KUNG FU HUSTLE

Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Stephen Chow.

It is an eccentric vision of an action - comedy - musical – drama and is both a parody and a homage to the kung-fu genre.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, it is a tale of redemption for the central character, Sing, a petty criminal who is trying to join the city's most powerful gang.

Kung Fu Hustle is a film of contrasts. Chow mixes slapstick comedy with dry wit. He sets stylised, over-the-top action against traditional Chinese music. The result of these unusual combinations is one fresh, truly inventive film.

Chow’s Looney-Tunes inspired cartoon-style is heightened to extreme levels by fantasy CGI. This along with Chow's usual assortment of oddball characters and spectacular kung-fu choreography makes for one wild, visually exciting film.

Widely acclaimed for its visual effects, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe. It also went on to become the highest grossing film in the history of Hong Kong and the highest grossing foreign language film in the United States in 2005.