| |
|
|
|
Kung Fu Hustle (Axe-Kickin' Edition)
|
List Price: $14.94
Our Price: $8.99
Your Save: $ 5.95 ( 40% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Starring: Yuen Wah, Leung Siu Lung, Stephen Chow, Feng Xiaogang, Lam Suet
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0043396143555
Format: AC-3
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: 2007-07-31
Running Time: 100
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 2005-04-22
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
|
Stephen Chow (director and star of Shaolin Soccer) is at it again with his newest action-packed and comedic martial-arts adventure, Kung Fu Hustle. From wildly imaginative kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've never seen action this outrageous and characters this zany! With jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yuen Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix), Kung Fu Hustle will blow you away! In a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing (Stephen Chow) desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turn out to be kung fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung fu master of all.
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great fun!
Comment: This is such a great movie! Great Martial arts -- and great comedy! All in one...
Customer Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT! TOTALLY KICKS AXE!!!
Comment: One of the most perfect movies ever made, just got a little better. If you've never seen Kung Fu Hustle, SEE IT! If you have seen Kung Fu Hustle, SEE IT AGAIN! This is the unaltered movie as it was originally meant to be seen.
This "Axe-Kickin' Edition" doesn't add a whole lot to the previous American release, it just puts back some of the details that were edited out of the original Hong Kong version, presumably for the delicate, easily offended American masses. Nothing too dramatic, just a little blood and such. For some reason Hollywood seemed to think that American audiences couldn't handle it. Which I don't get at all. I've seen other "R" rated movies with 20 times as much blood and violence, as the Hong Kong version of this movie. Plus the violence in Kung Fun Hustle is presented in such a totally over-the-top manner that makes it seem much less harsh than the mostly realistic violence found in American movies. (Like the Oscar winning "No Country For Old Men" for example).
Kung Fu Hustle is not a "spoof" of martial arts movies, it's more of an "homage" with a wild mix of crazy, laugh out loud humor and amazing martial arts action. Bottom line, if you like fun and awesomeness you will love Kung Fu Hustle. I guarantee it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exciting and Funny!
Comment: At first I was shocked by the violence in Kung Fu Hustle, but eventually I understood that it's not meant to be taken seriously. It reminded me of the violence in Three Stooges episodes where crazy things happen and then everyone gets up, dust's off and walks away. Sometimes I laughed so hard it was painful. The fight scenes with wire work and special effects are very effective. There is also a thread of childhood friendship which adds a sweet note to the film. There are a number of Special Features which add value if you like shorts about how the special effects were created, etc.
Highly recommended if you can get past the "cartoon gore".
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest Wacky Kung-Fu Epics of all time!!!!!
Comment: Get this movie. It's great. The Matrix with comedy, kung-fu, and well, umm, Wile E. Coyote type action all rolled into a great little film! Don't try to think, just let the film take you where it's going. My highest recommedation.
Customer Rating:
Summary: New axe kicking edition reviewed, this is the original cut...
Comment: Kung Fu Hustle is among my favorite films, not because I am a die-hard fan of Stephen Chow, but because I really liked the wild mix of comedy, adventure, crime caper and martial arts action. Most notably the excellent fight choreography by legendary Yuen Woo-Ping(who is also responsible for the fight scenes of Kill Bill vol. 1, Fearless, The Matrix, Hero). As I said, I love KUNG FU HUSTLE and am very much looking forward for its sequel in 2008, so forgive me if I am a bit biased. (I will try my best not to lose my objectivity)
The New "AXE KICKING EDITION" soon to be released by Sony is actually the REGION-3 Hong Kong release which I have. (I am certain)The Hong Kong release is still the one to go for if you have a multi-region dvd player. Since I almost know for certain that only fans of the film will be interested in this new edition, I will skip the plot summary. ( for those of you who haven't seen it, you may look up my review under the original U.S. DVD.)
I will go straight to the differences between the previous dvd release and this new "Axe-kicking edition"(original Hong Kong release):
Mild spoilers ahead---
Scene 1; The landlady throws her husband out of a window and drops a flower pot that ended up on the back of his head. The original cut showed a small pool of blood coming from his face, but the U.S. version digitally omitted it. The blood now appears as part of the film.
Scene 2; Sing heckles/insults the residents of Pig Sty Alley and gets hit in the tummy by a woman. The original cut showed Sing spitting up blood which landed on the woman's face, but the earlier U.S. version digitally removed the blood (though some still appeared around Sing's mouth). The blood now appears in this release.
Scene 3; This may be more offensive to others; it takes place on the eve of the big attack on Pig Sty Alley. The Hong Kong cut showed a man taking a d--p onto a piece of paper as the camera panned by, but the American version digitally removed the offensive feces. Now the paper is no longer blank. "Mr. Poo" makes an appearance!
Scene 4; Sing confronts "The Beast" in the casino, he gets hit hard on the chest twice. After the 2nd hit, blood sprays on The Beast's face and Sing is shown reeling backwards from the force of the punch with blood spurting from his mouth. The U.S. version PREVIOUSLY removed both of these sequential shots.
Scene 5; Also in the casino, Sing's head is hit on his face, hammered into the ground by The Beast. After the first hit, The Beast's bloody fist is shown emerging from the floor in slow motion...but the U.S. version removed this shot entirely.
Now for the DVD Picture and Sound quality--
2.35 Anamorphic Widescreen. The Picture is extremely sharp with solid Black levels. Colors are natural and enhancements are not noticeable. CGI effects suffer a bit of softness. But the transfer is clean and nice. It is the Hong Kong transfer from what I can tell.
Sound is in 5.1 Dolby/2.0 surround in English, French & Cantonese. I am a bit disappointed why Sony still didn't include the Cantonese 5.1 DTS track as in the original Hong Kong release. Why?!
EXTRAS: Stephen Chow interview--Bloopers/outtakes--Featurettes: w/ Yuen Woo-Ping, Oliver Wong(Production designer), Shirley Wong(Costumes)
Storyboard comparison--trailers--audio commentary
CLOSING: Kung Fu Hustle is one of the more entertaining (if not the most fun in 2004) imports. It mixes pop culture blends, over-the-top comedy, hard-hitting action while maintaining a profound respect for the spirit of Kung Fu. This new region 1 release is a bit confusing, while it contains the original cut of the film, it misses the original special features and the powerful DTS Cantonese Language track. I wouldn't advise a "double dip" for fans who own the first REGION 1 dvd, but for fans who doesn't own the movie, pick this new version up. However, the lack of DTS sound is a huge minus for this version. I STILL prefer the ORIGINAL Hong Kong region-3 release!
RECOMMENDED!! (Timidly)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
