Stephen Chow is one of the most hysterical filmmakers working today. The film that first broke him out, Shaolin Soccer is a huge cult hit in America and his latest film, Kung Fu Hustle, is getting the right kind of release from Sony Pictures Classics.
Kung Fu Hustle has so much going with such brilliant imagination behind it. As the co-writer/director/star Chow has a lot on his plate with this his most personal film. It is about a hapless wanna be gangster; Sing [Chow], who must overcome his inability in order to become a member of the notorious Axe Gang. The Axe Gang, meanwhile, want to reign supreme by occupying the most coveted territory, which is a sacred street protected by an unlikely cast of characters, many of whom are highly skilled kung fu masters disguised as ordinary people.
Personal kung fu film may seem like an oxymoron but Americans have to realize that Chinas entire film culture is 95 percent kung fu flicks. They represent the zeitgeist of Chinas entire history and are as iconic to them as the western is to us.
Kung Fu Hustle is in select theatres April 8th
Daniel Robert Epstein: The coolest thing in Kung Fu Hustle is the giant handprint in the building towards the end. That seems like something you may have dreamed.
Stephen Chow: I drew from Buddha's Palm which is a very old Chinese kung fu movie from the 60s. It is one of my favorite kung fu films ever. Back then they just drew it and now we can do it in CG. Buddha's Palm is an amazing superpower that can destroy anything. The original Buddha's Palm is many different forms of powers so first it emerges and there is no limit to the power.
DRE: Kung Fu Hustle is very much like a live action cartoon at times. Are you a fan of cartoons?
SC: I never watched many. I did see Mickey Mouse of course like all kids, Bugs Bunny and the Roadrunner. Thats where the characters spinning legs come from when they are running.
DRE: There is the age old argument. Who do you like more, Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton?
SC: They are both great.
DRE: What did you study to make your body so malleable?
SC: Thats CGI I think [laughs].
DRE: What was it like winning all those awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards?
SC: It was very satisfying and gratifying to win the six awards.
DRE: Your films have so much imagination in them, what is the screenwriting process?
SC: Nothing special. My co-writer [Chan Man Keung] and I have worked together for many years. I think I tortured him too much [laughs].
DRE: I read that this film is very personal for you. How can such an action/superpower film be so personal for you?
SC: Every film for me is very personal. Each one has to be something I love and am very interested in. Kung Fu Hustle is quite important for me because it is the first real kung fu film I have ever made. It is not sports and martial art combination like Shaolin Soccer. It is real combat with fighting and punching. I had to design all of that because I am not Jackie Chan who has a lot of experience with this. It is my first time and I am not a kung fu star. There is all these stunts and action that is completely new. Once I decided to go for it I told myself that is totally different from any other kung fu movie. It has to be good because there are a lot of kung fu movies. But very few of them are actually any good.
DRE: What did you learn about yourself by making this film?
SC: First I was so surprised I could finish the movie. It was so complicated to do all those jobs at the same time.
DRE: When you see a movie like the Lord of the Rings even though the special effects are very good you know those elephants things arent real. But the CGI in your films works perfectly with the live action.
SC: But it still looks fake like the road running stuff [laughs].
DRE: How was it working with Sammo Hung as an additional action director?
SC: He has his strengths. He is very experienced and good at it. The traditional kung fu style is very natural to him.
DRE: Do you feel that Shaolin Soccer works with Kung Fu Hustle in a sequel kind of fashion?
SC: No I dont feel that way. They are completely their own separate films with different styles.
DRE: Were you upset at all by the way Miramax delayed then botched the American release of Shaolin Soccer?
SC: I dont think I can comment on this subject because it is something I dont understand. I dont know why it happened.
DRE: How much do you have to deal with the Chinese government for your films?
SC: There are no problems at all. We got approval in a short time but we dont need approval in the future at all anymore.
DRE: You speak English very well; do you want to make a movie in America?
SC: I wouldnt mind doing that at all.
DRE: When was the last time you got into a real fight?
SC: [laughs] Yesterday, no probably in high school. I dont remember exactly but I definitely won.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
SC: No I wish I did.
DRE: What tattoo would you get?
SC: Bruce Lee!
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Kung Fu Hustle has so much going with such brilliant imagination behind it. As the co-writer/director/star Chow has a lot on his plate with this his most personal film. It is about a hapless wanna be gangster; Sing [Chow], who must overcome his inability in order to become a member of the notorious Axe Gang. The Axe Gang, meanwhile, want to reign supreme by occupying the most coveted territory, which is a sacred street protected by an unlikely cast of characters, many of whom are highly skilled kung fu masters disguised as ordinary people.
Personal kung fu film may seem like an oxymoron but Americans have to realize that Chinas entire film culture is 95 percent kung fu flicks. They represent the zeitgeist of Chinas entire history and are as iconic to them as the western is to us.
Kung Fu Hustle is in select theatres April 8th
Daniel Robert Epstein: The coolest thing in Kung Fu Hustle is the giant handprint in the building towards the end. That seems like something you may have dreamed.
Stephen Chow: I drew from Buddha's Palm which is a very old Chinese kung fu movie from the 60s. It is one of my favorite kung fu films ever. Back then they just drew it and now we can do it in CG. Buddha's Palm is an amazing superpower that can destroy anything. The original Buddha's Palm is many different forms of powers so first it emerges and there is no limit to the power.
DRE: Kung Fu Hustle is very much like a live action cartoon at times. Are you a fan of cartoons?
SC: I never watched many. I did see Mickey Mouse of course like all kids, Bugs Bunny and the Roadrunner. Thats where the characters spinning legs come from when they are running.
DRE: There is the age old argument. Who do you like more, Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton?
SC: They are both great.
DRE: What did you study to make your body so malleable?
SC: Thats CGI I think [laughs].
DRE: What was it like winning all those awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards?
SC: It was very satisfying and gratifying to win the six awards.
DRE: Your films have so much imagination in them, what is the screenwriting process?
SC: Nothing special. My co-writer [Chan Man Keung] and I have worked together for many years. I think I tortured him too much [laughs].
DRE: I read that this film is very personal for you. How can such an action/superpower film be so personal for you?
SC: Every film for me is very personal. Each one has to be something I love and am very interested in. Kung Fu Hustle is quite important for me because it is the first real kung fu film I have ever made. It is not sports and martial art combination like Shaolin Soccer. It is real combat with fighting and punching. I had to design all of that because I am not Jackie Chan who has a lot of experience with this. It is my first time and I am not a kung fu star. There is all these stunts and action that is completely new. Once I decided to go for it I told myself that is totally different from any other kung fu movie. It has to be good because there are a lot of kung fu movies. But very few of them are actually any good.
DRE: What did you learn about yourself by making this film?
SC: First I was so surprised I could finish the movie. It was so complicated to do all those jobs at the same time.
DRE: When you see a movie like the Lord of the Rings even though the special effects are very good you know those elephants things arent real. But the CGI in your films works perfectly with the live action.
SC: But it still looks fake like the road running stuff [laughs].
DRE: How was it working with Sammo Hung as an additional action director?
SC: He has his strengths. He is very experienced and good at it. The traditional kung fu style is very natural to him.
DRE: Do you feel that Shaolin Soccer works with Kung Fu Hustle in a sequel kind of fashion?
SC: No I dont feel that way. They are completely their own separate films with different styles.
DRE: Were you upset at all by the way Miramax delayed then botched the American release of Shaolin Soccer?
SC: I dont think I can comment on this subject because it is something I dont understand. I dont know why it happened.
DRE: How much do you have to deal with the Chinese government for your films?
SC: There are no problems at all. We got approval in a short time but we dont need approval in the future at all anymore.
DRE: You speak English very well; do you want to make a movie in America?
SC: I wouldnt mind doing that at all.
DRE: When was the last time you got into a real fight?
SC: [laughs] Yesterday, no probably in high school. I dont remember exactly but I definitely won.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
SC: No I wish I did.
DRE: What tattoo would you get?
SC: Bruce Lee!
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 23 of 23 COMMENTS
I watch kungfu hustle at least once a month.
I first came across his work when i saw "shaolin soccer" on the shelves, i was doubtful but still went on to grab it, it was so amazing to me.