Shaolin Soccer

Ah, the beauty of Net Flix that opens the whole world of cinema for those with eclectic tastes. I haven’t been watching movies lately so it’s about time I had a little couch time in front of the big ass TV.

First up is an older kung fu movie made by those responsible for Kung Fu Hustle, a little gem you may have seen.

A down on his luck soccer player, crippled by his nemesis twenty years before, organizes a motley group of players into a soccer team. With Kung Fu phenom Stephen Chow, this fantasy movie about misfits using Shaolin Kung Fu to win against Team Evil is an underdog-feel good surprise of a movie.

Great special effects, hysterically funny kung fu fight scenes, and likable characters make you forget the subtitles. If you really hate subtitles, you can view the DVD track made for American audiences. Whichever way you decide to view the movie, you’ll find yourself rooting for Team Shaolin to beat the drugged-up bad guys of Team Evil.

Created By

Directed by Stephen Chow and written by Chow and Kan-Cheung Tsang, Shaolin Soccer was released in Hong Kong in 2001 and in limited release in 2004.

The Cast

Stephen Chow is Mighty Steel Leg Sing, the Shaolin inspired kicker. Man Tat Ng as Golden Leg Fung (as Ng Man Tat), former hero who threw a game and lives to regret it. Wei Zhao is Mui, the girl who makes Sweetie Buns using Shaolin techniques. Yin Tse is Team Evil Coach Hung (as Patrick Tse Yin). Hui Li is Banana Peel Girl who is a slapstick queen.

Cecilia Cheung is Team Moustache Player 1; Karen Mok is Team Moustache Player 2; Vincent Kok is Team Puma Leader; Kai Man Tin is Iron Shirt Tin (Third Brother); Chi Chung Lam is Light Weight (Small Brother); Kwok-Kwan Chan is Lightning Hands (Fourth Brother); Chi Ling Chiu is Hooking Leg (Second Brother); Ming Ming Zhang is Little Hung; Pu Ye Dong is Little Fung; Shi Zi Yun is Team Evil Center.

Awards

Not surprisingly, Shaolin Soccer won many awards. In 2001, the Golden Horse Film Festival awarded the Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography and Best Visual Effects to Siu-Tung Ching. In 2002, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film.

In 2002, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor to Stephen Chow; Best Director to Stephen Chow; Best Picture to Kwok-fai Yeung, Executive Producer; Best Sound Design to Kinson Tsang; Best Supporting Actor to Yut Fei Wong; Best Visual Effects to Frankie Chung, Ken Law,
Ronald To, and Maurice Ng.

Also in 2002, the Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Picture; Best Director to Stephen Chow; Best Supporting Actor to Yut Fei Wong; Best Cinematography to Pak-huen Kwen, Ting Wo Kwong;
Best Costume & Make Up Design to Yim Man Choy; Best Film Editing to Kit-Wai Kai; Best Original Film Score to Ying-Wah Wong; Best Original Film Song to Composer Jacky Chan, not the actor, and Andy Lau, Lyricist/Performer. The Golden Bauhinia for Best Screenplay to Stephen Chow and Kan-Cheung Tsang.

In 2003, Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Language Film to Stephen Chow.

Takeaway Truth

Broaden your cinematic horizons every now and again with something a bit different. You may be surprised by how well you’re entertained.

Tags: kung fu movies, shaolin soccer, stephen chow