Kung fu (2004)

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writers:

Stephen Chow (writer)
Xin Huo (writer)

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

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

Colour:

Colour

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:

The name "Pig Sty Alley" (Zhu Long Cheng Zhai) is a play on the Chinese name for the Walled City of Kowloon (Jiu Long Cheng Zhai), a Chinese ex-clave in Hong Kong for much of the 20th Century, and well-known as a breeding ground of crime, slums and disorder. It was torn down in 1993.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Sing breaks the table leg over Beast's head Sing is seen tossing the leg on the floor as Beast approaches him, yet the rest of the table leg makes no sound as it hits the ground.

Quotes:

Sing: Fat woman, you're in charge here, right?
Landlady: [takes her shoe off, slaps Sing with it] Fat woman, my ass!
Sing: I'm with the Axe Gang!
Landlady: [slaps him] Axe Gang, my ass!
Sing: Boss!
Landlady: [slaps him] Boss, my ass!
Sing: You have to pay our medical bills!
Landlady: Bills, my ass!
Sing: We're on the same side!
Landlady: Same side, my ass!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Cheung Gong 7 hou (2008)

Soundtrack:

Zhi Yao Wei Ni Huo Yi Tian

So much fun !!

I saw this movie at the Toronto filmfest and I have to say I loved it, I really didn't know what to expect as I didn't know the director and had only really seen some pretty bad kung fu many years before. There are many pop culture references in there like reservoir dogs and the matrix.. all done very tongue in cheek.

The fight sequences are very well done and keep the movie moving at a frenetic pace, the jokes tend to be visual in nature and as such side step the normal translation problems.

All in all I thought this was a great movie and suspect this will be a huge hit !