KUNG FU HUSTLE - Stephen Chow's latest Kung Fu Flick

[SPJ]

Actually, it means "still playing ball or always playing ball?" Zhong Ti Ball?

There are also character developments just in more extreme ways.

They are all high hands. They have seen enough fighting and retired in disguise.

1. The Tang Tui kicker works as a laborer or "Gu Li" and owed 3 months' rents.

2. The Hung Gar southern fist tailor is gay or a rabbit.

3. The English speaking dough and Chinese doughnut "Yo Tiau" maker wields Ba Gua Gun (staff). His nickname is Gwai or ghost.

4. The Tai Chi landlord and Lion Roar landlady lost a son and now in hiding.

Each showed up only at the last minute.

The Tang Tui kicker showed up to save the kids from getting burned.

The whole film actually is more about Sing (Stephen Chow Xing Chi) in different stages.

[PangQuan]

This is where not speaking chinese really sucks. I dont get to really hear the movie.

I just started to learn so maybe in 5 years or so...

[No_Know]

I perceived it as standard Chinese style theatre--with uniform jestures and big emotion so that one could get it even without a command of the spoken language. Soon people will be knowledgeable in counting to three in Southern Chinese at least.

One hidden master was hands, one was legs, one was weapon. The highr forms of Kung-Fu was music because in the translation to English the hiding wanna-be thug said~ she sings. Next higher or same height was deflection or redistribution of force/lightness/softness/flexibility with great grip-twisting strengthof the hands-wrists. A superior fighting skill of Kung-Fu is indicated to be Music, and restructuring sound in a focused manner. The tunes were probabally hints as to the attacks. I should go study the classics more...Greater Kung-Fu skill was being able to take strikes whithout damage to your performance. I called this correctly early in the film showing, thanks to exposure to the talkie "Five Deadly Venoms," in which I associated the same skill to take hits. Also developed useability of the head in attacking. But the highest form of Kung-Fu I got from this talkie was Humility/Mercy. The best fighter thought he couldn't fight and didn't realize his actual ability. The most experienced figher or Killer there was shown One technique that was not comprehensibe to him. Mercy.~

The higher in skill the more it was subtle or hidden. The Gang was disrespectful to the top Killer because of his appearance. But he seemed to know his skill and abilities and their dis respect just showed him that they were not knowledgeable. The middle or lower level kung-Fu people were into flash and cool appearance.

The surface is not the ocean; you might see ripples or you might see waves; but you do not know the water unless you are in it. And even then you only realize that you cannot know the full breadth or depth of it. There are no baby butterflys--Enlightenment~. -by Ernie Moore Jr.

I No_Know

[SPJ]

It is just a movie. It is for fun and entertainment.

However, the movie does carry the same messages from classical CMA novels and movie.

1. The purpose of studying Kung Fu is not to bully or rob somebody. The purpose is to help the weak and uphold the Justice. Or Xing Xia Zhang Yi 行侠仗义. If I do not do it as if go to the hell, nobody else will. 我不入地狱谁入地狱.

2. There is always another higher mountain and another deeper pond. If you are good at certain skills, there will always be someone else that is better.

3. Force did not win people. Hearts can only be won by hearts. The big kids may beat Chow up and yet Chow got the girl and the candy. On the other hand, one against many big kids. That is a lot to take on. Chow believed the high person disguised as a beggar. Chow believed that he practices Buddha palm and he is ready to Xing Xia Zhang Yi.

4. Chow was misguided by his failure or perceived failure to be good. He then decided to be bad. However, he is no good at all. He failed miserably in being bad. He picked a seemingly weak village to pick on. It turned out to be with a lot of high hands in residence.

5. Chow was moved by all the good people's Xing Xia Zhang Yi. From the Tang Tui kicker, Southern fist and Ba Gua Gun guys, Tai Chi landlord to lion roar landlady. When the toad guy interwined with landlord and landlady "Bao Zhu Gong and Bao Zhu Po", the Fu Tou Bang leader yelled something about his mother, Chow was all confused. Chow turned around and to be in the good side again. He decided to go to the hell and tried to save the landlord and landlady. Chow is willing to die for them or for something that is good. Actually, Chow is not aware of the fact that he has the indestructible body of the diamond, or Jing Kang Bu Huai Zhi Shen 金刚不坏之身.

6. Chow recovered and his Ren Du Er Mai channels opened. He has Qi flow in all of his moves. He took care of the landlady and landlord and faced Fu Tou Bang all by himself. He goes to the hell and Xing Xia Zhang Yi.

7. Chow has Buddha Yuan with the girl. So they picked up what was left behind when there were kids. This is called instant Karma or Karma in the same life and not the next.

I may go on and on.

The toad guy was not interested in being the leader of the Axe gang. He put himself in the hospital. He believed that nobody may beat him. He was out for the challenge. When he knew he was lost to the Buddha palm, he was willing to admit that he lost.

Overall, it is a good story with all the classical CMA novels and movie tidbits.

[SPJ]

Here is a quote from Wu Xia forum.

- Firstly, the old begger that tricks Sing into buying the martial arts manual is played by non other than Yuen Cheung yan, brother of the renowned Yuen Wo Ping. He's also a skilled choreographer himself and has appeared in numerous Hong Kong martial arts film.

- One of the powerful skills practiced by the Landlady where she delivers a shattering roar is actually a skill practised by a character called Golden maned Lion Lord in a very well known wuxia novel called ( Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre ). He is one of 4 extremely skilled martial artists from which forms a puglistic sect of whom each possesses a distinctive skill, the other 3 being White eyebrowed Eagle Lord, Green Bat Lord, Purple Dragon Lord, all translating loosely. Their original Chinese names sound alot cooler of course.
Another skill she uses when chasing Sing at breakneck speed is a tribute to yet another skill in ( 8 Steps of the Heavenly Dragon, see below ) called Ling Bo Wei Bu ( a non offensive skill that allows the practicer to move at very fast speed ie very good qinggoing )

- One of the skills used by the Landlady's husband is of course the renowned Taiji Quan ( the simple theory behind this skill lies in counterattacking your opponents with their own attacks, well illstrated in the film ), a real life martial arts, the founder of whom is Zhang Sanfeng, also a character himself in a famous wuixa novel called 8 Steps of the Heavenly Dragon, of which is a prequel to Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre. ( mentioned above ).

- The very destructive skill used by the 2 assassins ( using the Chinese musical instrument Guzhen or Qin ) was probably derived from a well know Hong Kong martial arts filmed called Tian Mo Qin ( loosely translating as the Heaven Demonic Qin ), where a powerful martial artists uses the Qin as her weapon, unleashing waves of killer Chi while playing the instrument.

- The skill used by the Beast at the end of the film is of course the Toad Stance, used by again, 1 of four highly skilled martial artists in the film Legend of the Condor Heroes ( also a prequel to Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre mentioned above ) of whom are translating loosely again, Western Poison, Eastern Evil, Southern and Northern Begger.

- The skill used by Sing is the very well known Wan Fuo Ru Lai Shen Zhang, translating as the Ru Lai Palm of the 10000 Buddha's. In a Hong Kong remake of a film with this name the main adversary of the person who practices Rulai Shen Zhang is Tian Can Jiao, or Heavenly Cicada Legs, a powerful skill unleashed with kicks and is played by the same actor who plays the Landlady's Husband.

- At the end of the film, when the begger again tries to sell some martial arts manuals to a befuddled kid, those manuals are actually a collection of some of the most powerful martial art skills found in several very well known novels, namely

- Stance of the 9 Suns ( the most powerful skill in the novel Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre. )

- Yi Yang Zhi ( A very powerful skill used by a few puglists in 8 Steps of the Heavenly Dragon )

- Dugu Jiu Jian ( A very powerful swordsplay skill used in the novel and film of the same name Swordsman )

- I missed out on 2 more of them, who knows ?

And lastly, though the 3 villagers that defended the townspeople did not yield any supernaturally powerful skills, they are real martial arts ie the Qiang ( the spear, a derivative of the pole used by Shaolin Monks ), and Nanquan BeiTui, ie Southern Fists and Northern Kicks, a term used to describe the people who practice martial arts in China, where the South is well known for its Fist attacks and the North for its Kicks.

That's all I know folks. Those who do know more please add in, and correct me where I'm wrong ! Hope the information was a little entertaining ! :]

[SPJ]

Here is another quote:

The Gongfu Hustlers

Yuen Wah; Landlord; Specialty skill: Taichi
One of the original Seven Little Fortunes - the famous Peking opera school performing group which included Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung - Yuen Wah has appeared in more than 100 movies, co-starring with the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Wu Jing.

Yuen Qiu; Landlady; Specialty skill: Lion's Roar
Also one of the Seven Little Fortunes, Yuen Qiu was a well-known stuntwoman in Hong Kong's film industry. She also made a brief appearance in 1974 James Bond movie The Man with The Golden Gun. She is now a housewife and made her return to showbiz in Kung Fu Hustle after 28 years at the request of Stephen Chow.

Chiu Chi Ling; Tailor; Specialty skill: Iron Chain Fist
An expert in the Hung Gar style of martial arts, he has been in over 70 Hong Kong action films as an actor and stuntman. He has a martial arts school in San Francisco and travels all over the world teaching the style.

Xing Yu; Coolie; Specialty skill: Twelve Kicking Techniques of Tan House
He started his martial arts training at Shaolin Temple at the age of 10 and still represents it as a performer on overseas tours.

Leung Siu Lung; Beast; Specialty skill: Kunlun Sect's Toad Skill
He was once ranked with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan as Hong Kong's Three Little Dragons, and was a martial arts action star and choreographer in the 1970s and 1980s.

Dong Zhi Hua; Donut; Specialty skill: Eight Trigram Staff
A famous Peking opera star in China, he was the leading man in several films directed by famed action director Chang Cheh. They included Great Shanghai in 1937c (1986) and Slaughter in Xian (1987).

Jia Kang Xi; Harpist #1; Specialty skill: Deadly Melody
He joined a Peking opera troupe at the age of 13 and received martial arts training as part of his studies. He made his first screen appearance in Slaughter in Xian.

Fung Hak On; Harpist #2; Specialty skill: Deadly Melody
He joined the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios in the 1970s and has appeared in action films directed by Chang Cheh, John Woo and Yuen Wo Ping. He also works as a martial arts choreographer.

[JohnnyMnemonic]

Originally Posted by SPJ

It is just a movie. It is for fun and entertainment.

However, the movie does carry the same messages from classical CMA novels and movie.

1. The purpose of studying Kung Fu is not to bully or rob somebody. The purpose is to help the weak and uphold the Justice. Or Xing Xia Zhang Yi 行侠仗义. If I do not do it as if go to the hell, nobody else will. 我不入地狱谁入地狱.

That was really very very cool of you to write all that down.

I wonder if there is anyone here to appreciate it? So many people believe movies are movies. That they were invented out of thin air.

Try to tell them a movie or a cartoon contains real kung fu principles and these people refuse to believe it.

Thanks again.

[South Paw]

I wonder if there is anyone here to appreciate it? So many people believe movies are movies. That they were invented out of thin air.

I appreciate it!

Kind Regards,
Klaas Padberg Evenboer
www.hunggar.nl

[grlyncher99]

And I know you are out there. This just in from Reuters.

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Martial arts comedy "Kung Fu Hustle" won the best film title at the Chinese-language version of the
Oscars on Sunday, becoming the biggest winner at the Golden Horse ceremony in Taiwan.


Taiwan has played host to the Golden Horse awards, which showcase Chinese-language films, for 42 years, but contestants from Hong Kong and China have stolen the spotlight in recent years as Taiwan's renowned art films lost their appeal.

A raucous tale set in 1930s China about a hapless gangster's attempt to prove himself deadly, "Kung Fu Hustle" bagged five awards, including best director for Hong Kong's superstar actor-turned-director
Stephen Chow. It was nominated in 10 categories.

The U.S-financed hit earned six Hong Kong Film Awards -- including best picture -- earlier this year, set a box office record in Hong Kong for a Chinese-language film and racked up millions of dollars at overseas box offices.

[qiphlow]

who was the villain in kung fu hustle--the one who had the huge battle with our hero at the end of the film, the one who used toad style? was it bolo yeung? his face looks familiar, but i couldn't catch the actor's name from the credits. please help!

[Sang Feng Fan]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/

[GeneChing]

The KungFuMagazine.com/KUNG FU HUSTLE: AXE-KICKIN’ EDITION Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m. PST on 07/31/07 (that's tomorrow) and online entries must be received by 6:00 p.m. PST on 08/20/07.

[PangQuan]

Ok, I Better Win!

[GeneChing]

Our KUNG FU HUSTLE: AXE-KICKIN’ EDITION DVD contest ends at 6 PM tonight. Good luck!

[GeneChing]

Dr. Craig Reid used the same title for his review. He often defaults to bad song title puns.

Kung Fu Hustle Preview: Do The Hustle
By Brian Crecente, 9:00 AM on Tue May 12 2009

Based on Stephen Chow's over-the-top martial arts movie Kung Fu Hustle, this free massively multiplayer game hopes to make its money through micro-transactions and its name through casual side-scrolling fights.

What Is It?
Kung Fu Hustle is based on Stephen Chow's movie of the same name. In the game you play as a computer nerd who learns Kung Fu and sets about righting his village's wrongs. The entire game is essentially played as a classic side-scrolling fighter.

What We Saw
I was able to play a few minutes against some enemies in what felt like an instance and then fought a few multiplayer battles in a village that was essentially a fighting arena.

How Far Along Is It?
It's currently in closed beta in Taiwan.

What Needs Improvement?
Ping: It's a bad sign when you're playing on local servers against five or so other people and the game is suffering from ping issues. With the game in beta, I assume this is at the top of the list to be fixed.

Multiplayer Fights: The multiplayer fights were as confusing as you would expect in a side-scrolling bout that involved five fighters. The worst problem was that people would get caught between two other players and just hammered. Not much fun for anyone involved. If it can be tweaked, it could be fun though. I especially like that you bet coins on matches.

More Chow: This is supposed to be based on one of my favorite modern Kung-Fu movies, but I really couldn't tell. Where are the over-the-top battles? Where is the sly sense of humor? This game definitely needs more of Chow's influence.

Depth: What I saw of the game made it feel like a very simplified side-scrolling fighter with the occasional multiplayer match thrown in. Kung Fu Hustle is going to need a lot more depth to compete on any level online.

What Should Stay The Same?
Fighting: While simplistic it worked. There are four movement keys, two attacks, a block and a jump. Tapping a couple of keys at a time launches different combos. For instance up and light attack for some fighters will give you a rising punch. As you play the game you unlock and can buy more and more attack combos. When I played I had about a dozen. It's a lot more fun running around doing flying kicks and sweeps to level up than hammering things with a sword.

Look: The game's look is very clean, very anime. It works well with the game and its roots.

Pricing: The good news, the best news, is that Kung-Fu hustle will be free. The developers plan to make money by selling you extra lives and items like clothing and such. Depending on how they price the extras, it could be very worthwhile.

Final Thoughts
Kung Fu Hustle is a fresh approach to an increasingly tired genre. Massively multiplayer online games too often follow in each other's footsteps. It's nice to see someone trying something completely different. Of course different doesn't always mean better. Right now the game is too light, even for free to play, to warrant my time. But there's definitely some potential there.