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imdb_id=0373074
imdb_id=0373074
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'''''Kung Fu Hustle''''' ({{zh-cp|c=功夫 |p=Gōngfu}}) is a [[2004]] [[martial arts film]] directed by Stephen Chow. It is a [[Mo lei tau|humorous]] [[parody]] and a special tribute to the [[wuxia]] genre, played and directed by Stephen Chow.
It contains most of the characteristics of a typical wuxia movie, with a lot of exaggerations, serious situations and comic plots. This is Stephen Chow's only film where the mood turns darker and serious later on.
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'''''Kung Fu Hustle''''' ({{zh-cp|c=功夫 |p=Gōngfu}}) is a [[2004]] [[martial arts film]] directed by Stephen Chow. It is a [[Mo lei tau|humorous]] [[parody]] and a special tribute to the [[wuxia]] genre, played and directed by Stephen Chow. It contains most of the characteristics of a typical wuxia movie, with a lot of exaggerations, serious situations and comic plots. This is Stephen Chow's only film where the mood turns darker and serious later on.
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The use of visual effects have been widely acclaimed and the almost comic book style of the movie are its most striking features.
It is in stark contrast to recent Kung Fu movies that have made an impact in the West, such as ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' and ''[[Hero (movie)|Hero]]''.
Despite the computer-generated imagery and cartoonish scenes in the second half of the movie, the movie pays tribute to many famous Kung Fu film veterans from the 1970s who were all real martial artists in their own right.
Many early fight scenes were packed with real Chinese martial arts.
In addition, the "Buddhist Palm" style of Kung Fu featured throughout the movie is a style of Kung Fu cited by Chinese people whenever a fighting style involving open fists is used.
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The use of visual effects have been widely acclaimed and the almost comic book style of the movie are its most striking features. It is in stark contrast to recent Kung Fu movies that have made an impact in the West, such as ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' and ''[[Hero (movie)|Hero]]''. Despite the computer-generated imagery and cartoonish scenes in the second half of the movie, the movie pays tribute to many famous Kung Fu film veterans from the 1970s who were all real martial artists in their own right. Many early fight scenes were packed with real Chinese martial arts. In addition, the "Buddhist Palm" style of Kung Fu featured throughout the movie is a style of Kung Fu cited by Chinese people whenever a fighting style involving open fists is used.
The film was released on 23 December 2004 and generally received positive reviews from critics. It grossed HK$4,999,000 in its opening week in Hong Kong, and went on to become the highest grossing film in the history of Hong Kong and the highest grossing foreign language film in America in 2005.
The film was released on 23 December 2004 and generally received positive reviews from critics. It grossed HK$4,999,000 in its opening week in Hong Kong, and went on to become the highest grossing film in the history of Hong Kong and the highest grossing foreign language film in America in 2005.
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[[Image:Coolie.jpg|thumb|The Coolie fends off the Axe Gang with his Twelve Kicks from the Tam School.|200px|right]]
[[Image:Coolie.jpg|thumb|The Coolie fends off the Axe Gang with his Twelve Kicks from the Tam School.|200px|right]]
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The
1930s
Shanghai is in a period of social turmoil. Various gangs have consolidated their power with the police powerless to stem the crime wave. The most feared of them all is the Axe Gang, who controls many casinos and clubs in the city. People can only live in peace in poor areas, which the gangs are not interested in. One area is the Pig Sty Alley, a simple apartment block home to people in various trades like tailoring and baking. The Alley is run by a promiscuous Landlord and his domineering wife.
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The
1940s
Shanghai is in a period of social turmoil. Various gangs have consolidated their power with the police powerless to stem the crime wave. The most feared of them all is the Axe Gang, who controls many casinos and clubs in the city. People can only live in peace in poor areas, which the gangs are not interested in. One area is the Pig Sty Alley, a simple apartment block home to people in various trades like tailoring and baking. The Alley is run by a promiscuous Landlord and his domineering wife.
One day, 2 aspiring gangsters Sing and Bone enter and draw the attention from the Axe Gang, who storm the alley. Thanks to the kung fu mastery of 3 tenants (the Coolie, Tailor and Donut the baker), the gangsters are defeated. Sing and Bone are taken to the Axe Gang hideout where Brother Sum accuses them of impersonating Axe Gangsters. 2 of his men threaten to kill them with axes, but Sing manages to free Bone and himself before they are hit. Impressed by Sing’s lockpicking skills, Brother Sum releases them, allowing them to join on the condition that they kill someone.
One day, 2 aspiring gangsters Sing and Bone enter and draw the attention from the Axe Gang, who storm the alley. Thanks to the kung fu mastery of 3 tenants (the Coolie, Tailor and Donut the baker), the gangsters are defeated. Sing and Bone are taken to the Axe Gang hideout where Brother Sum accuses them of impersonating Axe Gangsters. 2 of his men threaten to kill them with axes, but Sing manages to free Bone and himself before they are hit. Impressed by Sing’s lockpicking skills, Brother Sum releases them, allowing them to join on the condition that they kill someone.
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The following day, Sing berates Bone and mugs the mute ice-cream vendor, who reveals herself as the girl Sing saved in his childhood. He then joins the Axe Gang. Sing is asked to sneak into a mental asylum and free the Beast, also known as the Ultimate King of Killers (終極殺人王). Once inside, Sing gets the job done with a piece of wire. At first, Brother Sum is sceptical of the Beast, but changes his mind after the Beast shows that he can stop bullets.
The following day, Sing berates Bone and mugs the mute ice-cream vendor, who reveals herself as the girl Sing saved in his childhood. He then joins the Axe Gang. Sing is asked to sneak into a mental asylum and free the Beast, also known as the Ultimate King of Killers (終極殺人王). Once inside, Sing gets the job done with a piece of wire. At first, Brother Sum is sceptical of the Beast, but changes his mind after the Beast shows that he can stop bullets.
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The Beast then fights the Landlord and Landlady, who are in the casino with a funeral bell. As the 3 enter a stalemate, Brother Sum orders Sing to use a table leg to smash the Landlady's head. Sing hits the Beast instead. As a result, the Beast gets enraged and critically injures Sing, who is carried off by the Landlord and his wife while the Beast's back is turned. Brother Sum is killed after he rebukes the Beast for letting the three escape. Back in the Alley, Sing quickly recovers,
transforming into a kung fu master, much to the surprise of the couple. Shortly afterwards, the Axe Gang and the Beast raid the empty Pig Sty Alley. [[Image:Stephen Chow.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sing fights the Axe Gang.]]
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The Beast then fights the Landlord and Landlady, who are in the casino with a funeral bell. As the 3 enter a stalemate, Brother Sum orders Sing to use a table leg to smash the Landlady's head. Sing hits the Beast instead. As a result, the Beast gets enraged and critically injures Sing, who is carried off by the Landlord and his wife while the Beast's back is turned. Brother Sum is killed after he rebukes the Beast for letting the three escape. Back in the Alley, Sing quickly recovers, transforming into a kung fu master, much to the surprise of the couple. Shortly afterwards, the Axe Gang and the Beast raid the empty Pig Sty Alley. [[Image:Stephen Chow.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sing fights the Axe Gang.]]
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Sing dispatches the gangsters and fights the Beast, who sends Sing flying with his Toad leap skill. In the air, Sing realizes his Buddhist Palm.
He dives downwards, holding out his palm as his body begins to blaze from the force of the descent. He slams into the Beast, creating a big palm shaped crater in the ground. Sing lands on the ground and stops the Beast's desperation move with another Palm, which creates a big palm shaped hole in the building behind the Beast. The Beast is completely shocked. He tearfully bows down to Sing, conceding defeat.
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Sing dispatches the gangsters and fights the Beast, who sends Sing flying with his Toad leap skill. In the air, Sing realizes his Buddhist Palm. He dives downwards, holding out his palm as his body begins to blaze from the force of the descent. He slams into the Beast, creating a big palm shaped crater in the ground. Sing lands on the ground and stops the Beast's desperation move with another Palm, which creates a big palm shaped hole in the building behind the Beast. The Beast is completely shocked. He tearfully bows down to Sing, conceding defeat.
Some time later, the mute ice-cream vendor sees a newly opened sweet shop in the street, specializing in lollipops. The shop is run by Sing and Bone. Bone shows Sing the young woman, and he walks out to meet her. The two revert to their childhood forms and run happily into the shop. The Landlord and Landlady are seen walking outside the street. The same beggar who sold Sing the Buddhist Palm manual offers another manual to a boy eating a lollipop, with a wide range of books to choose from.
Some time later, the mute ice-cream vendor sees a newly opened sweet shop in the street, specializing in lollipops. The shop is run by Sing and Bone. Bone shows Sing the young woman, and he walks out to meet her. The two revert to their childhood forms and run happily into the shop. The Landlord and Landlady are seen walking outside the street. The same beggar who sold Sing the Buddhist Palm manual offers another manual to a boy eating a lollipop, with a wide range of books to choose from.
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==Score and soundtrack==
==Score and soundtrack==
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The majority of the film's original score was composed by Raymond Wong and was performed by The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
Early on, Stephen Chow experimented with using hip hop and more modern sounds for the soundtrack, but eventually came to the decision of using authentic Chinese music, making it distinctly different from more Western-influenced scores.
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The majority of the film's original score was composed by Raymond Wong and was performed by The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Early on, Stephen Chow experimented with using hip hop and more modern sounds for the soundtrack, but eventually came to the decision of using authentic Chinese music, making it distinctly different from more Western-influenced scores.
Along with Raymond Wong's compositions and various traditional Chinese songs, classical compositions were also featured in the film, including excerpts of [[Zigeunerweisen]] by [[Sarasate]] and the popular "[[Sabre Dance]]" by [[Aram Khachaturian]].
Along with Raymond Wong's compositions and various traditional Chinese songs, classical compositions were also featured in the film, including excerpts of [[Zigeunerweisen]] by [[Sarasate]] and the popular "[[Sabre Dance]]" by [[Aram Khachaturian]].
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==Parodies and references==
==Parodies and references==
{{spoiler}}
{{spoiler}}
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Throughout ''Kung Fu Hustle'' Chow refers to a wide range of films, cartoons and other sources drawing on traditional Chinese martial arts novels to enhance the comedic effect of the film. The housing arrangement of the Pig Sty Alley is similar to that in an old Hong Kong drama programme [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070196/ ''The House of 72 Tenants'']《七十二家房客》
(1973). During the altercation between Sing and the hairdresser, the hairdresser states, "Even if you kill me, there will be thousands more of me!". This is a parody of a famous quote of [[Lu Hao-tung]], a famous Chinese revolutionary.<ref name="Ru Lai Shen Zhang">{{cite web
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Throughout ''Kung Fu Hustle'' Chow refers to a wide range of films, cartoons and other sources drawing on traditional Chinese martial arts novels to enhance the comedic effect of the film. The housing arrangement of the Pig Sty Alley is similar to that in an old Hong Kong drama programme [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070196/ ''The House of 72 Tenants'']《七十二家房客》 (1973). During the altercation between Sing and the hairdresser, the hairdresser states, "Even if you kill me, there will be thousands more of me!". This is a parody of a famous quote of [[Lu Hao-tung]], a famous Chinese revolutionary.<ref name="Ru Lai Shen Zhang">{{cite web
| title = 從金剛腿到如來神掌—論《功夫》(From the Steel Leg to Ru Lai Shen Zhang, Kung Fu Hustle)
| title = 從金剛腿到如來神掌—論《功夫》(From the Steel Leg to Ru Lai Shen Zhang, Kung Fu Hustle)
| work =
| work =
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| url = http://tvcity.tvb.com/drama/the_saviour_of_the_soul/cast/index.html
| url = http://tvcity.tvb.com/drama/the_saviour_of_the_soul/cast/index.html
| doi =
| doi =
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| accessdate = 2007-05-04 }}{{zh icon}}</ref>
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| accessdate = 2007-05-04 }}{{zh icon}}</ref>
[[Image:Kung fu hustle matrix parody.jpg|thumb|An aerial shot of Sing fighting the Axe Gang. The fight is reminiscent of ''The Matrix Reloaded''.|300px|right]]
[[Image:Kung fu hustle matrix parody.jpg|thumb|An aerial shot of Sing fighting the Axe Gang. The fight is reminiscent of ''The Matrix Reloaded''.|300px|right]]
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| publisher = Universal Pictures
| publisher = Universal Pictures
| location = Chicago
| location = Chicago
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| date = 1980 }}</ref> When Donut dies, he says "with great power comes great responsibility", a clear reference to [[Spider-Man]], when [[Uncle Ben]] dies.<ref name ="Ru Lai Shen Zhang"/>
Afterwards, with his dying breath, he leans up, grabs the Landlord by the shirt and utters in English, "What are you prepared to do?!", a nod to [[Sean Connery]]'s character Malone in [[Brian De Palma]]'s 1987 film ''[[The Untouchables (1987)|The Untouchables]]''.<ref>{{cite video
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| date = 1980 }}</ref> When Donut dies, he says "with great power comes great responsibility", a clear reference to [[Spider-Man]], when [[Uncle Ben]] dies.<ref name ="Ru Lai Shen Zhang"/> Afterwards, with his dying breath, he leans up, grabs the Landlord by the shirt and utters in English, "What are you prepared to do?!", a nod to [[Sean Connery]]'s character Malone in [[Brian De Palma]]'s 1987 film ''[[The Untouchables (1987)|The Untouchables]]''.<ref>{{cite video
| people = Sean Connery
| people = Sean Connery
| title = The Untouchables
| title = The Untouchables
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===Box office===
===Box office===
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''Kung Fu Hustle'' opened in Hong Kong on December 23, 2004, and earned a massive HK$4,990,000 on its opening day.
It stayed at the top of the box office for the rest of 2004 and for much of early 2005, eventually grossing HK$60 million.
Its box office tally made it the highest grossing film in Hong Kong history, surpassing the previous record holder, Chow's ''Shaolin Soccer''.<ref>{{cite news
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''Kung Fu Hustle'' opened in Hong Kong on December 23, 2004, and earned a massive HK$4,990,000 on its opening day. It stayed at the top of the box office for the rest of 2004 and for much of early 2005, eventually grossing HK$60 million. Its box office tally made it the highest grossing film in Hong Kong history, surpassing the previous record holder, Chow's ''Shaolin Soccer''.<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| last =
| first =
| first =