD and catch in theaters when Sony Classics brings it here (in Febuary I believe). It is action comedy at its finest.

Three cheers for Chow Sing Chi!