Ng Man Tat plays Golden Leg Fung, once the greatest soccer player in all of Hong Kong. Fung has fallen upon hard times however, for after taking a bribe presented to him by his team mate Hung, he deliberately missed a vital penalty kick and cost his team an important game, which led to a riot on the pitch and Fung's Golden Leg was horribly smashed, destroying his career. Fung is now a low level employee of Hung, who is now the manager of the most successful team in the East, cryptically named Evil Team. All the humiliation that Hung suffered at the hands of his superior team mate when they were young are paid back as Fung is repeatedly shamed at the hands of the cruel and bitter football mogul. While walking through a busy business district, Fung meets a young former Shaolin student who's down on his luck. Sing (Stephen Chow) he wishes to promote his kung fu teachings and is constantly trying to find ways to apply them practically. He believes that if everybody knew kung fu, the world would become a better place, however he cannot convince anybody and feels he just needs some way to promote kung fu to the mainstream and make people take notice. Sing is currently working for peanuts collecting garbage for recycling, and his old Shaolin brothers have all gone their separate ways. Sing worked for years to perfect his Shaolin Mighty Steel Leg, and after Fung witnesses Sing defend himself against a group of thugs using only a football and his incredible kicking power, he is convinced that Sing could help him start a great football team, and Sing has his way to bring kung fu to mainstream attention.

Sing goes about trying to recruit his five Shaolin brothers to the cause, so they might enter the National Soccer Tournament. Each of Sing's brothers possess different Shaolin techniques that would make them beneficial in different areas of the soccer field. One has the Iron Head technique, another has Empty Hand, another Iron Shirt, and then there's Weight Vest, and the last brother has the Hooking Leg technique. Sing also meets and befriends Mui, a very cute young lady who uses Tai Chi to make dough for steamed bread, unfortunately she has ugly blisters and scars on her face and is very shy, though Sing becomes the target of her affections after he's nice to her. After some convincing, and realising that their lives are going nowhere after they left their Shaolin days behind, the brothers all join Sing and Fung to start training for the soccer tournament. Fung tries to teach them the soccer skills they need to play, and Sing makes great progress in controlling the amazing power of his Mighty Steel Leg, though its not until they have a tryout match with the dirtiest local team that Sing's brothers finally find their powers reawaken and they are ready to enter the National Soccer Tournament, and ultimately take on Hung and his scarily powerful Evil Team.

Shaolin Soccer has a lot in its favour, a good cast, Hong Kong's top comedy filmmaker at the helm, and tons of really cool CGI. Is it well-made? Yes. Is it a clever parody? Yes. But is it funny? Side-splittingly hilarious? I can't really say it is. Stephen Chow is clearly a very clever and talented guy, has many very original and neat ideas, and really knows how to make movies. Shaolin Soccer is very well shot, stylish, and a good and fun slice of unique Hong Kong cinema which goes right against the recent attempts by movie makers of the same country to make films like their Hollywood counterparts. The special effects are so utterly over the top you can't help but chuckle as Chow happily mocks The Matrix and CGI-heavy films from Hong Kong itself such as Andrew Lau's The Stormriders and A Man Called Hero, and by and large the effects are pretty good. There are some good comic moments too such as Sing and one of his brothers dressing as singing Shaolin monks and performing to absolute silence in a bar of violent punters, or the goal keeper's likeness to Bruce Lee being exploited with him doing impressions of him and his team kit resembling the famous yellow jump-suit from Game of Death. It also features one of the best opening title sequence ever, featuring the excellent main theme and some extremely entertaining visuals, it almost has a Once Upon a Time in China feel to it.

However I really tried to love Shaolin Soccer, I watched it more than once after being told I'd ‘get it' the second time, but I guess I still don't truly ‘get it', if ‘getting it' means that I was meant to be in hysterics for much of its duration. Shaolin Soccer just didn't strike me as that funny, not helped at all by the sudden flashes of over-wrought melodrama which do more to harm the tone of the film and give the impression that perhaps Chow wasn't sure whether to go into a full-on parody or not, which perhaps he should have done. Characterisation is minimal as everybody is pretty one-dimensional, even Chow's own character just seems to shout through most of the movie and is a slave to the visual effects that are the film's focus, and the one subplot that brought some depth to the film is totally and utterly abandoned at the end which frustrated me no end. Another thing that irks is the complete lack of any understanding of the actual game of football (or soccer to those who don't know any better). If you want to see a football movie you'd probably be better off watching Escape to Victory where Sylvester Stallone showed more understanding of the game than this did, in fact it feels like they learned all they knew from a video game. The fact that its called Shaolin Soccer is unimportant, it could have been Shaolin Baseball, Shaolin Hockey, Shaolin Curling - the film would have been pretty much identical as there is little development beyond the ball and there being a goal at either end of the field. Its all about the visuals, and after films like The Stormriders and The Avenging Fist it seems very strange that a film that has a very similar structure, little characterisation or plot and lots of CGI, should be praised so highly just because it doesn't take itself as seriously. Nope, I guess I don't ‘get it'.

While there are moments of humour early on that show Chow's really good eye for visual gags, later scenes just don't have that same jovial spirit. Its still worth seeing and perhaps Canto-humour just isn't my thing, and I'm certainly in the minority in not finding this film hilarious. While I can certainly appreciate the visual flair and style that has gone into the film, and its one of the most original films to come out of Hong Kong for a good while now, but like so many things is not going to be entirely to everybody's taste.

Few films actually deserve the critical acclaim they receive or live up to the hype that surrounds them but 'Shaolin Soccer' certainly falls into a category that only an elite few occupy. The outcry from fans of all genres has been so great that even Hollywood movie companies have taken notice of the shining star that is Chow Sing Chi. Maybe it's the combinations of styles or just that Chow Sing Chi has finally crossed that gap into true mainstream pictures but whatever it is, this film has certainly been a hit worldwide.

First and foremost, this film is a comedy. Despite the fact that it has gained recognition from the special effects, it is Chow Sing Chi's unique humour and blend of unusual criteria that make this a front runner for his best film so far. For international audiences he has always been something of an acquired taste because comedy cannot bridge the language barrier easily, especially when a lot of it relies on word play or verbal wit. Slapstick can be appreciated world wide with no explanation or adequate translation required so this is always the best form of attack for a foreign film with this kind of material. 'Shaolin Soccer' has to be the first of Chow's films that contains an equal amount of visual and verbal humour which has allowed it to expand the appeal and make it more enjoyable for all cultures.

Although theoretically this is not an action driven film, the choreography for the Shaolin martial arts is superbly executed. Much of the inspiration has certainly come from Chow's true to life idol, Bruce Lee, with 'Fist Of Fury' style street brawls and a goalkeeper with an uncanny likeness to the great man himself. You also find that with the aid of the advanced CGI effects and some crafty wirework each of the unlikely looking Shaolin brothers are given physically astounding ball skills that look as impressive as most intricately created kung fu fights. Sadly, as with 'Storm Riders' and 'A Man Called Hero', the computer work is never seamlessly integrated and it is generally quite easy to spot an object or person that has been artificially inserted but in this comic book world it doesn't seem to matter as much as it does for the serious action pieces.

The one true criticism that has been hurled at this film is the lack of characterisation. Previous films from Chow like 'King Of Comedy' and 'God Of Cookery' ran along the same lines but certainly took the time to explore the characters fully. However, this film is pure eye candy and not meant to be a deep and meaningful drama by any means. The money has been invested on the special effects and the script is crafted with the intention of squeezing as many soccer matches in as possible. The love story and relationships between the Shaolin friends do enough to hold your attention and, despite lacking real emotion, it still manages to serve up a portion of entertainment greater than a lot of other films. Comedy is where the heart lies and with this as the intended outcome, Chow has certainly scored a real winner.

It doesn't seem to matter if you go into this film with or without high expectations, you are always bound to walk away with a positive reaction. This is certainly one of the best films I have seen in the last couple of years and one that every self respecting movie fan should add to their collection today.

Stephen Chow. If you've been watching Hong Kongcomedy movies for a while, you'll know who this guy is. If not, here are 3 words that describe him: Weird, wonderful and energetic. If you're chinese and if he can't make you laugh then there’s something wrong with you! He plays the often daydreaming Shaolin disciple Fifth See Hing (aka Dai Lik Gum Gong Kui) with some seriousness, even though he he’s acting in a comedic film. In seriousness, I mean as in he seems to take his role very seriously but still, he's up for laughs and will do up to anything to make a scene humourous, from a singing routine to a smack in the mouth, with Wong Yut Fei at the recieving end of it. Chow's quite good kicking skill is very evident in the film, with him kicking footballs like a pro.

Chow has improved a lot as a director since From Beijing With Love (co-directed with Lee Lik-Chi). Shots circling around the attention area, and zoom in to expression shots seem to be his favourite shots, with mid-shots and close-up coming to a close second. He also seems to like changing mood for a scene very drastically, like from serious to a comedy. It's always nice sometimes to know that you are actually watching a Chow Sing Chi 'Nonsense' film and not some old chiche ridden dramatic role with no plot. I also feel the plot he's written here is very original and makes for a barrel loads of laughs. In his movies Chow likes to reference his idol Bruce Lee and make no mistake, Bruce is mentioned in this film too and the the famed boxing-style stance after every kick he makes is highlighted also. One thing that did strike me though, was the beautition part. I feel it was totally unessesary, and it freaks you out. It freaked me out, thats for sure.

Ng Man Tat plays the cripple Fung, ex-soccer star who got bribed and then his career ended when his 'mate' paid someone to break his legs. Ng, as always, get the part of the cliche riddled character, but he does get to shine in this performance. We see that, not only he can carry a comedic role, but there's a serious side to it too. You don't see him in many serious roles, but he can be good at it.

Out of all the many the co-stars, only four really shine. Zhou Mei, Chan Kwok Sang, Lam Chi Sin & Wong Yut Fei.

Zhou Mei (from Chinese Odyssey 2002)is the shy, spot-ridden girl that makes steamed buns and is a tai chi master! I'll quote Chow; 'Zhou Mei plays her role perfectly'. And she bloody well does. I mean, she doesn't mind getting slapped inthe face by Chow, how great is that?! Chan Kwok Sang is the Bruce Lee lookalike. His acting during the introduction of his character is really good and he displays a natural acting style with comedy and willingness blended into it. Also his Bruce Lee impressions absolutely rocks, he even gets a Game of Death costume!

Lam Chi Sin is the fat bloke and the only reason he's good is that he portrays what Chow wanted him to do; being and doing what a fat bloke does best, which is eat a lot and sleep. It's a bit stereotypical, but seeing him fly makes me laugh 'til me stomach aches! Wong Yut Fei is the Iron Head. He really makes cantonese comedy worth watching, as you'll see in the singing rutine he does with Chow. Very funny, cantonese humour to the full!

CG effects, was, and possible still is, the most famous aspect of this film. It's exaggerated but good and very comedic. Centro Digital have done a wonderful job with this film, providing outragously funky effects, mostly to do with Shaolin kung-fu. You'll be amazed and they did go on to win the Best Visual Effects award at the HKFA earlier this year.

Shaolin Soccer is a brilliant film, you'll love it if you like soccer, even if you don't you'll still love it. Well worth it's money.

REVIEW:
I will tell you one thing. "Shaolin Soccer" is probably one of the most unforgettable films you will see, ever. It is so crazy and whacked out that you can't help but think about it constantly, after viewing it. Luckily, I can say this all in a good context. This film is a whacky comedy that is just pure fun to watch. It is the perfect film when you just wanna sit down, have a laugh, and have some fun.

The plotline for the film is pretty standard for this type of a movie. We have seen other movies where some group of people are down and outs, an opportunity comes along, and they have to overcome the odds. It's much the same here, and the flow is just as one would expect. But, it is Stephen Chow's unique style that stands out as we go from scene to scene. From the look of the film, to the character interaction, to the goofy comedy - its Chow all the way. Expect complete wackiness at some points. Very amusing for fans of the style. Those who have never seen any other Stephen Chow films may be taken off guard at first, especially with this film being particularly whacked out, but in the end the entertainment of it all will be the memory they ultimately keep.

The action in the film is a big draw. You have never seen a sports scene like the ones here. An insane combination of kung fu and soccer makes for some very fun and interesting action scenes. Chow's double bicycle kick, a guy spinning his legs in the air to control the ball, an awesome Bruce Lee clone goalie, the list goes on. These scenes will keep you coming back for more and more with their over-the-top, but well choreographed action.

Much has been made of the special effects in the film. Yes, they are glaringly obvious at points. That's not the point. This isn't exactly a realistic film and the special effects do not look "realistic" in many places. They do, however, look very cool and add a great effect to the action. When Chow kicks the ball and it turns into a flaming lion.... damn, it's cool! The special effects are quite good in some places, too. The bounce of the ball is quite good in many parts, making it blend in as a real object reacting to the kicks.

There is also a nice little subplot involving a young lady named Mui who makes bread with Tai Chi skills. Sing approaches her and is very impressed with her skills. She has a scarred face and is very insecure about herself, but Sing pushes her to be happier with herself. This leads into somewhat of a reluctant romance subplot. It was quite a good subplot and I actually wish that it was developed more. This is, of course, just a choice on film direction and in no way faults the filmmakers for choosing to focus more on the soccer aspect itself.

Shaolin Soccer is just a fun film, plain and simple. Lots of goofy comedy and some crazy soccer action scenes will make this worth many multiple spins in your DVD player. It doesn't have any greater meaning and its core plot may be pretty standard, but that's not what this film is about. It doesn't top my favorites list, and it doesn't need to. I understand perfectly why it became the HK box office champion. With universal fun-time appeal - its a great viewing for anybody.

The story is basically the same as many of Chow's other movies -- he plays a talented martial artist who can't find work until he is discovered by soccer coach Ng Man-Tat, who convinces Chow that by combining kung fu with soccer, they can both benefit. Chow will be able to fufill his dream of spreading the word about "true" kung fu, and Ng will be able to avenge a crippling loss from an old rival (Patrick Tse). However, unlike Chow's earlier movies, he is not so arrogant.

There has been a movement over Stephen Chow's last few films to soften his on-screen persona, and Shaolin Soccer continues that trend. Perhaps this is in reaction to Chow's -- once known as one of Hong Kong's biggest playboys -- own slowing down. At any rate, this has resulted in movies that concentrate not so much on potty humor, but that are more focused on story and "true" romance. Chow's romantic interest this time out is played by Vicky Zhao, who, like many of Chow's other love interests, has a physical problem (a disfigured face), but not so much time is spent on this -- it is definitely not a focal point of the movie, like Karen Mok in God of Cookery. Even though not as much time is spent on their relationship as in Chow's other movies, the love story seems to ring a bit truer because Chow seems more sincere.

So the story in Shaolin Soccer is handled well, but what about the comedy? It's not as over the top as Chow's usual "moy len tau" style, but it's still plenty goofy. Things like an impromtu song-and-dance number, Chow and Ng staging a Shaolin nightclub act, cameos by Cecilia Cheung and Karen Mok in drag, and some mandatory (for Stephen Chow) toilet humor and pop culture references await the viewer here. To this reviewer, the comedy was very funny. Even though my Cantonese is worse than Michael Wong's and I was lost in parts, Stephen Chow's likeable personality and rubber face (as well as some help from a strong supporting cast) carried the film thorugh the rocky bits, and made the good ones that much more enjoyable.

Of course, this being a soccer movie, plenty of time is dedicated to showing the sport, and these sequences are great fun as well, thanks to some inventive use of CGI that shows how kung fu can turn a soccer match into a martial arts brawl. Overall, even though Shaolin Soccer is "toned down" a bit from Stephen Chow's previous works, this kind of thing (soccer balls being turned into fireballs while a Bruce Lee clone blocks the shot) probably won't appeal to the average viewer -- at least at first blush. Like these scenes, Stephen Chow as a whole is an acquired taste -- much like a good stew, it takes a few bites to appreciate all the flavors -- but for those wanting to check out another side of Hong Kong movies besides fists of fury or dual pistol action, Shaolin Soccer is an excellent entry into the "nonsense comedy" genre which only Hong Kong (and Stephen Chow in particular) can do so well.

REVIEW:
Hong Kong film comedian Stephen Chow directs and stars in SHAOLIN SOCCER which deserves the distinction of being one of the outright funniest and most entertaining Hong Kong films ever seen by this reviewer. Its an instant classic that should have filmmakers worldwide taking notes.

Stephan Chow has starred in dozens of comedies in Hong Kong including parodying Bruce Lee in FIST OF FURY 1991 and lampooning American films such as THE MATRIX and AMERICAN PIE in THE TRICKY MASTER (1999). Some viewers have found Chow's humor too verbal and therefore hard to translate, yet this is probably his most accessible film to Western audiences because it focuses mostly on physical stunts and widely recognizable references such as Bruce Lee imitations. Other viewers find Chow's humor to be juvenile but its undeniable that Chow has a gift for mockery, thanks to his brilliant timing and his ability to merge unrelated subjects seamlessly onscreen. Such is the case for SHAOLIN SOCCER that takes the Shaolin monk and his kung fu skills, seen in countless martial arts films and combines it with the game of soccer. It turns out to be a perfect combination that appeals to a broad audience, thanks in part to the liberal use of computer effects to enhance the action.

Half of the film's budget went towards digital effects created by Centro, the Asian company responsible for the impressive eye candy seen in Hong Kong fantasy films STORM RIDERS (1998) and A MAN CALLED HERO (1999). From a soccer ball morphing into a flaming tiger in flight to players butting heads like rams, eye-popping CG effects are found everywhere in this film. While the complaint in many of today's American films is that digital effects are overwhelming a film's story and characters, SHAOLIN SOCCER is rooted firmly in the old fashioned tale of a down-and-out team of misfits regaining their confidence by beating the odds. Chow never loses sight of this either in the effects or in the humor.

If anything is wrong with the film it would be the rapid pace of the story that had to give way to the numerous action sequences. But these scenes will not disappoint and the plot remains easy to follow. Sports fans, kung fu fans, Adam Sandler fans, and just about anyone looking for something invigorating and different will get a real kick out of SHAOLIN SOCCER.

I think I was destined to see this movie. First of all, any movie with the word "Shaolin" in the title is going to get my attention. And this one doubly so. I doubt you've ever seen a movie about a bunch of misfit ex-Shaolin monks who start a soccer team to promote Shaolin kung fu to the masses. Where some might groan at the premise, I was intrigued. Then I heard the recommendations from my co-worker, and saw that it had shattered all sorts of box office records in Asia. I knew I had to see it for myself. As if that weren't enough, every time I did went to HKFlix, there it was, before my eyes. Who am I to resist the call of fate?

Simply describing this film as a movie about a bunch of Shaolin monks playing soccer might be accurate enough, but it just scratches the surface. It starts 20 years ago, when "Golden Leg" Fung, the most popular soccer player in the land, agrees to throw a game. The crowd riots, and "Golden Leg" is left crippled. Flash forward, and Fung is now a broken man, working for Hung, the very man who set him up. One day, Fung runs into Sing (Stephen Chow), a former Shaolin monk who wants to bring the teachings of Shaolin to the masses, but doesn't know how. Then Fung sees Sing take on a bunch of thugs with nothing but a soccer ball, and proceed to kick the crap out of them.

Fung decides to use Sing's amazing kicking powers and create a powerful soccer team that will defeat Hung and his Evil Team. Sing, realizing that soccer is the perfect way to spread Shaolin teachings, recruits his former classmates. Like Sing, each has his own special power. One has a head of iron, another can use his stomach muscles to propel the ball with great force. There's the 300 pound monk who can walk on air, and the monk whose acrobatic skills would make Kurt Thomas green with envy. And then there's the goalie, whose Bruce Lee impersonation is almost eerie to watch, and who can stop any shot.

Needless to say, hilarity ensues. This movie is an absolute riot to watch, and by the time the Shaolin team takes on the Evil Team (yes, they're really called the "Evil Team") for the final showdown, I was rolling on the floor. Nothing in this movie can, or should be taken seriously, and as a result, everything goes. Several scenes had me in stitches; the lounge act promoting the merits of Shaolin, the training sequences, the match against the mustached female team, the references to "Jurassic Park" and other movies. Even the dumbest sight gags (a la "Airplane") had me chuckling.

This was the first Stephen Chow flick I've seen, and I'm already a fan. He's perfect at playing the lovable buffoon; he makes it look so effortless. And his supporting cast is stellar. The biggest delight is Vicki Zhao. Zhao plays Mui, a disfigured pastry chef who uses tai chi to make the perfect bread. Unlike her scene-chewing performance in "The Duel", Zhao turns in a low-key, touching performance here.

And on top of everything is a generous helping of special effects. Borrowing liberally from movies like "The Matrix", "Shaolin Soccer" use CGI and digital effects everywhere. Unlike "The Duel", where the abundance of effects hurt the movie, "Shaolin Soccer" plays up the cartoonish-ness of everything; Sing's battle with the thugs looks like something out of a Tex Avery cartoon. Sure, some of the effects look pretty fake, but who cares? You'll probably be laughing so hard when Sing kicks the ball into warp speed, you won't even care. If anything, they just add to the fun.

I popped "Shaolin Soccer" into my DVD player, and it was almost painful when I had to stop watching in the middle. I held on as long as I could, waited as long as I could, because I was enjoying it so much. But when I picked up where I left off, it was like getting back together with an old friend. And I kept re-watching parts of the movie until 1:00am. That's what this movie did to me. And when this movie hits the theatres (Disney bought the U.S. distribution rights), I'll be first in line. And I won't be alone, even if I have to drag my friends to it, kicking and screaming. I know that, afterwards, they'll thank me.

Unfortunately, it looks like you'll have to wait for in the theatres. Since Disney has the rights, it is no longer possible to buy this movie in North America. And when Disney does release it here in the states, you can expect it to be butchered and neutered (just look at Jet Li's domestically-released movies). Still, even a butchered "Shaolin Soccer" is better than anything else Hollywood has been capable of lately. Honestly, which would you rather see? Sing and monks tearing it up on the soccer field with hilarious effects and slapstick comedy, or the latest featuring the Saturday Night Live alumni?

I rest my case.

Washed up former football ace Fung (Ng Man Tat) wants to settle old scores by entering a team into the national soccer competition. He is given the opportunity after a chance meeting with cleaner and kung fu obsessive Sing who's mission, along with his gang of Shaolin 'brothers', is to spread martial arts to the world. However this task proved difficult and only Sing remains true to the cause while the others succumbed to the drudgery of daily life. Fung manages to persuade Sing that soccer combined with kung fu would make martial arts accessible to the masses and the pair go to recruit all of Sing's old friends. Although the rest of the Shaolin disciples have allowed their skills to decline, after some training and early teething problems the team are soon ready to enter the competition.

Like most of Chow Sing Chi's films there is a lot of humour in the dialogue which is lost on a non-Cantonese speaking person like myself. Some of it is conveyed through the subtitles but I suspect the vast majority is not. However also in his other films there are usually enough visual gags that will translate for anyone and 'Shaolin Soccer' is crammed full of them. Even when its not being 'laugh out loud' funny though, 'Shaolin Soccer' still has enough going on on-screen to keep the viewers' attention. The use of computer generated special effects is pushed right to the fore in this movie to turn the soccer matches into quite surreal events. These effects mixed with wirework and martial arts make the second half of the movie a visual treat.

Aside from the soccer Sing finds time to be involved in a romantic subplot with a Tai Chi expert played by Vicky Zhao. This provides the film with its more sentimental moments emphasising that its what's inside a person that really counts.

There's great performances from everyone and I was especially pleased to see Chow teamed up with Ng Man Tat again as the two always play off each other really well. I've always thought that Ng Man Tat was as much a key ingredient to the comedy as Chow himself.

So its a return to form for Chow Sing Chi. Lets hope we don't have quite as long for his next masterpiece...