Everything GREAT About Kung Fu Hustle!

You asked for it, you got it! Also this is one of my favorite movies of all time, so no skin off my back. I don't think it's super well known, which is wrong, and if you want to go in blind, go watch it now! Pretty sure it's on Netflix. If you're ready to go, here's everything right with Kung Fu Hustle!
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[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Kung Fu Hustle is such a wild movie. The part where the protagonist ran away from his landlady in Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner style is hands down the best part of the movie.

[@BoboBobo-eh3jl]

Yea hahah I remember watching this scene as a kid haha

[@macmcleod1188]

For me it's the knife/snake scene. There are so many great scenes. I remember I was laughing so hard I couldn't breath.

[@snowhunter7536]

Personally, I always look back on the fight between the Couple and the Beast. That was some insane level of shit that I always crave for insane movies like this.

[@kyuubinaruto17]

@@macmcleod1188 "Huh? Who's throwing handles?" And then when he puts the knife back in.

[@Zundzer]

When I was a kid (around 5 years old), I actually met Stephen Chow once. Not understanding that VFX was a thing, I asked him how he managed to run that fast. He didn’t explain how special effects worked or whatever, but he said (translated from what I remember him saying in Cantonese): “I’m just that good.”

[@bfrog2010]

The part where the dying hero says, "Then what are you preparing to do?" in English and they respond in Chinese with, "Why aren't you speaking Chinese?!" is probably my favorite part of the original.

[@clonearmy77]

Actually, in Cantonese the landlord said "You should just go back to speaking Chinese..."

[@bfrog2010]

@@clonearmy77 yes! Lol I love that.

[@nedelwre]

I think that part is sort a parrody of uncle Ben (spiderman) dead scene

[@bfrog2010]

@@nedelwre it's a line from Sean Connery in "The Untouchables" when his character is dying.

[@tomeirak456]

spiderman is the right answer

[@ricg7675]

One part of the film that most unfamiliar with the genre don't understand; Chow getting hit by knives and bitten by snakes isn't just physical humour. It is meant to be a acupuncture treatment that opens his meridian points and allows him to access his latent kung fu genius power in the roadrunner scene and later in the film.

[@musicaladdiction2388]

Mind=blown

[@ElTequilla]

Are you serious?!

[@ricg7675]

@@ElTequilla it's pure cartoon, but yes. Goes with his 'special martial arts body' and that's why after that scene he's leaving fist imprints in metal.

[@LoLoStuff]

every Asian knew it from Wuxia/Kungfu movies.

[@Iberny3]

@@ElTequilla Later in the movie, the Kung Fu master couple also mention how the Beast unlocked the hero's hidden power by unblocking his chi flow when the Beast hit the hero inside the casino.

[@The-Dom]

This is one of the greatest movies ever made. The story telling, the character development, the subtle continuity details, the blend of satire and meaning....A timeless masterpiece.

[@robdielemans9189]

It's the Citizen Kane of the 21st century.

[@ZigealFaust]

It's hands down my favorite movie of all time.

[@madrums007]

The ost...

[@evilkid31able]

Its the closest thing to a live action anime that we will see. Hilarious, action packed and a crazy but epic story.

[@crumblemuffin1257]

Ok but the harp players fight was an absolute stroke of genius.

[@tortis6342]

Pun intended

[@Barnaclebeard]

The music throughout was amazing but that scene in particular.

[@naiknaik8812]

that really plucked on my heartstrings

[@tortis6342]

@Shutdown Tech monopolies hey there’s no need to harp on everyone

[@nelliethursday1812]

My favorite and I love the music as well

[@arandomweirdanimator5664]

As a Cantonese speaker I can say that the subtitles are usually wrong most of the time,they downgrade a lot of the jokes in the movie cause you can’t really translate the lines properly,you can’t really tell these jokes in a different language cause if you do it wouldn’t make any sense and the result is that I have to translate the whole movie to friends when we watch it.

[@macmcleod1188]

That would be a great video reaction. "What they actually said" you could watch the movie and give good translations of all the poorly translated subs and dubs.

[@Bluey306]

oh boy Cantonese insults are just _next. level._ i'm a Hong Kong international school kid so my Cantonese is pretty subpar compared to the average HKer - though my entire family is Cantonese-speaking so it helps keep it in shape lmao - and even with someone with an obvious preference for Western shows, Cantonese humor just hits different. even when I don't get half the stuff the movies are saying, the jokes (and ESPECIALLY the insults) ALWAYS have me rolling. the precision, the edginess, the slapstick that occasionally comes with it, and the _wordplay._ translators have their work cut out for them.

[@PositivelyPlaying]

As a kid growing up in Sweden, I would watch the movie with its original language and have Swedish subtitles and I vividly remember first hearing the word "fikus" (rubber plant) a lot, which would translate something similarly to a "pansy" but almost in a "unmanly" pansy. How accurate is that to its original meaning? Im very curious

[@Zundzer]

Agreed. I grew up in HK (and even met Stephen chow once) and the jokes really go over viewers’ heads if they don’t understand Cantonese. The translated dialogue is really stilted and awkward, which isn’t good for HK comedies because the humour is heavily cultural, especially the slang and insults.

[@master-of-many-fandoms2020]

Huh. I never knew that.

[@rapisor]

Still one of the best endings that caught me off guard. Beast acknowledging defeat, and Sing offering to teach him. Best display of true power, mercy, and redemption in one simple scene.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

Nope, my fave scene is the palm to thr building, lol. It mirrors the three kicks but is essentially the reply.

[@a3refillpad]

The musical scores in this movie are underrated. They're absolutely beautiful and adds so much nostalgia.

[@yal100]

Yes! And the sound design. So good.

[@Apaqalypse747]

Underrated OST comment. Lol. 🫠

[@archimedes6855]

YESSSSSS I LISTEN TO THE KUNG FU HUSTLE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY my favourite is FISHERMAN SONG OF EAST CHINA 🇨🇳

[@SanjanaRanasingha]

Yes

[@rmcowdery]

I can't remember laughing at any movie harder than i laughed at the knife throwing scene. Love this movie.

[@fundymentalism]

Who's throwing handles?!

[@TanjiroKoto]

man i remember i hurt my throat bcoz of that scene

[@GatsbyNouvel]

@@fundymentalism s

[@snailthelostcow63]

The fact they topped it in already a great comedy scene and ended it in a Looney Tunes chasing scene is just peak comedy. First time watching it I have to rewind the scene because I can't see anything through my tears of laugh, lmao

[@steffenbendel6031]

You laugh, because it hurts so much!

[@Tores444]

Man this movie has gotta be one of THE BEST slapstick action/comedies in history. Just the obsurdity of the violence alone is classic

[@smgp2023]

and its graphic so more plus to that 😁

[@pana9756]

The fights are sooo amazing. They are so beautifully filmed and artistically choregraphed. The comedy is just the cherry on top. You don't see stuff like that in hollywood.

[@MxMe-su1ch]

IMO Shaolin Soccer is better.

[@NANAQ-bk5rg]

Dont forget about the legendary music that always fitting for the scene

[@shai310]

@@pana9756 Yeah I think the part where they hit the bell was also a really great use of the enviorment. Sure the CGI is goofy but the ideas behind some of the fights is really cool.

[@faitheffect254]

Love how this movie constantly escalated greater villain then greater hero until you get to a god hand from the sky. So great!

[@billychan4542]

This is a really late addition to the Wins, but the Landlady and Landlord delivers a bell to the Axe Gang. In Cantonese, the word "clock" and "bell" are the homophones with "end". And to send someone off is literally translated as "giving end". So them using the bell as their Ultimate move is kinda a double entendre. Stephen Chow crafted a love letter to Kung Fu cinema by making classic references to Wushu film with the nicknaming and phrases found in classic cinema.

[@MoonWielder]

Two interesting facts about this movie behind the scenes: Chow originally wanted the two assassins to fight with a shark in the movie, and Bruce Leung was Stephen’s childhood martial arts hero.

[@infamous9711]

another interesting fact is even tho if u google it, stephen chow's character is named "Sing" but he was never addressed by that name once in the whole movie

[@infamous9711]

AND, the three kungfu masters at the beginning of the movie represents the chinese martial art in style of fists, kicks and cold weapon

[@SpaceJawa]

"Chow originally wanted the two assassins to fight with a shark in the movie" Sounds like the real reason he finally decided to make a sequel.

[@devforfun5618]

@@SpaceJawa sharknado paved the way for him

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@SpaceJawa what sequel?!?

[@Edward-we9dl]

14:32 They are actually calling themselves '楊過' & '小龍女' (which basically means dragon's daughter). They are a famous couple from the Hong Kong wuxia novels series 'The Return of the Condor Heroes'. (honestly recommend anyone to read any Jin Yong's novels, they are exciting, touching, heart breaking, funny and super entertaining) That series is a classic in Chinese literature that has been made into tv shows and movies countless times. What's also funny is that in the novel, they are described to be super hot, 楊過 is known to make a lot of girls fall for him because of how handsome he is, which I guess sort of happens here?

[@myrineae]

Jin Yong's books introduced me to historical wuxia novels. :D 他們有個兒子嗎? 不記得了.

[@chrisvi2433]

Came here to say this.

[@macmcleod1188]

That is the character's in there 20s and 30s. This is the character's in their 60s. Sucks to get old .

[@KennethSee]

Whelp, I'll be looking this guy up. I love Wuxia movies and would love to see their origins!

[@daverhoden445]

Any chance there are good English versions? This seems like something I should read.

[@duongtieuta223]

In 14:27 they stated their names as Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu as the protagonist couple in Yin Yong's famous Return of the Condor's hero novel. This is a parody older version of the characters but still a big nod from Chow to the original piece. I am a big fan of the wuxia novels and the series, seeing them getting mentioned all across the movie is such a great sensation.

[@mythomagic1771]

And the dub (nearly) literally translated Xiao Long Nu to The Dragon's Daughter (maybe should be little dragon girl but it doesn't sound as cool I guess), which I love

[@chee.rah.monurB]

What was the novel like?

[@duongtieuta223]

@@chee.rah.monurB it was the second part of a "trilogy" novels, following the characters in "the Condor's hero". The main content is a tragic love story between Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu, they get a HE in the end but that took like 16 years of seperation and angony. There is a posion of "love flowers" which was the metaphor for love its self. A nice touch for one of Yin Yong's the best work. This is my favorites out of his 14 novels and 1 short story. You can also check out the TV drama series. The TVB 1995 and CCTV 2006 are two of the best live action adaptations for the novel.

[@kacamatakk]

​​@@chee.rah.monurBLegendary Wuxia Kungfu Novel. A story about a sad and bad luck young boy, who then become the great Condor Hero after a girl cut off one of his arm. You may say, every Asian people know this great story of Jin Yong' novel. Many movies story, novel, comic, game and so on, developed base on this Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu (Yoko and Siauw Liong Lie) character. Title : "The Return of The Condor Heroes"

[@holkn]

There are many references to popular Chinese Wuxia novels by Jin Rong(Asian equivalent to JJR tokien’s lord of the rings ) that western audience are not familiar to. For example, dragon’s daughter is actually one of the main characters in The Return of the Condor Heroes, and her husband Yang Guo is the main protagonist. The funny part is in the novel, The Dragon Maiden is supposed to beautiful and elegant while Yang Guo is supposed to be tall, brooding and handsome, complete opposite of their portrayal in the movie.The scene where Chow steps on a condor before he unleashes his Buddha palm is actually a reference to the mythical giant condor from the Condor Series too

[@infonion]

It's Jin Yong

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

All of the fight sequences in this movie are hilarious and extremely entertaining it’s just one of those classics

[@sploosh9832]

Standing here, I realize you were Just like me trying to make history. But who's to judge the right from wrong. When our guard is down I think we'll both agree. That violence breeds violence. But in the end it has to be this way. I've curved my own path, you've followed your wrath; But maybe we're both the same. The world has turned, and so many have burned. But nobody is to blame. It's tearing across this barren wasted land. I feel new life could be born beneath The blood stained sand.

[@bigbywolf5197]

@@sploosh9832 Solid snake,right?

[@themantleofgod4722]

This bot is getting out of control

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Do you do ANYTHING other than comment on videos I am going to watch? I mean, fair do mate, you are on the ball and no mistake if that IS your day-time job. 'struth.

[@Deffine]

I have to agree with you basement dweller. :>

[@mengyingliao8024]

The tailor indeed is somewhat of a sarcasm to the stereotypes, firstly this kind of tailors usually are more seen(and still seen in some old stores) in shanghai, China, and their stereotype is ‘not manly enough”; then there’s the stereotype of gay guys were considered as “not manly” either. Yet he was one of the few to standup and fight for others, plus as a kongfu master, which is usually the stereotype of “manly”.

[@Kamikazu08]

Not to mention, the actor is actually quite the martial artist himself and is SUPER BUFF back in the day too.

[@neomp5]

there's also a contrast between his effeminate manner, and his extremely masculine hung gar style

[@chrishubbard64]

I wondered if, due to the sheer volume of references to other films, this was making fun of the gay goon in the bruce lee/chuck norris film. The one who was sort of the go between of the big boss and his enemies and other employees?

[@The.Stalker]

I mean, there's a reason that the best person to go to to get shit done on DS9 was a simple tailor.

[@paulthompson2231]

@@The.Stalker gotta watch out for those taylors man they are hard to perish

[@theouterlimits7788]

Kung-fu hustle is a Masterpiece. How the effects still holds up to this day is insane. Action, comedy, and story telling blended together to create such a phenomenal movie.

[@shroom5216]

this is honestly THE MOST movie i have ever seen. and not even in a meme way. i have ZERO clue as to why this never blew up online. it is, without a single speck of doubt, my favorite movie. and I KNOW that nothing i will watch will ever usurp it. #1 KFH enjoyer right here.

[@KrazeDiamond]

Fun fact: Those 3 villager kung-fu masters are real masters in their particular styles. The hard laborer = Eighteen-technique Swamp Sweeper Legs; the sissy tailor = Hongjia Iron Wire Fist; the noodle shop owner = Wulang Bagua Stick. The Eighteen-technique Swamp Sweeper Legs was developed in the North by villagers who ran the courier boats business where they often had to fend off bandits and pirates on waters. The Iron Wire Fist is part of the vast Hongjia (meaning the Hong Clan or Hong Family) Fighting System that originated from Shaolin 72-Styles; the practioner must possess strong willed mind, back and arms to control the 12 cast iron rings each weighing 3lbs, the vibration from the rings + the weight supposedly amplifies the punch by 10 folds. And Wulang Bagua Stick was developed by the last heir of the famous military family Yang Clan in the Song Dynasty, who gave up the violent past, fame & wealth after losing every member of his family, became a buddhist. By watching the Bagua he reached new enlightenment, broke off the spear head to make it into a stick, and transformed his Yang Clan Spear Killing style into Wulang Bagua Stick which he swore to use to save lives instead of taking them.

[@davidabdollahi7906]

Good info

[@Zeonlist]

The sweep leg is real in real life but in this movie is actually not real though, it's a choreography they created for the movie. The actor for this sweep leg was actually once a shaolin monk and he have higher status than the current head of shaolin temple. But he kinda arragont now and said he can defeat all the Kung Fu stars including Jackie Chan, Jet li, Donnie Yen etc. He also once boast he beat the hell out of stunt doubles in movies he's in which anger alot of audience.

[@KrazeDiamond]

@@Zeonlist Dude what's your malfunction LOL....Everybody knows this is just a movie, and obviously everything in it was choreographed. Where did I even hint at that these styles are real in the movie? Man you gotta be on a whole new level of dumb. No offense.

[@TheHippyProductions]

yeah, Chinese martial arts works pretty well against other Chinese people throughout history who didn't know how to fight at all...too bad it doesn't do shit against practical mma of nowadays

[@KrazeDiamond]

@@TheHippyProductions Because Xu Xiaodong beat a few paid fake masters to create the smear campaign? Only manchild insists on proving a point, the real masters don"t care about that shit. And Xu Xiaodong is a Falun Gong cultist.

[@HKasian]

this movie is what I believe to be a near perfect movie. From setup to execution to payoffs on the microlevel and and the macrolevel. The pacing is immaculate and it never drags or overstays it's welcome. Each scene is absolutely necessary in this movie and somehow sets up for a pay off further down the road.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

I think Stephen Chow and Edgar Wright would enjoy each other's work, now that I think about it from this perspective.

[@SIGHTERify]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher agree 💯 they can make a movie that are live action and go full comical nonsensical in logic but still at the end of movie it all does make sense in a way 😂💯

[@xuanzexu6621]

"No more soccer" means his previous movie "Shaolin Soccer" (2001) is history, now let's focus on his new movie which is "Kung Fu Hustle" (2004)

[@Daz5809]

I'm 63 and spent most of my teen years in Chinatown Toronto watching kung fu movies with subtitles. I've taken half a dozen forms of martial arts over many years and this movie is my most rewatched film of all. Thank you for your in depth breakdown of it. I hope this intices another generation to feel the joy of it's humorous blend and sheer joy of character development and right wins over wrong. I look forward to discussions with the next gens who watch it.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Absolutely LOVE it too. BTW, for more information about it, the channel "Accented Cinema" has a video breaking down China-specific references and callbacks to old wuxia movies that most western viewers wouldn't catch. It helped me appreciate this movie even more. Also, I kind of like the wonky CGI. What's being depicted is so cartoony, it just makes sense to me that the CGI is also cartoony. VFX don't ALWAYS have to be perfectly photorealistic. Impressionism can be good too, when it fits the tone/style.

[@fufufuaru]

true about the cgi. The film treated with comedy/cartoony style meshed well with the non-“perfect” cgi.

[@erichfiedler1481]

@@fufufuaru another good example is The Mask

[@rizkyanandita8227]

Watching "Accented Cinema" video regarding this movie made me appreciate it more. The movie managed to be enjoyable to average moviegoers and to those who love the genre.

[@ricg7675]

@@erichfiedler1481 Worth mentioning Raymond Yip's The Sixty Million Dollar Man which stars Chow and owes more than a little to the Mask.

[@hautakleightontam771]

Great breakdown of the movie! I'd just like to add a few points of my own: 1. The Crocodile gang leader (Feng Xiaogang) and the policeman he's beating up (Zhang Yibai) are both renowned film directors in their own right, and have each produced many acclaimed films. 2. If you think the Axe gang's jazz theme sounds familiar, you're right; it's a riff on the Blues Brothers theme. The gangsters themselves are dressed like the eponymous pair. 3. The Axe gang's headquarters prominently features a statue of Guan Yu, a deified general worshipped as a god of loyalty/honor. Many Chinese gangs have a tradition of worshipping and swearing on Guan (like the Virgin Mary for Mexican gangsters). This highlights Brother Sum's hypocrisy as a treacherous man demanding absolute fealty. 4. The design of Pig Sty Alley and its residents were heavily inspired by the Shaw Brothers film '72 Tenants'. Both films share similar themes such as an impoverished community's struggle to survive against outside threats and corrupt, powerful enemies. Also note the engraved star on the central face of the building, which foreshadows Sing ('星' , the Chinese word for 'star') becoming its greatest guardian. 5. The Landlord is implied to be bisexual, as he also flirts with the Tailor as well as the female tenants. This may be clever foreshadowing of his flexible Taijiquan, balancing the dual aspects of Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine) in his self. 6. There's a clever visual joke in the Tailor's fighting style. While gay men are stereotyped as 'limp-wristed', he clearly overcompensates, so to speak. 7. The partnership between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers was famous for its longevity, and parallels the inseparable bond between Sing and Fong (and arguably the Landlord and Landlady). 8. The bloody door is a frightening portent in itself, but it's also another hint of Sing's latent potential. He alone can sense the insatiable bloodlust hidden within an unassuming old man. This is probably also why he's too scared to lay a finger on him (at first). 9. Sing's white shirt and black pants in the last act are a direct reference to Bruce Lee, specifically his kung-fu uniform in Enter the Dragon. They simultaneously symbolise his mastery of kung-fu, the restoration of his sense of justice (contrasting the grey he wears throughout the movie; notice that he's also wearing white and black when he finally rejects the Axe gang), and the newfound balance in his mind and qi. 10. The Beast mockingly refers to Sing's foot stomps as 'childish'. He's right in a way, as Sing is once again the pure-hearted kid trying to be a hero. Tellingly, he himself is blindsided by the very same move. 11. The Beast's association with toads, and his Toad style trump-card, are metaphors for his prideful ignorance as a 'frog in the well', blind to the true depth of martial arts and the power of mercy. 12. Sing's ultimate move, Buddha's Palm, contains another subtle joke. It turns him into a literal 'falling star' (see 4). 13. The Buddha's Palm is a reference to the 1983 Shaw Brothers film of the same name, which is also where The Beast's title (Fiery Cloud Devil) is derived from. 14. The manuals the Beggar hawks are all references to kung-fu techniques in Louis Cha's martial novels. As a matter of fact, the whole film is so chock-full of them they'd merit a separate comment.

[@AshyGr33n]

Thank you.

[@nickstephenson1365]

Thanks

[@marovahauhulh7054]

Dude you need yo write a whole a** dissertation n

[@KenpachiZarakiX]

Big brain

[@malesssbgcd6193]

I believe The Tailor is the real Legend of the Ten Rings

[@ABSolution2468]

Fun facts: +The moniker the landlord couples introduced themselves as were the names of a famous chinese wuxia couple. More specifically, they're from the Wuxia world of Jin Yong. His novel has been adapted multiple times into TV series and are incredibly expansive, with characters reappearing as old legendaries. +The movie is more a love letter and good introduction to the Wuxia genre for the modern audience. All the Kung Fu schools are legendary Wuxia schools that are popular in Wuxia novels, character trait such as hidden masters and the concept of chi circulation and cultivation is a core concept in the genre, and of course the cast is filled with legendary Wuxia stars and actual practitioners. +There was a foreshadow for the Toad style in the asylum where there were frogs everywhere before they reached his cell. +Masters appeared in the order of power cultivation: The three masters were peak physical cultivation, where they can do superhuman feat and fight with their body and weapons. The Guzheng players has reach the next level of power cultivation, where they can manifest their chi as long range attack but still had to channel it through an instrument. The Landlady and Landlord can channel their chi through their own body, allowing them to reach the realm of nigh invincible. The Killer reached god like speed, which as his line said "In the world of martial art, all is equal in front of overwhelming speed" as in no matter the techniques or power, it does not matter if they're slower than him. And our protagonist master the long lost Buddhist Palm skill, which requires you to have such a god like level of chi cultivation that to reach the level of destruction you saw in the movie and NOT die, you'd have to either be a prodigy or you'd be at least 80 something to glimpse it. This is a simplication of the concept and the indepth knowledge is much more intriguing.

[@mattshuey1]

One of the greatest movies ever. Amazing as a film and even more amazing if you get the references. The ending manages to hit you in the feels harder than any other movie.

[@gooeyking]

Always loved my mans lazy fighting style against the assassins. the whole "this is too much work, just beat each other up" energy as he effortlessly dodges everything while holding them close like long lost siblings🤣🤣

[@smgp2023]

fr 😂😂😂

[@neomp5]

it was tai chi

[@champ1159]

@@neomp5 looked more like zhi quan/drunken fist to me

[@neomp5]

@@champ1159 definitely was tai chi, not drunken fist

[@Swordsage]

Since I grew up watching kung fu flicks (Shaw Brothers for the win!), I had a great time watching this one. The humor was great, and I loved the call backs and references. They even had a few old school Kung Fu stars in there that a lot of fans will recognize (I LOVE that they got Fung Hak-on and in this movie... check out some of his other work to see just how good this guy is!) A few things to point out: - Yuen Wah, the actor who plays the Landlord, has been in a LOT of movies, both as a stuntman and an actor. He was in the same group that Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao were from. His martial arts skills were highly regarded, and his acrobatic skills particularly so. In fact, he's the guy who did that flipping stunt for Bruce Lee in the beginning of Enter the Dragon (yeah, really). The style he's using in this film is supposed to be an exaggerated representation of Taijiquan, by the way. - The joke about making the tailor homosexual (besides the stereotype about tailors in China), is that he practices Hung Gar kung fu, a style that's been associated with strong, masculine heroes (the actor is a well known practitioner and teacher of this style, and has also been in several movies where he plays strong characters). So basically, he's a living contradiction of expectations. Also, those rings are a Hung Gar staple; they are used for strengthening and conditioning the arms. - The knuckle cracking scene at 12:30 is a Bruce Lee reference (among many in this movie). Check out Way/Return of the Dragon, when Bruce is threatening the boss of the henchmen in his office. - As another commenter pointed out, the Fated Lovers (the Landlord and Landlady) are equating themselves as the famous couple in the well known martial arts novel series The Return of the Condor Heroes, but that's not the only reference to those stories in the movie. The kung fu manuals that the beggar (played by Yuen Cheung-yan!!) is selling at the end of the movie are all kung fu styles from those novels, and all of them are supposed to be really powerful. - It's obvious that Steven Chow doesn't just love kung fu movies; he loves movies, period. There are so many references to other well known films that one could probably make a quick video just talking about them. My favorite is probably the Harpists, since they sort of look like and sort of quote the Blues Brothers (We're just musicians.) ... I'd better stop, or I'll turn this into a essay.

[@soopycappyprod]

You didn’t mention the concept within hung gar, soft in hardness. Hence the feminine nature contrasted with his hard punches. I recommend you watch accented cinema’s video on Kung fu hustle :)

[@Swordsage]

@@soopycappyprod I actually forgot about that. Thanks for bringing that up. Oh, and I did see Accented Cinema's video... He has a great channel. :)

[@soopycappyprod]

@@Swordsage really? that’s great! He just posted a new video about Gallants, an indie Kung fu film from 2010. The Beast is in it! :)

[@Swordsage]

@@soopycappyprod I saw that video this morning! I wish I had heard of Gallants earlier, it looks like a fun watch. I'm going to have to hunt it down.

[@soopycappyprod]

@@Swordsage same for me! it’s great seeing another accented cinema fan in the wild!

[@TheUntypicalGerman]

That knife throwing scene had me laughing in tears as a teenager .. Such brilliant comedy

[@OpticfIare]

my dad was an old boomer 70 plus and he always hated stupid movies and loved good ones... classics... my big surprise when i saw him watching this and laughing at its stupidity crying at sad parts and then laughing again... Carlos Abrego RIP, this movie put a smile on your face like no other movie did. i will always love this movie because it made me feel a strong connections with my old man as a teen (yes my dad was 40+ when i was born lol)

[@masterimbecile]

The rice dude’s English name is Coolie, which means a manual laborer. It is also a “sound translation” of his Chinese name 苦力強 (ku li qiang), which means “hard labor strongman”, and is sometimes used as a generic term for people in these types of work (not necessarily just carrying rice bags).

[@yogore]

Yes, but what he was getting at is that [that term] is kind of seen as a slur now, at least in American English. Not a terribly bad one, since it's rather archaic and barely used any more, but it's certainly not the type of thing you'd normally name a character these days...

[@thunderbird3304]

So that's where the word kuli (from Indonesia) came from... same meaning too

[@seihanda8792]

I thougt the same

[@leroy1154]

@@yogore yeah well everything in American English is a slur these days.

[@yogore]

@@leroy1154 no, just the slurs....

[@marisamar3247]

In a pure stroke of genius, the Spanish dubbing used different regional accents (galician, catalonian, andalusian..) and phrases and expressions that made it absolutely absurd and hilarious. Also one of my favourite movies ever, a joy to rewatch, every time

[@tempota7792]

I've always used Spanish and its regional dialects as an example to compare Canto w Mandarin w my western friends! I'm glad the Spanish sub team went the extra mile to transpose their own version of flavor into this very colorful film. Aside from having a completely, almost un-intelligible difference in pronunciation, HK Canto and Mainland Canto/Mandarin also have a huge list of differing terms and vocabs for everyday things. Think bonnet/boot in British EN vs hood/trunk in US EN, lift vs elevator, flat vs apartment, cellphone vs mobile, quid vs buck, etc. Etc. The most prominent of this btwn HK and ML Canto are the words for "refrigerator". In HK, it's called a "snow cabinet", while in the ML it's called a "ice chest", while the freezer in HK is "ice drawer" while in the ML it's a "quick chill(er)". It's kind of stunning how wide the separation is of cultures and sounds between the 2 most spoken forms of Chinese.

[@superchargerone]

that sounds brilliant. Now i wish i could understand spanish just to enjoy that added brilliance

[@lhagun]

The crappy cgi is one of the thing i loved i loved so mutch

[@Aki-47.]

The CGI honestly that bad. It was great for early 2000s. But even today it's pretty good

[@adam346]

I think they realized they could only do so much with their budget so decieded to play into it instead of trying to ignore it... and it may have played into why we got such over the top scenes like the Bugs Bunny chase with the protag and Land Lady and the bulging lip... if you can't do it well, over-do it and go with it.

[@gir8244]

honestly it adds to the humor for me a lot. im not saying they should do the same thing for the sequel but i think it would be REALLY funny if they did bring back the shitty cgi

[@erics7219]

​@@gir8244TRUE !! 😂

[@gzapray7203]

I think the crappy CGI was done to add the comedy.

[@JamesBarthelemy]

One of my favorite comfort movies too. My favorite line that gets me every time is the land lady after she gets hit by the knife handle, she responds with a simple "who's throwing handles?"

[@mdizzle999872]

Stephen Chow truly has earned his nickname The King of Comedy! You should check out his other movies too! There's more than just the two. I recommend the one titled "The Mermaid", cracks me right up. I've come back to "Forbidden City Cop" more than once and "CJ7" references a lot of his movies! And yes, he even has his own Journey to the West movie! Stephen Chow is ALWAYS a win!

[@chimukab5433]

Alright will check them out, but sub or dub?

[@stellviahohenheim]

CJ7 is okay but The Mermaid sucks

[@fauzanramadhan9046]

CJ7, Kungfu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer were the trinity of Stephen chow movie

[@BestXD2046]

@@fauzanramadhan9046 his movies in the 90s are golden as well. The 3 that you've mentioned are ones where he focused more on his director role than his acting and bringing up new actors.

[@fauzanramadhan9046]

@@BestXD2046 which it is, since his movie was so overthetop and funny but also maintain great action sequence and great choreography

[@perilikid]

I remember going to see this film at the cinema on a hot, muggy day in London. Not a kung fu fan in general, I had been convinced by a trusted reviewer and a couple of friends (who *were* kung fu fans), but was dragged in rather reluctantly. And boy, do I not regret going! What film! The sheer conviction that Chow puts into the film, from the violence to the slapstick to the depth of emotion, it all contributes to making a film of utter, utter genius. Thanks for making this vid, it helped to remind me of the above, but also of how easily the conclusion invariably has me bawling my eyes out...

[@Clinias]

Yes, this was a fabulous film. So many things in it, very complicated.

[@hernanuliana9111]

In the throwing knife scene I laugh until tears come to my eyes and was only one moment of a complete wild journey. What a fantastic movie.

[@ericburns469]

This is a masterpiece of cinema. Regardless of dialogue/translation issues, if you watched it with just the music or even on mute, the storytelling is incredible.

[@nightangelx1513]

This movie is so great on so many levels. On a a surface level it’s a great comedy, but on a second watch you really get to see all the things they set up in act 1 pay off in act 3. It’s like Chekhov’s armory.

[@lauroralei]

I've long felt the tackiness of some of the CGI is absolutely part of the homage and I love the film even more for it. Like it probs couldn't be super spectacular for the time or budget so lean into the roughness as part of the love letter to the older films and up the campy corniness of it overall. Maybe not the intent but that's what I get and I love it

[@hollengrhen1]

The funky CGI and the sounds effects actually make the movie ten times funny.

[@kenttan1784]

More fun fact: 00:32 that cameo Crocodile gang boss who shouted "Anyone else?", is a A-list director/actor...: Feng Xiao Gang. 03:47 where landlady was scolding at everyone she crosses, it's an ad-lib! What a terrific performance by Yuen Qiu! She was in one of James Bond movies too.

[@TheFrugalVideoGamer]

I'm shocked you didn't include The Beast's high-kick to split the wall - they used *minimal* CGI for that shot, as the actor, Leung Siu-lung, was actually able to nearly get his leg that high himself, and *could* during his prime.

[@Empenguin]

HE SPLIT THE WALL WITHOUT CGI?!?!?

[@Sojo214]

@@Empenguin Feats like this are far easier than you might imagine, but... yeah, still hard as hell, all of the kudos to that dude.

[@Callimo]

Oh what? Holee shit xD

[@chefgrigs]

@2:26 thank you for knowing this gem about the dance scenes. Chow reported being very pleased with having Chan on the set, stating that his dancing added flair and helped the movie establish more distinct character compared to other kung fu movies

[@jesuscorro577]

Legit have watched this movie over 20 times, one of my favorites if not my all time favorite, absolutely love every second of this movie every time I watch it and don't think I could ever get tired of watching it

[@nickclark18]

Only 20 times? That's rookie numbers get those numbers up brody

[@OGREChad]

I was lucky enough to see this move in theaters when it was first released. My brother and I were fans of Kung Fu Hustle so when we heard of this, figured we had to go. When the movie first starts and there are subtitles, maybe like 2/3 of the audience booed and a couple left before they even make it to pig sty alle. Of course, 15-20 minutes in the movie wins over nearly everyone and there is lots of laughter. Movie ends and there is legit like 1 minute standing ovation. It was like the Rocky 4 crowd in real life, going from hostile to fans.

[@cameronluke27]

This movie had everything, comedy, romance, drama, action and much more. One of the best movies ever

[@ansontan9092]

I'm really loving the fact that a lot of people are enjoying the works of Stephen Chow, even non cantonese speakers are really loving it which makes me very happy and surprised at the same time. The works of Stephen Chow has inspired quite a lot of people to take up learning cantonese which is so amazing since the language is perceived as a "thuggish" and "rough" language by my peers. So please, if you have enjoyed any Stephen Chow movies, do watch his other works and if you're up to it try and learn cantonese to really know what they're trying to convey as the sub is accurate but in cantonese it's in different wording so it's absolutely more hilarious

[@thanosal-titan]

He is an absolute legend. In Indonesia, even his older films from the 90's are loved by so many people. Especially God of Gamblers and The God of Cookery

[@Gooong]

@@thanosal-titan God of Gamblers and God of Cookery have so much Cantonese wordplay to drive dialogue to hilarious non-sense that does not translate. Shoalin Soccer and Kungfu Hustle have enough slapstick that doesn't need translation to carry the movie internationally. Personally I love God of Cookery but most people I know don't know what a mantis shrimp shrimp is or why it will "piss" at you or even why you would butterfly a shrimp to remove the digestive tract.

[@tempota7792]

I'm a native Cantonese speaker, and I would describe daily HK Cantonese as "thuggish". Not brain dead, quite the contrary; HKers use "rough" and "brusque" phrases to be funny, frank, venom-tongued, mean spirited, or simply to drive home a point or to be clever w word-play. It IS thuggish completely on purpose, but not brutish. One way I would compare the evolution and current status of Cantonese is to ebonics. It's looked down on by classists, maybe rightfully so, but you can't help but be awes by how perfectly accurate and succinct HK Canto or ebonics are. I apologize if "ebonics" is outdated or offensive, I don't know. I just have a petpeeve against long abbreviations so I didn't want to write AAVE.

[@jamesdubeck4920]

This a legendary movie. Loved it when it came out and showed it to my 10 yr old son recently. He loved it so much he watched it every day for the next 5 days. Safe to say I wasn't mad about that lol

[@neshapink17]

I grew up on this movie. I had so much fun watching it, but I never realized how much I missed. I have a whole new appreciation for it now that I've watched it as an adult.

[@chrisvi2433]

As a Chinese I'm so glad you made this video! Also now I have to watch the English Dubbed version. It's extra extra hard cuz of the barrier between 3 languages and the cultural differences making all the punchline hard to fit for foreign audience, but they seemed to have done a great job. Helen of Troy sealed the deal, such a nice touch!

[@noe624ny92]

Bruh it's worth it. English dub is so funny

[@tempota7792]

I agree, of all the possible alterations, Helen of Troy and Paris was the best for a western audience! I don't know anything about The Condor Heroes trilogies from which the original Canto names drew from, but I'm told that Little Dragon Daughter (Landlady) and Ying Guo? (Landlord) are supposed to be super attractive and charismatic, so Helen and Paris fit the bill in many diff ways. I haven't watched this dubbed yet, but I was forced to watch Shaolin Soccer dubbed once, and overall it was pretty on point. The Villainous Coach, the Good Coach both had great VAs and lines, but what I was more shocked by was just how perfectly translated the "Shaolin Kung Fu's Great!" song was, both in lyrics and singing! I'd argue the English version is even better to sing along with! Lol

[@arwah9681]

There is no other action comedy that can be as good as this. Stephen Chow is a masterful genius

[@yamikirin]

Just some extra info if no one has mentioned it: The knuckle cracking in the car is a homage to Bruce Lee, it was his signature after the thumb-nose swpie As for chow stamping the axe gangs feet and the beast saying child's play, it's a reference to how chow learnt king fu as a child so his fighting style is representative of that age, meaning he still has a long way to grow as a king fu master, this is a common theme is old kung fu movies

[@ulfricstormcloak7142]

Aside from the comedy, actions and some serious moments, it also give me feels, especially by the end of the film. I've watched it many times since I was in school Masterpiece

[@The-Dom]

The lollipop girl reveal was potent af. No way you didn't shed a tear. So good.

[@E_l_l_i_e]

This movie is pretty special to me. When my ex-boyfriend and I started dating, he would let me watch his favorite movies. The first film he showed me was Jackass. Two minutes in and I already hated it. Then he changed the movie to Kung Fu Hustle. I loved it so much that I later watched other Stephen Chow movies. This remains to be my favorite, along with Shaolin Soccer.

[@l0sts0ul89]

You two on good terms?

[@fundymentalism]

Yeah if someone puts on their favorite movie, and it's jackass, run, run away lol

[@E_l_l_i_e]

@@l0sts0ul89 Yes, we are. We still talked as friends after the breakup. But he has a new gf so it's better to stay away.

[@E_l_l_i_e]

@@fundymentalism 😂 he's actually a great guy. He just has a bad taste in movies.

[@l0sts0ul89]

@@E_l_l_i_e Lmao that's good, did his taste in movies ever get better ?

[@6Qubed]

I always justified Sing using the toe crusher in the final fight, even though it's "kids' stuff", because he taught himself martial arts as a kid, and now that he's finally grown into the hero he dreamed of becoming as a boy, it's a pillar of his style.

[@billyjoejimbob75]

In the one I saw, the translation was about the toe crusher going out of style when beast was in kindergarten. I thought it was funny when I saw it here. That's an awful lot of words for "kids stuff".

[@ODekaK]

@@billyjoejimbob75 What he says is more like "Only kids fight like that". I think he's specifically talking about the toe stomp.

[@tempota7792]

It's a call back to that other famous Kung Fu comedy film made by his loathsome archrival. You know, the one w the soccer and what not. He stomped the toes like how he stomped that soccer ball earlier. It symbolizes his hate for how that other shall-not-be-named movie tried to steal his Kungmedy thunder.

[@buddineeraj703]

At 2:54 it is not a slur for unskilled labour. Coolie is a labourer who carry things for others for a living.

[@TheBagelRat]

Something I recently learned is that all the Kung Fu Masters in the movie, including the landlady in the landlord are real life martial art masters. It was probably obvious to most but I found it very surprising and a nice detail

[@unofficial5151]

YEESSSS, TYSM FOR DOING THIS MOVIE, i remember watching this as a kid and loving the shit out of it so when i saw that it's on netflix i couldn't wait to rewatch it and goddamn i loved it even more, everything about this movie is 💯💯. Stephen chow is a special human being ♡

[@SL4PSH0CK]

I had the same good digest of the film with Everything Everywhere, its underated how least celebrated and rare mo lei tau (hong long slapstick comedy) is when its presented on a big screen

[@domomitsune5920]

I absolutely love this movie. It takes the whole kung fu movies to a whole new cheesy and funny route. The guy we think as a thug eventually becomes the protagonist. And ultimately find Enlightenment, able to access the buddha palm technique. Every aspect of this including all the side characters living in the apartment is just great. This has become a cult classic for me, that I watch on multiple occasions. It's it's right next to Karate Kid, and several other old martial art movies.

[@hrpang]

One thing that didn't make it into the video but I wish the world got to see is when Sing starts challenging tenants and each one he calls out is shown to be intimidating in some sort of way. Even the kid he challenges is buff bodybuilder. It's a subversion of expectation, it's comedy and it's brilliant done.

[@princeedwardn319]

the part "what did i say about cheating?" is there...

[@angelbotello2882]

This movie proves that live action anime adaptation can be possible. The comedy and the amazing fight scenes are incredible. This movie was released in 2004 and since then nobody has able to replicate what this movie did. Why this movie isn’t the blueprint for live action anime adaptations is beyond me.

[@SinHurr]

Greetings from Netflix's One Piece adaption

[@belajar_menggambar]

Steven chow, jim carrey and mr bean.. 3 top king of comedy

[@lizzfrmhon]

You mean Rowan Atkinson

[@nyetloki]

What does that make Jackie Chan

[@MatsuSenpaii]

​@@nyetloki uhh, action comedy?

[@user-yd9rv7js8w]

Only one director is Steven chow

[@mr.person1219]

​@@nyetlokijackie chan doesn't have the flair and comedy level of stephen

[@paullow3377]

14:21 They are introducing themselves as the couple from "The Romance of the Condor Heroes" (神雕侠侣). It's a very popular Chinese novel written by Jin Yong (金庸) and has many, many movie and TV adaptations.

[@leaf9530]

Watched this since i was a little kid and it is a staple for every Lunar New Year. I have rewatched this movie so many times and it never fails to make me laugh. Kung Fu Hustle is really one of a kind. There's just no other movie like it.

[@yungzhe]

14:27 When they introduced themselves, they didn't actually say "Paris" and "Helen of Troy" in Cantonese. The English dub is actually more accurate. The landlord introduced himself as "Yang Guo" and the landlady introduced herself as "Xiao Long Nu" (which directly translates as "little dragon lady", or means "dragon's daughter"). These two actually has a history in wuxia novels, as Xiao Long Nu was the one who trains Yang Guo in martial arts, and eventually both of them falls in love.

[@jasonjlloyd]

I adore this film. It just escalates constantly. It surprises over and over again. It's funny as hell, visually inventive, absolute kick ass fight scenes, so many memorable characters. The landlady and her husband are genius creations. The main villian is a total bad ass. It used to be a 4th date kinda film. If she liked it I carried on if she didn't... nah. How can you live with someone who doesn't like KFH! 😄

[@Clinias]

I never used to watch any movie a second time. This movie, I must have watched thirty times. It is a very complicated engrossing movie with a ton of stuff going on. Just a brilliant movie.

[@chikentori]

The video by Accented Cinema does a great breakdown of all the references to Hong Kong cinema history It's excellent, and even answers some of the questions in this video, too

[@somberlight]

Kung Fu Hustle is a honest movie. it sure as hell isnt high art, it just says to its audience: "you here to have fun? aight! LETS!" AND THAT IS THE BEST THING EVER

[@davideaston6944]

Completely disagree ... and so, I think you're missing something (a lot, actually). There is SO MUCH attention to artistic detail and metaphor and homage and references to the history of this genre, while the production level is out of this world great! Every scene, detail in set direction, costuming, lighting, is there for a reason, and not a hap-hazard whim of the director. If you can't see "art" in this masterpiece, don't ever both visiting The Louvre Museum! 😜

[@davidabdollahi7906]

What he means by "high art" is that hollywood movie critics wouldn't review such films. The term "high art" in my opinion is offensive to all artists.

[@TheBrokenAshes]

One of Bill Murray's favorites

[@robdielemans9189]

It is high art and it is slapstick. The details, the choice of music, etc. every scene is multi-layered and has a bunch of meaning. Also the pacing is insane, not that it is fast but that it is perfect.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

I have often said that it is probably one of the best if not the best that I've seen

[@AntoinneWilliams]

The scene where the landlady slaps one of the tenants to the ground and his sandal flies up into the camera shot outta nowhere was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life!

[@furimushi]

I love this even more in Thai dub. They miss all the original jokes but their own jokes and banters are amazing for this kind of movies, especially Jackie Chan's and Stephen Chow's.

[@NoobDoesGaming]

I honestly feel like I traveled through time watching this movie. Feels like 3 hours of greatness but actually 1.5 hours long

[@askmeagain43]

I actually really like the slight jankiness to the CGI in this movie. I feel like it really adds to the hyper-stylised cartooniness

[@purnjay2554]

Honestly, I think this movie perfectly encapsulates how to make a simple movie that has everything you need to have an enjoyable and somewhat thought provoking entertainment: comedy, thriller, nonsense, romance and fantasy.

[@bigtdawg2626]

Steven Chow is a genius of comedy. Kung Fu Hustle is easily in my top 4 most loved movies.

[@lettersandnumbers21]

@14:27, the reference to Paris and Helen of Troy is a bowdlerization in the subtitles. They actually refer to themselves as Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu, characters from the Condor Trilogy, a famous wuxia story written by Louis Cha/Jin Yong in the 1960s.

[@benjaminhollis1221]

I love this film so much, I’m so glad you’ve finally done it. I think what I love the most is how damn satisfying the ending is, no loose ends, a fantastic example of the hero’s journey, and the song at the end when it shows them as kids again when they meet just gets me in the feels every time

[@okenwave3119]

I honestly hated this movie nearly throughout my entire first viewing, it was like chaos. And then the last 10 or 15 minutes I was like 'this film is genius and I know I still don't get 90% of it'

[@tempota7792]

​@@okenwave3119yeah, the pacing is JUST right, no fillers, no time to chew the fat. So I can see how first timers would have a hard time keeping up, esp non-Canto speakers.

[@0FoX0]

This one is a Masterpiece, I´m from Spain, and the Dub (Castilian Spanish) version can also make you cry of laugh every time, like in the English dub most of the lines change, goes for different jokes, and makes the characters even crazier, I have seen it multiple times over the years and every time fells like the first. It always surprise you even when you know whats coming, its like a new way of enjoying it. Great video, as always!!!!

[@thepyroghoul]

I first watched this in Jr high firing homeroom; we had to watch it over three days because of our break times. There was seven of us who just hung out at the TV. Only 4 were from the same class. I watched it again for the first time in a decade. Still just as good.

[@Pengart]

oh KungFuHustle and KungFuSoccer are amazing movies, I love the way they filmed it and all the insane special effects, and the stories are so sweet :) I wish they made more of this!!

[@HazeAbysmal]

6 years ago, this was the only movie I watched all summer long, in 2016, with a drought and heat wave. The Wi-Fi was acting up a lot so I couldn't use KZbin or play games online, so the only way I passed time was by watching this movie all day.

[@adamb5147]

watched this on Netflix a couple weeks ago before my brother went to America for 7 weeks, one of the most enjoyable films I have watched in a while. So much so I got in on Blu Ray

[@artofninelimbs5930]

2:06 actually what he said was "When you were beating up the police, your men were learning Cantonese with me". Since the axe gangs' boss speaks Cantonese and the crocodile gang's boss is a northener who speaks in madarin

[@futoijosei]

The landlady was my favorite character and still is. I freaking love her!!!

[@vinsanity40k]

the scenes with the mute girl always put a tear in this grown man's eye

[@jimmyeatsom3375]

Wishing I could watch this movie for the first time again is definitely something I would wish for. The knife throwing scene and that moment where the handle smacks the landlady on the face and she is like.... "who is throwing handles?" The pull knife out and put it back where it came from, all culminating in the roadrunner scene. It is everything great about this movie. Style, comedic timing, just everything great about this movie. I am right there with you CinemaWins, I.... love... this... movie!

[@nedt8778]

My favorite scene!

[@Pagliacci_Rex]

The cast are all Kung Fu movie icons, one of the best parts of it.

[@princeedwardn319]

I cant believe so many wins are overlooked. This masterpiece shouldnt get anything less than 200. the head of Crocodile gang is a famous director, so his comment on cinema is pretty interesting, but really incredible to spot the identical dress at tailor shop. the marching of the axe gang is foreshadowing and pay off at their entrance into pig sty alley, the toad at the facility foreshadowing the Beast final killer move and Beast being a frog-in-a-well persona, the bully Sing & Fong met as kid is actually the big bad of Axe gang, the 2 hidden masters (coolie and tailor) standing at the background and disappear after hitting the axe gang leader. more attention to details will also note that the camera pans up and side symbolize it is an act of 2 culprits. the sunset and fall of the tailor during the sparring session foreshadow the downfall of the 3 kungfu masters. After the roadrunner race, Sing is walking into a factory that manufactures painkiller, likely using his skill to get what he need, the tailor is stronger in close combat, hence the assassin forced him into the open for unfair match, unfair but good strategy. the harpist assassins are deafen by landlady, some comeuppance for someone killing using soundwave. One hand knuckle cracking is also a nod to Bruce Lee in one of his iconic movie, traffic light hideout symbolizing Sing and Bone in the spot of facing choice between the good and evil. the final fight is a comedic replica of Neo vs 100 agent Smiths, because they got their stunt coordinator, many in-movie characters also cameo at the final scene as passer-bys outside candy shop, a happy ending for the good guys. there are just so many wins like these overlooked, how disappointing...

[@gir8244]

THE BULLY IS THE AXE GANG GUY? NO WAYYY

[@tempota7792]

Man, you broke out so many subtleties that even I didn't notice. The toad thing w the Beast was so much more than just animalistic symbolism. He really WAS a frog-in-a-well (crab in a bucket) in both a physical and mental sense. He was locked solitary confinement, but he also thought that bc he was the fastest and strongest, that there were no other stronger masters out there. In that case, I think that Sing's representation of the benevolent Buddha is also a reference to a proverb or another artistic work, namely how benevolent the Buddha is that even the most ignorant and malevolent being could be converted with a simple sentence. It really is a lot more fun watching this masterpiece with native Chinese, bc not only is the HK/Canto humor often lost in translation, non-natives also miss out on all the cultural referencs, which is a damned shame.

[@Kramalei]

i remember my dad introducing me to this film. it was absolutely glorious. they make it so purposely goofy and cartoony.

[@crazycat690]

Probably my most favorite movie of all time, it has everything, drama, humor, romance and kung fu, not to mention the stellar music and visuals. I love it so much, I have really no complaints about it, even always figured that the imperfect CGI looked very charming and "on brand".

[@JoshuaC923]

The Cantonese, Chinese and English translations are like three different movies, all excellent! Never a dull watch

[@elleundeci2195]

this film was basically the christmas/lunar new year film for my family, very cool to see it get the recognition it deserves

[@drewmerka1300]

One of my favorite things I learned is that a “Lion” is a slang term for a loud nagging woman, so the lovers skills are perfect representations of their personal lives

[@fafnirnz5970]

I saw a fully released version of this on KZbin when I was around 12-13 (now 17) and I’ve obsessed over this movie ever since. After that I fell into a rabbit hole where I then watched Shaolin soccer and another movie I only know as “kung fu dunk”. Kung fu hustle will always be in my top 3 favourite movies cause it’s suspenseful, sad and way to damn funny.

[@outatim3216]

everytime im going through a hard time in my life i watch this film. It gives me perspective on what it means to overcome. it reminds me of a time when everything was better.

[@davidwilliams3244]

No matter how many times I see this movie, I always lose my shit at the knife scene. Honestly one of the greatest bits written of all time.

[@zidahya]

It realy gets me when he stick the knife back into his arm...flinching every time.