Kung Fu Hustle (2005)

35 out of 43 people found the following review helpful:

Brilliant way to spend an hour and a half

A Customer from Leicester, 25th June, 2005

Having been rather disappointed by Stephen Chow's 'Shaolin Soccer' my expectations for KFH were not that high, but this is a vastly superior film. The merging of comedy and action is nothing new but few films manage to combine the two so successfully. The film is full of stunning set pieces, great slapstick and numerous homages to many different films. What cinema was made for.

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22 out of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Fan-blooming-tastic!

Tamatha from London, 24th June, 2005

After being harrassed by the boyf to watch yet another DVD he had procured from the Far East (!!) I was pleasantly surprised to find that Kung Fu Hustle was one of the best martial arts comedies I think I have ever seen - and that includes the brilliant Shaolin Soccer.

Rightly getting the plaudits it deserves and a wide cinematic release, this film will have you rooting for the reluctant hero and laughing hysterically at the imaginatively put together fight scenes and quirky characterisation.
Absolutely brilliant and a must-see in my humble opinion, for once believe the hype!

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18 out of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Warning! You must love martial arts - comedy is rubbish

A Customer from Norwich, England, 17th January, 2006

In my opinion this is the worst film I've rented so far. I am not saying that the film is rubbish (how can it be when it has been given so many 5 stars) but don't be misled. You have to love martial arts films to love this film. Okay, some of the fight scenes are well done and it is so bizarre that you find yourself watching just to wonder if the film really is going to improve. Others have mentioned the comedy. Almost all the comedy is slapstick and childish, annoying slapstick at that. This is either a 1 star or 5 star depending on what type of film you like. I cannot see any middle ground.

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14 out of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2 hours well spent

Paulie from London, 26th March, 2007

Without a doubt this is one of my favourite kung fu films ever. This film has everything for a fan of the genre, some of it is over the top (ala looney tunes) but it just works. The cinematography is slick, plotline entertaining & also very funny, this is a classic style comedy kung fu film making good use of the technology now available.

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Absolutely unwatchable!!!

A Customer from London, 1st March, 2010

This was one of the worst films I have ever watched in my life. It was so abysmal that I couldn't watch it all the way through. I am absolutely shocked that so many people gave it great reviews, and I myself think it doesn't even deserve the half a star I have given it. Maybe it is just me, but I absolutely hated every second of this film. (amongst the seconds that I watched)

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Impressive choreography, but too much kitsch

redzed from , 6th January, 2010

Kung Fu films have always had comic potential; I myself have actually watched 80s Hong Kong films for the comic value of their terrible dubbing and fighting sound FX. Kung Fu Hustle is a film that therefore sounded like the perfect comedy formula. While there are plenty of funny moments - mainly involving ridiculous 'special' Kung Fu moves - the film is in some ways too well done. The dubbing isn't as poor and as varied as i should be, using a limited bunch of similar-sounding voices, and the large production value of this film takes away that funny cheap quality of actual Kung Fu films. To appreciate this film, I had to distance myself from my expectations and enjoy it on another level. The fight choreography is quirky and brilliantly executed, the soundtrack is good, and there are some genuinely poignant moments in the film. These good stylistic elements are counterbalanced by some fairly basic kitsch comic moments (sliding-down-a-wall-after-flying-face-first-into- it kind of stuff) that wouldn't have been necessary if the comic potential of old Kung Fu films was fully exploited. This film wasn't the hilarious Kung Fu spoof that I'd hoped for, but is still an enjoyable, fast-paced romp that is much better crafted than is perhaps should've been.

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There's something very.......

RelentlessRob from , 5th August, 2009

....Mel Brooks about this, at times funny but mostly silly film. The visual effects take a lot away from the actual performers abilities and a story line so bizzar you don't realize you're being taught a valuable life lesson until after the film ends and you think about it. Hmmm, I'll let you discover that for yourselves. I hope you enjoy it. Rob

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I want to do kung fu!

DelB from , 12th June, 2009

Brillant film with some amazing fight scenes...and some nice humour! Seen it three times now and its still cool! POW!

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