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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Shaolin Soccer

  
 
MsC
12:17 / 19.08.02
Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer is the funniest film I have had the pleasure of seeing for several years! I laughed so much that I was no longer conscious that I was in continuous peals.

As HK's highest grossing film of last year, it deserves everyone's attention.

For more info...
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0286112

Those who have seen it, opinion sought!
 
 
CameronStewart
14:52 / 19.08.02

Shaolin Soccer is the greatest. Bought the dvd in Chinatown months ago and have seen it many times - I keep showing it to friends who are initially skeptical but soon are clamouring for their own copy.

Funny, clever, spectacular, and colossally entertaining. Highest recommendation.
 
 
Mystery Gypt
15:43 / 19.08.02
... & as i hear it, it's about to be released stateside by Disney...
 
 
CameronStewart
16:34 / 19.08.02
Miramax is distributing an edited version with a new, hip-hop soundtrack.

Ugh.

Go to your local Chinese video shop and get the dvd - it's region-free so it will work in all players....
 
 
grant
17:29 / 19.08.02
It kicks ass, yes.

The Bruce Lee fan goalie is currently my desktop image here at work. He was quite a find - does the look and the mannerisms perfectly.

I watched the DVD with my 8yo stepson - had to read the subtitles out to him as it went, and it got a little confusing, since I sort of had to translate the mangled English into real English. But he loved it.

The tai chi lady is my hero. She's a good demonstration of the differences between Shaolin and Tai Chi, too - all the circles deflecting energies. Mmmm. Making noodles.

I suppose it might be nice to include a plot summary:
Down-on-their-luck former Shaolin monks can't make it in modernized, fast-paced Hong Kong -- until one of their number (a plucky street cleaner still devoted to spreading the grandeur of Shaolin kung fu) enters them into a high-stakes soccer competition. Picture The Bad News Bears and the Mighty Ducks recast with actors from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Game of Death.
 
 
Margin Walker
17:49 / 19.08.02
Here's the two things I've heard about this film: 1) that it's brilliantly funny & 2) Disney/Miramax is fucking it up, prison style. There's a list of scenes that they cut out for the French version here: )http://www.monkeypeaches.com/020705B.html). In short, listen to Cameron and find a Region 0 DVD if you're in a rush to see this.
 
 
at the scarwash
18:49 / 19.08.02
I haven't seen this yet (waiting for the VCD to go down to $8), but have you seen his The God of Cookery? It's one of the most intelligent, ludicrous, and delicious movies I have ever seen. Chow plays the title character, a greedy HK chef who has faked his way up. He has paid shills enter food contests so that he can go in and tear them apart. He's deposed by a treacherous underling, winds up on the street, and is taken in by a tough noodle vendor with messed up teeth. Her song describing her limitless devotion to him is worth buying the entire film. They develop a recipe for special pissing shrimp beef balls (a rival noodle vendor gang leader is sent into a gustatory reverie, running white-clad across a beach at sunset), and work their way back to the top, where Chow faces his rival in a contest of cooking and Kung Fu. Musical numbers, kung fu, intense culinary porn, the man is a genius.
 
 
CameronStewart
19:57 / 19.08.02
God Of Cookery is currently being remade with Jim Carrey.

I've heard that Carrey was so intimidated by Stephen Chow's immense multitalents that he's not allowed on the set...
 
 
at the scarwash
23:37 / 19.08.02
JIm Carrey? My god, that's desecration. Why, that would be like remaking a Frank Capra film with Adam Sandler. You must be mad, sir! What kind of world do you think we live in, here?
 
 
Margin Walker
04:34 / 20.08.02
Old Ain't It Cool news article here: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=11333 & the "Stop Disney from destroying Asian Films!" FAQ here: http://www.hkfilm.net/disney/faq.htm.

And this is what grant means by "The Bruce Lee Goalie":


Dope!
 
 
Mr Tricks
21:10 / 26.08.02
Great Flick... Miramax will Mess it up...

Wacthed it the other night with a couple of Shaolin Monks who hadn't seen each other since their youth at the temple... One now lives in N.Y.


and the other, in Texas...


both where in town for Kungfu Magazine's 10th Anniversary Party... Sometimes my Job Just ROCKS!!!
 
 
Mr Tricks
21:11 / 26.08.02
PS: they both absolutely LOVED the flick!!! KUNGFU LAUGHING indeed!!!
 
 
CameronStewart
23:17 / 26.08.02
The American trailer for Shaolin Soccer is here: http://progressive.stream.aol.com/aol/us/moviefone/movies/2002/shaolinsoccer_012713/shaolinsoccer_trlr_dl.mov

It's dreadful - they put some of the film's best moments right in the trailer, and use "Kung Fu Fightin'" as the background music. Yuck.
 
 
Mystery Gypt
01:01 / 27.08.02
i'd just like to say that i finally got the VCD yesterday... this movie makes my brain fall out. i really am not sure that they're doing such a bad thing in their release... of course it's a different soundtrack, no american can stand for that pop chinese crap... this movie is so nuts even a slightly cut version will still be genius compared to anything else...
 
 
Mystery Gypt
01:03 / 27.08.02
also, on a techinical side note... how can you tell if something is region free? i had the dvd in my hand but got nervous, and opted for the vcd instead... and it certainly didn't look like the kind of store that was going to give me a refund if i got burnt...
 
 
CameronStewart
02:57 / 27.08.02
>>>no american can stand for that pop chinese crap...<<<

That scene near the start of the film in the nightclub is so funny BECAUSE of the song - I dearly hope they haven't cut that out.

>>>also, on a techinical side note... how can you tell if something is region free?<<<

Generally, if you look on the back of the box, there should somewhere be a little logo of a globe with a number on it. If the number is 0, or it says 'ALL' - you've got a region-free disc.

Should have gone for the dvd, Gypt - as far as I know Shaolin Soccer only exists as a region 0 disc. And it's got a bunch of extra goodies on it too.
 
 
betty woo
02:15 / 10.09.02
I just got back from seeing this at the Toronto Film Fest. Sadly, they showed the edited Miramax version - it's still a damned funny film, and one of the fest highlights for me so far, but I have an itch to track down a proper copy now. Version I saw was dubbed, which was annoying, but the terrible chinese pop song scene in the nighclub is still there, and damned funny.
 
 
Tamayyurt
04:10 / 01.10.02
Just saw this twice. This film is so fantastic!
 
 
invisible_al
13:17 / 01.10.02
Any ideas on where I'd pick up a copy of the un-dubbed DVD in London? Tried Forbidden Planet but they didn't have a copy.
 
 
Mr Tricks
19:10 / 01.10.02
Miramax actually bought up alot of those DVD's so no-one else can sell 'em.
 
 
videodrome
20:41 / 01.10.02
You can still get it online quite easily. DDDHouse has it for $80 HK, plus shipping (I think they ship to the UK). That's six pounds fifty, to you. Even if they hit you for that amount again on shipping and customs, it's worth it.
 
 
Foust is SO authentic
15:08 / 01.01.03
Aw, darn. I was hoping I was the first on Barbelith to see this movie. I was all excited to come here and tell you all about this great movie. I watched it last night, at a friend's new years eve party. No subtitles, but it was delightful none the less.

I can't wait to see a version where I can understand the dialogue.
 
 
Tamayyurt
15:58 / 02.01.03
Can anyone recomend other Kung Fu movies similar to this? This movie has left me wanting more.
 
 
Jack Denfeld
16:17 / 02.01.03
The scene in the club where they are singing "I am iron head" to a mamas and poppas tune?
 
 
D Terminator XXXIII
17:49 / 30.04.05
Can anyone recomend other Kung Fu movies similar to this? This movie has left me wanting more.

Why don't you try Kung Fu Hustle, his follow up movie. It's as good, while it is more exhilerating.

Saw an undubbed version of Shaolin sans subtitles and it wasn't the half experience I was assured of it would be. The humour was universal enough to be got instantly. And the drama noticeable enough to be engaging. I can't wait for a proper version that sports subs.
 
 
Mr Tricks
17:51 / 02.05.05
Stephan Chow's pretty unique in his work.

I've heard GOD OF COOKERY was great. & he's also done a film called King of Comedy
 
 
grant
21:18 / 02.05.05
He's got a new one out now....

Kung Fu Hustle.

Haven't seen it yet, but it outgrossed Shaolin Soccer in Hong Kong.
 
 
Mr Tricks
22:10 / 02.05.05
yeah, saw a VCD of it... very enjoyable. Funny, good Kungfu, suitable FX solid story.

Probably his best work to date.
 
 
Mr Tricks
22:11 / 02.05.05
interview here

PS I think it'll be great on the big screen.
 
 
m
03:16 / 03.05.05
Kung Fu Hustle is really really wonderful! Just as good as Shaolin Soccer, with even more crazy spectacle! Also like Shaolin Soccer, it's impossible to describe it in any way that does it any justice!
 
 
at the scarwash
04:02 / 03.05.05
Stephen Chow is a seriously good filmmaker making ridiculous films, and Kung Fu Hustle is his best yet. I love both God of Cookery and Shaolin Soccer, and have a soft spot for his earlier, less fully realized work as well as his starring roles under director Wong Jing. The level of absolute and utter wackiness that he brings to the screen, together with his love for kung fu cinema and Chinese Opera make for great pure entertainment filmmaking. Kung Fu Hustle is one of the best films I've seen in quite some time.
 
  
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