Siu Lam Juk Kau [Shaolin Soccer] (12 July 2001)
directed by Stephen Chow
starring Stephen Chow, Man Tat Ng, Zhao Wei, Yin Tse, Kai Man Tin, Chi Chung Lam, Kwok-Kwan Chan, Mo Mei Lin, Lam Tze Chung, Wen Hui He
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MPAA rating: Studio: Star Overseas, Universe Entertainment Script: Stephen Chow, Kan-Cheung Tsang Music: Jacky Chan, Lowell Lo, Raymond Wong Running time: 102 minutes Tags: Action; Comedy; Foreign Film; Martial Arts; revenge; soccer Tactical strength: [7/10]
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for martial arts action and some thematic elements
I meant to see the U.S. release of Shaolin Soccer, but only one theater in my area had any screenings. Eventually, I forgot about the film until I recently watched Chow's next feature, Kung Fu Hustle. I have probably watched Kung Fu Hustle ten or fifteen times by now and figured that Chow's other major release would probably provide similar enjoyment. Although not as riotously and continuously funny as Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer does have quite a few good laughs, and you can see how this successful venture led to the even funnier Kung Fu Hustle.
Mighty Steel Leg Sing (Stephen Chow) wants to spread the benefits of a Kung Fu lifestyle. He clearly has tried many schemes before, and we see him attempt to start a Shaolin rock band with lyrics like, "Shaolin's really great. Oh, so great." The audience laughs Sing and his Shaolin Brother Tin (Kai Man Tin) off the stage and into the street, where Sing uses a soccer ball to defend himself against the club gangsters. A former soccer start Golden Leg Fung (Man Tat Ng) sees Sing beat up an entire gang with the soccer ball, and he gets the idea to start a soccer team featuring Sing's mighty leg. Fung has ulterior motives in starting a team; he desperately wants to humiliate his former teammate Hung, who now coaches the very successful Team Evil. Many comic moments ensue as a group Shaolin trained Kung Fu masters attempt to learn enough soccer techniques to enter and win the local tournament.
The DVD offers both the original Chinese and U.S. theatrical versions. I personally prefer to watch foreign films with the original soundtrack and English subtitles. Generally, I don't find that dubbing adequately transfers the original emotional tone you experience in the native performance. In the case of Shaolin Soccer, the film has suffered numerous edits for the U.S. release. For example, the U.S. version opens with Golden Leg missing a final kick and losing a game, which sets up Golden Leg as a victim of Hung. But in the Chinese Version, the film opens with Golden Leg and Hung in the locker room. Golden Leg clearly abuses his position of fame to take advantage of Hung, which changes Golden Leg's motivation from one of revenge to one of redemption. I don't see why film editors think that U.S. audiences cannot handle the more complex relationship between Hung and Golden Leg, although I do understand the editing of various blood spurts to keep the MPAA rating under R. Either version has the same fundamental elements, but I found the Chinese version a somewhat more complex story line with added details that enhance the overall experience.
