(aka "Kung Fu Hustle" or "Gong fu)" )

 

directed by Stephen Chow
China/Hong Kong 2004

 

There is not much I can really add to Michael Sicinski’s spot-on analysis found HERE, except to reiterate the brilliant achievement that Kung Fu Hustle is. Who could have ever dreamed that a meshing of Jerry Lewis and the Shaw Bros wuxia pan films could be possible, let alone work this well? As someone who is typically allergic to glaring CGI effects, you can imagine my surprise to discover that not only has Chow seamlessly incorporated his effects with his live-action comedy, but at the same time almost single handedly reinvented Chop Socky cinema. Balletic camera movements, spot-on comedy, jaw-dropping choreography (courtesy of Yuen Wo-Ping and Sammo Hung) and an abject lesson in the art of the Cinemascope frame, fuel this non-stop cinematic triumph. I applaud Stephen Chow and award this our highest rating. out of

Adam Lemke

Posters

 

Theatrical Release: Sept. 14, 2004 Toronto International Film Festival

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC

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Distribution Columbia Tri-Star Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:47:04 
Video 2.38:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.60 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio Cantonese (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUBs: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)  
Subtitles English, French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.38:1

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary with Stephen Chow, cast and crew
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes and Bloopers
• TV Special - Behind the Scenes of KUNG FU HUSTLE Featurette
• Ric Meyers interview with Stephen Chow
• Photo gallery, TV spots, and previews

DVD Release Date: August 9th, 2005

Keep Case inside cardboard slipcase box
Chapters: 28

 

 

Comments:

NOTE:Original Hong Kong release uses the regular Columbia Pictures logo at the beginning used in front of American films, yet the American release only has the Sony Pictures Classic logo on the bright blue background.

Despite the R-rating, the American release is very slightly cut/censored. The parts censored are:


• After the scene where the landlady knocks the landlord out the window onto the ground, the original Hong Kong version shows a bit of blood flowing out from under the landlord's face after the plant smashes his head. The American version removes the blood.
• Sing's failed attempt in intimidating a Pig Sty village farmer, who punches him square in the stomach. The Hong Kong version shows Sing spitting out blood, which ends up appearing on the farmer's face after Sing asks her what she does. The American version digitally removes both the blood being spit out (but blood is still seen around his mouth implying it was "coming up") as well as the blood splats on the farmer's face.
• During the night scene right before the attack from the musicians there is a long take showing what most of the residents of Pig Sty are doing, including someone crouching on the ground having a "bowel movement". The Hong Kong version shows a piece of paper with excrement on it implying what he was doing, while the American version removes the paper and its "contents", leaving the viewer confused as to why he's simply crouching down with his pants partially down.
• While these scenes were censored, two were completely cut:
When "The Beast" punches Sing in the chest in the casino, two extra shots appear in the Hong Kong cut, with the first being a slow motion shot of blood spraying upward The Beast's face, and the second being another slow motion shot, this time of Sing's head flying back with blood spraying from his mouth.
vSoon after this, Sing's face is punched into the ground by The Beast, and a several second slow motion shot of The Beast's bloody hand being raised from the ground is shown in the Hong Kong cut. The American cut simply jumps from the shot of Sing's head being punched through the ground to the low angle shot of The Beast pulling his fist up.

*****

The image quality is very strong here and in comparisons to the Region 3 counterpart (see below and reviewed HERE) it is definitely brighter although I cannot find any evidence of digital manipulation boosting. Neither edition looks cropped but the Region 3 has white subtitles as opposed to the yellow ones for this release. The original Cantonese 5.1 audio is booming. This disc is stacked with extras from a commentary to deleted scenes and even a featurette TV special. I defy anyone not to thoroughly enjoy this film. We recommend this DVD whole-heartedly!  out of   

Gary W. Tooze

 





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(Columbia Tri-Star - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. Columbia Tri-Star - Region 3- NTSC BOTTOM)

 

 


 

 

 


 

 


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CLICK to order from:

Distribution Columbia Tri-Star Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC




 

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