Eric Stevenson The movie's plot is pretty basic with a guy named Sing (he does no singing) wanting to become a member of the Axe Gang. That's really all you need to know about this. What matters is that the effects are gorgeous and there's so much going on all the time. At least I could remember the main character's name! We get one awesome kung fu scene after the other. Are kung fu movies the only Chinese films that have ever been released in the United States?I literally can't think of a single one I've seen that wasn't a kung fu movie. There's always ways this movie tops itself, adding more insanity to the mix. It's hard to even pick a specific fight scene that was my favorite. We even get some great jokes along the way. It probably does help that a film so over the top doesn't take itself seriously. Let me just say you're on a roller coaster ride of a movie! ***1/2

Thao Ho I've seen all of Stephen's movies. All of the 1990's one are his funniest movies, but Kung Fu Hustle is what his heart truly wants. All of those people who said that he did not put his heart into making this movie are basically shallow. All of his ridiculous comedy movies were not written by him, he just acted because he liked acting, not because he liked the plots that those writers wrote. He wanted to earn enough money so that he could make his own movies, which reflected what he truly loved. He loves and respects Kung Fu. This is the reason why Kung Fu Hustle did not include lots of funny scenes like other movies that he starred in. He wanted to focus more on Kung Fu and less on slapstick. I respect Stephen Chow for what he has done. This movie totally got me. It teaches me that being the strongest means being able to inspire others. Asian movie cannot surpass Western movie in term of CGI, but it definitely has more meaningful lessons that the audience can learn from.

Anssi Vartiainen Kung Fu Hustle is pretty much what you'd get if you took the most outlandish martial arts anime and turned it into a live action movie. And it is amazing! Everyone, and I mean everyone knows kung fu, the stunts and powers get crazier and crazier with each fight, the bad guys are sleek beyond believe, the good guys are humble and hardworking, the music accompanies everything perfectly and luckily the special effects can keep up with all this madness.What really makes this film work, though, is the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a comedy at its heart, gently mocking and parodying the kung fu movies and anime series that have so clearly inspired it, yet at the same time it pays homage to them. It respects its genre and it shows. But, in the end, it's here to have some fun, which is great, because it'd be so easy for a movie such as this to be unbearable if it tried to have you buy all of its outlandishness as a straight up action.The actors are also very talented, beautifully straddling the line of being just badass enough to be taken seriously and still lighthearted enough to garner the laughs needed. Special mention to Stephen Chow as Sing, the cowardly main character, and Qiu Yuen as the frumpy landlady that holds the whole block in terror under her dainty slipper shoe.Kung Fu Hustle is over the top, it's ridiculous, it's loud and bombastic, it's unbelievable, it's funny and groan-inducing. And for what it is, it's absolutely perfect.

SnoopyStyle The city is ruled by the violent Axe Gang led by the sadistic Brother Sum. Only poverty stricken slums like Pig Sty Alley escape their notice. The place is run by bossy couple landlords. Sing and Bone come into the neighborhood pretending to be part of the Axe Gang. Bone is asleep and Sing is a weakling who can't threaten a child. The real Axe Gang happens to be walking by and it's an all out fight. However, it turns out that there are actually kung fu masters among the poor.Stephen Chow directs, writes, and stars in this slapstick comedy. It's wacky, stupid, and hilarious. It's a fun use of CGI. It's a simple rogue finding redemption story wallowing in the silliness of the kung fu genre. This is about the silly humor and kung fu action. I love the silly broad humor. I like the wild kung fu action but there may be a little too much of it. After a visually imaginative and engaging opening, it loses a bit of steam but it always picks up whenever it goes back to the Alley. I wish this movie spends all of its time with the weird cast of characters in the Alley.