Director: Stephen Chow
Writer: Stephen Chow, Kan-Cheung Tsang, Min Hun Fung, Chi Keung Fung (Screenplay)
Starring: Stephen Chow, Zhou Wei, Man-Tat Mg, Yin Tse, Cecilia Cheung, Karen Mok, Vincent Kok
Plot: A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Enjoyable
Story: Shaolin Soccer starts as we see Golden Leg Fung the star football (I am calling it football not soccer because that is the name of the sport) player takes a bride to missed from Hung only to find himself crippled by the crowd. 20 years later Hung (Tse) is the coach of Team Evil and Golden Leg (Ng) is a crippled kit man who wants to coach his own team.
Golden Leg’s luck is about to change when he meets Mighty Steel Leg Sing (Chow) who has been practicing the Kung Fu style of Shaolin and wants to embrace it into the game of football. Steel Leg brings together his brothers to form a team to take on Team Evil for the prize of $1 Million but can this unique style work on the football pitch?
Shaolin Soccer is one of those films where the story feels like it has been ripped from a comic book and thrown together to enter us into a world where we have to suspense our disbelief throughout the story. I do think it does play out like your standard sports film coming from nowhere to beat the best known team we know the final will be the biggest test too so on that side nothing is truly fresh. The films story is all about how Kung Fu can be used to make football an achievable sport for the talentless players.
Actor Review
Stephen Chow: Mighty Steel Leg Sing lives on the streets as he is determined to find a use for his Shaolin Kung Fu training. When he meets Golden Leg Fung he decides to try football and with this he reunites his brothers to make the most unorthodox team to enter the tournament. Stephen shines in this showing off his kung fu skills with his comedy skills.
Zhou Wei: Mui is a street cook that hides herself from the world but Steel Leg sees past her to see her real beauty as he tries to bring her out of her shell. Zhou is good in this supporting role which all works for the film.
Man-Tat Ng: Golden Leg Fung is a former football star that took a bride which ended his career, tired of being just the kit man he agrees to coach Mighty Steal Leg and his team as they enter the most famous tournament around. Man-Tat is good in this role as the man seeking one last chance to make up for his mistake.
Yin Tse: Team Evil Coach Hung ruined Golden Leg’s football career before using all of his wealth to control the gang making his team the all powerful force in the sports. Yin is good in this supporting role playing your typical villain.
Support Cast: Shaolin Soccer has a supporting cat which is mostly the rest of the team who all have their own abilities, they all add to the comedy being used through the film.
Director Review: Stephen Chow – Stephen puts together this entertaining film as well as starring in the leading role showing he can handle both sides of the job.
Action: Shaolin Soccer is filled with over the top whacky kung fu action.
Comedy: Shaolin Soccer makes you laugh with just how over the top everything really is going on through the film.
Sports: Shaolin Soccer brings us a fresh mix on football which we haven’t seen before.
Settings: Shaolin Soccer shows how the men are coming from the bottom of the streets to become household names.
Special Effects: Shaolin Soccer uses the effects to make everything happen with the Shaolin work which works but you can see them happening.
Suggestion: Shaolin Soccer is one you can just put on to sit back and relax. (Relax and Watch)
Best Part: All the over the top Kung Fu football mixing.
Worst Part: Certain special effects you can see how fake they are.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $10 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Tagline: The sensation that swept Asia is coming to theaters!
Overall: A true sit back and relax film that can be enjoyed
Rating
