Kung Fu Hustle [Blu-ray]

Product Description

Stephen Chow (director and star of Shaolin Soccer) is at it again with his newest action-packed and comedic martial-arts adventure, Kung Fu Hustle. From wildly imaginative kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've never seen action this outrageous and characters this zany! With jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yuen Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix), Kung Fu Hustle will blow you away! In a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing (Stephen Chow) desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turn out to be kung fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung fu master of all.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie, average HD performance.......2007-09-05

I love this movie, but it doesn't seem like it looks significantly better than it did on DVD. Worth having if you don't already own it on DVD.

good video, great audio.......2007-08-12

This disk has very good (above average) video transfer, but what really shines is its Chinese uncompressed PCM audio track. After watching the movie, I long for Chinese traditional music on blu-ray. Listen to the full sound track of "Ambush From All/Ten Sides" in uncompressed PCM will be heavenly.

Movie-wise, I like the art directions and the special effects. But some of the actors appear to be rather wooden (the barber and Chow's pal, for example). I also found this movie isn't as funny as I hoped it to be.

Blu-ray Goodness.......2007-05-15

I've got this movie on DVD, UMD, and now Blu-ray. I'll leave IMDB to tell you about the movie.

I don't have an HD TV (don't ask), so I can't really comment on the picture quality. I'm not an audiophile, so I can't really comment on the sound quality (although on DD5.1 it sounds just fine).

Go ahead and pick it up!!

Great Comedy Action Movie.......2007-05-12

This is definitely one of the better action movies I have seen in a long time. The comedy in the movie is also worth a watch. Stephen Chow tells a great story with absolutely amazing special effects. I have watched this movie many times and watching it on Blu-Ray is an experience in itself.
From the opening sequence, you are drawn to the plot and Stephen's portrayal of his character is first-class. His tribute to Bruce lee is evident throughout the film.
This is definitely a MUST WATCH for all!

great addition to my blu-ray collection.......2007-03-18

Didn't expect much from single layer 25 gig mpeg-2 with extras, but I was totally impressed w/ the transfer. Great movie to add to my ever growing collection.

Average customer rating:

Cool
Memphis, Baby
Good Actor!
Sorry folks, can't get with it!
Not my taste

Hustle & Flow (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Terrence Howard , Anthony Anderson , Taryn Manning , Taraji P. Henson , and DJ Qualls
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000BITUWU
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com

The idea of a soulful pimp as the hero of a movie will strike some viewers as objectionable and perhaps even repellent, but Terrence Dashon Howard's complex and fierce performance will challenge such easy moral decisions. DJay (Howard, Crash, The Best Man) hustles a small stable of whores, including corn-rowed Nola (Taryn Manning, A Lot Like Love). When he learns that former local rapper turned superstar named Skinny Black (real life rapper Ludacris) is coming back to town for the 4th of July, DJay teams up with a frustrated sound engineer (Anthony Anderson, Kangaroo Jack) and a geeky musician (DJ Qualls, Road Trip) to put together a demo tape that he hopes will be his ticket to fame and fortune. What's most impressive about Hustle & Flow is that it doesn't oversell its hero. DJay's aspirations are more economic than poetic--he's not out to create art, he just wants a better life. This lack of pretension allows the movie to capture a genuine sense of how creativity can improve people's lives, which surprises DJay as much as anyone. The movie's other strength is a keen eye for social behavior, in particular the ways in which DJay manipulates everyone around him. Howard, who's almost always stood out in every movie he's made, plays these scenes with what can only be called smooth desperation. The entire cast gives substantial performances, but it's Howard who drives the movie irresistibly forward. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

DJay is a Memphis hustler who spends most days in a parked Chevy philosophizing about life while Nola (Taryn Manning), turn tricks in the backseat. He's not very good at pimping, but he can hustle almost anything or anyone and makes enough to keep himself and three girls satisfied and housed in his shotgun home. DJay however is in the midst of a midlife crisis; he quietly harbors dreams of becoming a respected rapper. When he learns from a local club owner, Arnel (Isaac Hayes), that rap mogul Skinny Black (Ludacris), is rolling through town, DJay decides to record his flow with the hopes of slipping his demo to Skinny. With little help from his friends and "family" DJay sets in motion the hustle of his life, and galvanizes the lives of those around him as they learn that "Everybody's gotta have a dream."

Customer Reviews:

Cool.......2007-09-04

May seem a bit slow in the beginning or appear like it's the typical story you've seen before, but nothing will prepair your for the outcome. I think it was a well done.

Memphis, Baby.......2007-08-16

Memphis has had her poets, oh yes, think of Elvis, Tennessee Williams, Peter Taylor, William Faulkner, but now because there is a God after all, Memphis is to be immortalized on film. This is a sweet tale of striving, that classic American theme, a guy who wants to make good in a cruelly indifferent world. Oh how glorious is the confrontation in the toilet between the nobody (Terrence Howard), who wants to make it, and the somebody (Ludacris), who doesn't care. Isn't that epic? The film captures the beauty of Memphis ugliness, that odd desolation that has inspired so much artistic beauty. The soundtrack is fantastic, the acting pitch perfect, the setting magical. One wishes the best to the director.

Good Actor!.......2007-08-14

I just love Terrance Howard. I think he is a versatile actor who can play any type role given him. He makes you feel his character with objectivity!

Sorry folks, can't get with it!.......2007-07-29

I saw this on DVD (from the library, thank goodness). This is grossly overrated exploitation junk. Can't get with it!

This film expects the audience to have pity on Terrence Howard as a pimp named DJay who aspires to be a rapper. First of all, the character is about 35 years old, a bit old to start off as a rapper. Secondly, we see him doing things like (literally) throwing a prostitute AND HER BABY out of his house, forcing a teenage prostitute to have sex with an elderly music store owner to get a microphone he can't afford, and generally using and manipulating everyone around him.

Then he tries to get over by making such lovely, creative masterpieces of art as "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" and "Whip That Trick" which both of his prostitutes gleefully dance to the beat of their own destruction.

No thanks, y'all. 30 years ago, the "blaxploitation" trashterpiece films corrupted too many ignorant and guidance-deprived youths of that generation into thinking that it was cool to be a pimp or a drug dealer. Their children the gangster rappers have done enough damage in recent years without films like this to deceive the young and ignorant. The people who push trash like this are the REAL pimps and I have no love for this! Farmers, show this to your cows to produce more fertilizer!

Not my taste.......2007-07-29

I really like Terrence Howard. His performance in this movie to me was sub-par. I just could not get into it.

Average customer rating:

Excellent in plot,dialog,wit,excitement and acting ! What more could you ask for.
Product Malfunction
Don't let the fact that it's a British show scare you off
Hustle Series 3 is Sharp, Entertaining and Suspensful
Great season - and correction to above review

Hustle: Complete Season Three
Director: Robert Bailey (VII)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OHZJP0
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Description

Strapped for cash after a spell in Las Vegas, the expert tricksters are confronted by some risky situations. Mickey poses as a hip-hop record producer when the crew pit themselves against a notorious mark with a bratty son who thinks he's the next Eminem. But when the con goes wrong, will the gang end up paying the price? When James Whittaker Wright III, a matchless American con artist, joins the crew to seek revenge on some unscrupulous city bankers, will they be able to pull off the con before Wright III pulls a double-cross on them? And in the high heat of summer, it suddenly looks like it might be the last score for some of the crew. When Danny and Mickey take up a challenge to determine the group's leadership, they end up engaged in a race against the clock and each other -- if the crew end up with a new leader, will Mickey walk away?

Customer Reviews:

Excellent in plot,dialog,wit,excitement and acting ! What more could you ask for........2007-09-15

I'd like to correct the very negative review of ?Bayliss, who seems to insist that Mickey is missing from Series 3. I've now seen all episodes and not only does he star in all, but I'd be hard pushed to name many other actors who could be so versatile and deliver his lines with such flair! The whole crew make this series an entertainment extravaganza. Congratulations also to the BBC again.

Product Malfunction.......2007-09-03

I ordered this set and it arrived - all the way to Tokyo - today. It is completely missing Disc 1. I now have to ship back Disc 2 so that I can have a replacement set. (How stupid is that?) Be careful ordering this - especially if you live outside the US>

Don't let the fact that it's a British show scare you off.......2007-08-25

Thoroughly entertaining characters. Deeply engrossing storylines and plot twists. More stylish and eccentric than the "Oceans 11-13" film series this show loosely resembles.

I am not always a big fun of British shows. This one is a rollicking, yet thoughtful experience. As a fan of both the other seasons as well, what I was pleasantly surprised to see was the continuation of the show's daring to play with classic genre styles during the course of the stories. For example, during an episode in which they briefly refer to the early 1900s, the characters, for a few moments, in sort of dream vignettes, are immersing themselves in early 1900s garb and mannerisms and these visions are filmed in the style of what a movie would look like during this early era. These flashes into different times and different cultures give the show a truly unique edge, and the transitions from the "dreamlike" states back into modern day are seamless and refreshing.

Crisp writing, witty interchanges, moral dilemmas, and fascinating con games make for a great show to look forward to relaxing to at the end of the day. And thankfully, "Hustle" still doesn't take itself too seriously. I like that they still leave plenty of room for a certain thing most of us don't get enough of...fun.

Hustle Series 3 is Sharp, Entertaining and Suspensful .......2007-08-13

I think Season 3 is the best series so far. It keeps you on your toes with the twist in the tale. I think the actors are excellent at keeping the plot believable and you know they must be enjoying it too (they must have had fun running naked through London!!!!). This is television at its best.

Great season - and correction to above review.......2007-07-24

I think this season compares quite favorably to the previous two - if you liked them, you'll like this as well.

Oh, and to correct J. Baybusky's ("janbay37") review above, Mickey is very much a presence in season 3 - I think he's referring to season 4, now airing on A&E (Mickey has indeed left the cast, ostensibly to assist on some score in Australia). Sadly, I agree with his assessment; it's not nearly the same show without him.

Get Fit Kids Vol. 1 - Hustle-Bustle Move Your Muscles!

Average customer rating:

Not as good as I thought
Gets my girls going...a little
Cute video, a little slow moving for very active toddlers
Great
What a Hit!

Get Fit Kids Vol. 1 - Hustle-Bustle Move Your Muscles!
Starring: Kristi Dear
Manufacturer: Point of View Video Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00030LNW6
Release Date: 2004-05-01

Description

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT ENERGY KIDS HAVE?

Finally, your kids have a positive outlet for all that energy. Kids that exercise feel better; have improved concentration and rest easier.

GIVE YOUR CHILD A HEALTHY, ACTIVE START!

Physical activity and proper nutrition has a tremendous impact on your child's physical, emotional, and mental development. Research has proven that children who exercise are more inclined to build positive habits that lead to happier, healthier lives into adulthood.

IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR KIDS' OWN PERSONAL TRAINER!

Kristi Dear, a Certified Personal Trainer and mother of two, specifically designed each section to positively energize children to GET FIT through fun sing-a-long songs improving their major muscle groups and cardiovascular system. Along with her buddy, JoJo Fitz, Kristi presents Children with an alternative to sugary snacks that will make eating right fun!

Your child will learn how muscles work and the importance of strengthening them.

Get Fit Kid's is receiving major media exposure. Get Fit Kids has been featured on To Life Television show with Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Good Morning Texas, Channel 5, CBS 11, Good Day Dallas, and listed in numerous newspapers, and magazines as the "most effective yet fun fitness for young children."

Get Fit Kids is Certified through the National Women's Business Enterprise Council, and nationally recognized through schools, home schools, preschools, and homes. Get Fit Kids also received an endorsement from Governor Mike Huckabee, Pediatrician Dr. Robert Neal, and Pediatric Nurse Julie Ortiz, commending and congratulating the Get Fit Kids program.

All Artwork in video and on cover © Paul M. Lewis and Licensors.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as I thought.......2007-08-08

It did make my kids get up and dance but it was not as well done as I hoped. It was pretty cheaply done. I don't really know what I'm expecting to see in kids exercise videos, I guess Big Bird can't really be in a costume doing pushing ups. The activities or exercises that they do seem age appropriate but just soooo boring. I noticed my daughter started to ignore some of it as it went along. But at least it introduces them to the concept of exercising in that type of setting. Train them to go to the gym early! But if you get a chance to buy it used or cheap, that's the way to go.

Gets my girls going...a little.......2007-05-30

My girls ages 3 1/2 & 1 1/2 like to watch this video for a little bit. My oldest "works out" to the video for about 5-10 minutes & then is done. I don't like the snack part in the video; I think it's poorly placed in the middle of the video. I think the instructor could be a bit more hyper & silly in order to relate more to kids.

Cute video, a little slow moving for very active toddlers.......2007-02-26

Hustle-Bustle Move your muscles is a very cute and educational video for little ones. I have a toddler that will turn 3 in another month and he is very active. I thought the video would structure his energy for a small part of the day- however it does not keep his attention. He likes the bear character but the entire video is just a little too slow for him. I was pleasantly suprised that it was not annoying for adults and actually could be a decent little work out for mothers too.

Great.......2007-01-18

Sure it's a little cheesy to adults but it's not FOR adults is it?? My kids (ages 2 & 4) just love this dvd. The great thing about it is that it's not a talking routine with aerobic instructor cues. She sings the routine and the cues are within the cute upbeat songs. She takes time in between segments to explain about different muscle groups too and the importance of eating healthy snacks. Not long after we got this dvd my 4 year old was out in the yard and was jumping up and down. He turned to me and said, "whew, I sure am using my hamstrings and quadraceps!!" which he sure was but I thought he was just guessing so I asked him to point to where those things are on his body and he nailed it!! A great dvd to get them moving in the winter and on rainy days and a learning experience too!!

What a Hit!.......2006-06-15

My kids and I thoroughly enjoy watching the Get Fit Kids video. It is a big hit! I love how Kristi is so upbeat and interacts with the viewers, and the children in the video. My kids always seem so happy, after watching Get Fit Kids. I have really seen a difference in them since they have been exercising. They are doing better in
Pre-school, and they seem to sleep a lot better at night! Thanks Get Fit Kids.

Average customer rating:

This was a fun new look into the old-style martial-arts movie.
Do the Hustle.
Kung Fu Hustle Review
Great
This is hilarious!

Kung Fu Hustle (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Kwok Kuen Chan , Chi Ling Chiu , Xiao Lung Ding , Zhi Hua Dong , and Xiaogang Feng
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009S4IHY
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Description

Stephen Chow (director and star of Shaolin Soccer) is at it again with his newest action-packed and comedic martial-arts adventure, KUNG FU HUSTLE. From wildly imaginative kung fu showdowns to dance sequences featuring tuxedoed mobsters, you've never seen action this outrageous and characters this zany! With jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yuen Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix), KUNG FU HUSTLE will blow you away! In a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing (Stephen Chow) desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turn out to be kung fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung fu master of all.

Customer Reviews:

This was a fun new look into the old-style martial-arts movie........2007-09-12

The Axe Gang goes where it wants, does what it wants, and harrasses and oppresses whoever it wants. One day the gang shows up in a small town -- a town which tried to stay out of trouble -- to see about a small disturbance. Instead of imposing its will, the Axe Gang discovers the town's secret: Three Kung Fu masters have taken refuge there, unbeknownst even to each other. With damaged pride and reckless determination, the Axe Gang sets out to eliminate the three masters and take over the town. While the war wages, one enterprising young man tries to gain membership with the Axe Gang.

The movie was made in an entertaining style that is satirical of decades of martial-arts movies. Consider it Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with a sense of humor (I hate to use CTHD as an example, but it seems to be the most well-known movie to use the exagerated fight scenes).

This was so close to being a great movie to me. I really liked it and only have one complaint, and it is minor. One of my favorite elements to the movie was the dancing. It was a perfect element to a martial arts movie. Here was another choregraphed scene, dancing not fighting. And can't we get philosophical and say that in many ways fighting could be viewed as a crude form of dance? (Maybe I'm reaching a little bit there.) But the dancing occurs only when the Axe Gang has its confidence and as soon as it sees there is a legitimate challenger to its power, the dancing stops. And that disappointed me, but like I said before, it is only minor.

The plot is completely outrageous. If you do not like live-action movies with ridiculous story lines, Kung Fu Hustle is not a movie for you. If you want an atypical martial-arts movie that might make you laugh, check it out. I really liked Kung Fu Hustle.

Do the Hustle........2007-06-06

Inventive. Action-packed. Absurd. Hilarious. Touching. Violent. Lively. Smart. And above all else- Superb.

You don't need all of those adjectives to describe a great movie, but you do when describing Stephen Chow's masterpiece Kung Fu Hustle. Taking place in 1940s China, our story involves the hundreds-strong Axe Gang, their efforts to take over the impoverished and dilapidated Pig Sty Alley, and the effects on Pig Sty's tenants. The gang believes taking or Pig Sty will be a cakewalk, but a few of the residents aren't about to let that happen.

Perhaps the most unique thing about the film is how our attention is shifted from one protagonist to another. The first part focuses on three Kung Fu experts (a baker who carries a wooden staff that can shatter metal guns, a hardworking laborer, and a sensitive homosexual tailor). The second part is about Pig Sty's tyrannical chain-smoking landlady and her philandering landlord husband. And the third part concerns a loser (played by Chow) who tries to take up life of crime because of a traumatic childhood incident when he tried to do good deed. I've read critics pan KFH because it lacks one true central character, but I just call it doing something different. Oh well, whatever gets those critics through those long and lonely nights.

Unconventional narrative style aside, there are plenty of other reasons to watch such as the eye popping effects and the humor. Ordinarily, I can't stand CGI, but I really love the way it was used here. Chow succeeds in using it in ways that most American filmmakers can't even dream about. A gut-busting Looney Toons inspred foot chase and a fight with two evil street musicians both have to be seen to be believed. Who needs people like Michael Bay who timidly believes he is pushing the envelope, while Chow demolishes the whole stationery store?

Kung Fu Hustle Review.......2007-06-02

This was a great movie, containing a segment from almost every genre known to man. I loved it. The best parts for me were the fighting scenes, where the action is choreographed to be almost a dance. Most prominent in theis movie is the comedy...after the first 5 or ten minutes...that had me laughing all the way through. Though there was a lot of fighting, it was light on violence. I would recommend this movie to viewers at least ten and up. Totally.

Great.......2007-04-18

As a high level martial artist I have to say this is the greatest martial arts movie since the Seven Samurai.

This is hilarious!.......2007-03-24

I rented this movie from Blockbuster, and after I watched it, I had to have it! This is a well written (of you like spoofs) hilarious movie! I'm also a huge fan of "Shaun of the Dead"! So if you like that type of "off beat" humor, you'll love this movie!

Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler (Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection)

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Buy!
Beginners Only
Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler
Not as good as anticipated
Not enough time, not enough steps.

Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler (Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection)
Starring: Shawn Trautman; Joanna Trautman
Director: DanceLessonDVDs.com
Manufacturer: Xpress Innovations (xidance.com)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BP796C
Release Date: 2006-10-23

Product Description

The Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler is a perfect starting place for anyone wanting to get into Couples Dancing. Released in October of 2005, the Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler includes approximately 75 minutes of beginner lessons on Swing, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Two-Step, Waltz, Hustle, Slow Dancing, and Cha-Cha. This DVD is a great way to sample and learn several different dances to find which one suits you best. Plus, not only will you learn what the dances are and hear some of the music for each, you'll also learn about Leading & Following and its importance on the dance floor. HD footage complemented by multiple camera angles and Picture-In-Picture technology make this DVD an easy "Must-Have" if you're wanting to explore the different dances. Don't miss your chance to vastly improve your dance knowledge by passing this one by. Shawn Trautman has been a coach and mentor to numerous World Champions as well as countless social dancers since the early 1990's. Shawn welcomes people from all walks of life regardless of shape, size, or ability to his classes. His broad experience in both dance and Advanced Learning Techniques makes his methods of instruction innovative, easy, and fun. If you're ready to learn and have fun, Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection is the way to go. Order yours today, and be ready to dance by next weekend!

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate Buy!.......2007-08-01

The Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler by Shawn Trautman was perfect for me as I've always enjoyed dancing but never learned the basics of these dances. As a young woman, I was limited to the dancing that was only done at college dances and balls. This led me to search for a DVD that allowed me to learn not just one type of dance but a variety. I always thought of the dancing world to be quite intimidating but this DVD breaks it down to eight easy dances that anyone who wants to dance could learn from and use.

What I enjoyed most about this DVD was that it was easy to follow even though I was learning without a partner. It was like having a private dance instructor in my living room teaching me the basic steps at a pace I could follow. Shawn's technique of first teaching the basics and then advancing you to feel comfortable going out on your own is what gave me the confidence to break out of my normal club setting and venture out to new dancing opportunities. It's great having that confidence and equally wonderful knowing which dances I want to learn more of. My personal favorites were the Waltz and Salsa! I have confidence in Shawn's teaching style and look forward to the full beginner DVDs to enhance my dancing skills. I highly recommend this DVD for anyone looking to break out of the normal dancing scene and expand their interests in dance.

Beginners Only.......2007-05-24

This is a fantastic sampler, but that is what it is. It is a great DVD if you want to get an idea of what dance you would like to get more in depth training. For $10 or so, it is worth it. If you already have experience, then you should probably purchase a DVD that includes a program that is for a dancer(s) moving to the next level.

Couples Ultimate Dance Sampler.......2007-05-18

We found the DVD to be very easy to follow. It was comfortable to watch (love the split screen) and listen to. The Sampler made it easy for us to pick the dances we wanted to pursue. We'll be ordering more in the future. The other thing we were impressed with was the great customer service.

Not as good as anticipated.......2007-05-13

Very basic--- fundamental production values...Should probably go with a video that does not try to superficially cover quite so many styles, but restricts itself to fewer topics but more in-depth coverage and more practice music time.....

Not enough time, not enough steps........2007-02-03

This movie was OK, but not impressive. Each dance only taught two or three basic steps, and there was not enough practice time with the music to truly feely confident about those steps. My fiance and I did learn the dances, but not without much pausing, stopping, rewinding, and frustration. I am a modern dancer, and pick up movement very quickly, and if it weren't for my ability to break-down and explain the movement, we might not have gotten some of the more difficult moves.

Average customer rating:

Laugh A Minute
Hollywoodized Chop-Socky Send-up
Awesome!
Great entertainment!
A true sleeper of kung fu satire

Kung Fu Hustle (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Kwok Kuen Chan , Chi Ling Chiu , Xiao Lung Ding , Zhi Hua Dong , and Xiaogang Feng
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UVBQI
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Description

Customer Reviews:

Laugh A Minute.......2007-07-23

Wow! For a movie that is in Cantonese, it is absolutley hilarious. Two misfits, dress up and pretend they are part of the Axe Gang thast run the town. Unknown to them, they walk into a village called Pig Sty Alley, where there are three Kung Fu masters and Two Higher Kung Fu masters who live there. They try to act tough and think they can bully the people. Then the real Axe gang show up and mayhem starts from there. But one of the misfits does not realize that he is also a Kung Fu master and by the end of the movie he has to fight the ultimate evil, and he uses and becomes the Kung Fu Master that he was destined to become. A very funny movie, that has a sweet ending. Subtitles are available in most languages. Watch out for the chase scene, that ends with a big billboard.

Hollywoodized Chop-Socky Send-up.......2007-02-07

There is a local cable station where I live that, late at night, often shows these tedious kung fu films that I can only assume are or were the mainstay for Hong Kong, Taiwan and some main land China film goers. Most of the action is between one or two young assailants and one older defender made up to appear older with white hair, puffy eyebrows and beard.) Foley artists I expect were exhausted after adding loud snaps and bangs to every contact between the fighters who, except for an occasional flip or ricochet off a tree, are fairly earthbound. And it is impossible to deduce from their barely subtitled dialogue what they are fighting about. Also, these battles almost always take place in a forest or rocky glen.
Recent kung fu epics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hero; and House of Flying Daggers, to name only a few, have raised the bar both stylistically and in terms of production values. Stephen Chow, director and co-writer of Kung Fu Hustle, has taken the genre one step further: while keeping the high standards in fight choreography, special and trapeze effects, camera work and editing found in the aforementioned films, Chow produces an at first glance comedic kung fu movie that also incorporates American film genres, not only to inject this latter iconography into his story but also to expand the viewer's consciousness of the toll and meaning (or meaninglessness of) violence. It is obvious that Chow is an avid devotee of Hollywood: he appropriates 1930s musicals a la Fred Astaire in the dance Axe Gang leader Brother Sum and his mob do in their stronghold. Pig Sty Alley is a Chinese version a Bowery Boys back alley. Music, both traditional Chinese string orchestra and snippets from Western classical violin concerts, is used as a continuous underscore. And the physical comedy employed in the first half of the film - among them falls from buildings that do not injure, fist distorted features that snap back like rubber, running legs reduced to a cyclonic blur, people moved dozen of yards in less than a blink of an eye - all draw on Hollywood prototypes, especially the cartoons produced by Warner Brothers in the middle of the last century.
While the callous execution of a rival gang in the middle of the street has the expected comic twist and is nonetheless tolerated despite the carnage, the early death of the coolie, tailor and Donut the baker - the three initial defenders of the Pig Sty Alley - come, on reflection, as something of a shock. Who now is going to step up and defend Pig Sty Alley? The landlord and his wife come forward, revealing their mastery of the martial arts that is almost enough to conquer the Beast - almost, but not quite. Their salvation, and Shanghai's deliverance from the murderous tyranny of the Axe Gang is the transformation from street thug and gang wannabe (and secretly noble) Sing (played by director Chow) into a superfighter who finally vanquishes the Beast.
Throughout, the most vicious and powerful kung fu attacks barely graze the combatants, which maintains the sense of comedy even while the good guys are dying. Chow plays with this violent-comic, good-evil dichotomy with a master's touch. And yet on reflection we realize that more than good entertainment is at stake here. The violence is neutralized by the comedy, and yet the characters, who are so well drawn by this talented cast and its director, are taken from us too soon. Kung Fu Hustle plays this crafty game with us: amazing us with special effects-enhanced fight scenes, making us laugh with well timed and conceived comic bits and pratfalls, but in the end leaving us with an odd dissatisfaction, as much with the film as with the genre. Hollywood inspired images transcend the nominal crudeness of run-of-the-mill chop-socky far, but also raise the stakes in that the characters gain dimension, and in doing so leave the view bereft by their passing. While being more cartoonish, Kung Fu Hustle becomes more real.
Hung Fu Hustle comes highly recommended, and we can only hope that its sequel, due out in 2008, lives up to the standards set by this imaginative and unsettling film.

Awesome!.......2007-02-05

Kung Fu Hustle is a brilliant parody of western themes and mindblowing Kung Fu action from start to finish. Several viewings are required to digest all the action and symbolism. The ambiance made me feel like i was in China again, as the tenement house is realistic and authentic (designed by Stephen Chow) plus the music score is of traditional Chinese opera orchestra. Choreography, sets, costumes and colors are magnificent! An unforgettable comedy. The special features are fun and Ric Meyers did a great one on one interview with Stephen Chow, (this is his Masterpiece). You will not believe this (i didn't at first), but this a spiritual movie at a high level. Chow played the bad guy, but later in the movie, found enlightenment. Enjoy!

Great entertainment!.......2006-12-27

Just a blast! You'll never view martial arts the same way.

A true sleeper of kung fu satire.......2006-11-04

I first saw this movie as a rental, and my daughter and I couldn't stop laughing. Having a week on the rental, and a dull week, I watched it again a few days later- something I religiously avoid- and surprising to me, I was laughing as hard as the first time around. As that has never happened before, I heartily recommend this movie for anyone who has seen a Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, or the more "sophisticated" Crouching Tiger or Flying Dagger movies. This movie has subtle and slapstick humor (e.g., the unremovable cigarette in the matriarch's mouth), but is quite intelligent, and encompasses good cinematography with subtle effects (such as the visually vibrating heat waves as the bad guys first approach the slum village). Yes, it is cartoonish in parts, but is an intelligent cartoon, if that makes sense. I plan to buy a copy now for many future viewings.

Average customer rating:

A Rip-Roaring Sophomore Offering
Excellent show
Guessing till the end
The Cons Keep Coming!
Even better than Season 1

Hustle - Complete Season Two
Director: Robert Bailey (VII)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JYW65Y
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Description

The long con specialists are facing some trying times. Trevor, a short con artist brought into the fold on Danny's insistence, proves to be more trouble than he's worth. Albert thinks he's found a ripe mark in a mercenary poker player but he turns out to be Stacie's ex-husband Jake. Could the gang end up losing much more than money as they watch Stacie fall for him all over again? And, as Mickey's most audacious plan yet - to steal the crown jewels - ends in capture, handcuffs and tears... Could the family be broken up for good?

Customer Reviews:

A Rip-Roaring Sophomore Offering.......2007-09-16

For those who enjoyed the first season of Hustle, the second season cannot disappoint. Taking up where the first season left off, with our favorite crew of grifters returning to London after a holiday, they immediately jump into a new six-episode space of capers that are even more clever, charming and humorous than the previous season's. Here's you'll find the crew getting in on a comic book art auction, attempt to swindle Stacie's rake of an ex-husband, unite a former gangster with his long lost "son," and even take a stab at stealing the Crown Jewels.

In all of these, and more, you cna expect the requisite twist, turns, and jokes, but the writing and acting seem to ahve been ratcheted up for this season, and everything is firing on all cylanders. Some of the plots can become a bit predictable, but in the end the twists, turns, and resolutions are brilliant and mind-bending, making this one of the most satisfying television programs I've seen in a long time. Not to be missed.

Excellent show.......2007-08-09

This show is awesome! Although eash season is only 6 episodes. Each show is fresh and new. From the producers of MI-5 (Spooks) This cast of Characters work well together. Mickey Bricks, Danny Blue & the Crew keep you guessing, and laughing. Awesome writing! Can't wait for the next season (season 4) to be released.

Guessing till the end.......2007-07-15

The acting is great, the writing is the best there is, the set production, editing, everything about this series is flawless. You will never catch a collar buttoned in one scene and unbuttoned the next. Most importantly, I'm sombody who always, always knows the plot ending before it happens, but Hustle has surprised me, delightfully, more than once. The stories always make sense. They simply take you on an enjoyable little trip to the Hustle players' world, where none of your everyday problems exist.

The Cons Keep Coming!.......2007-07-14

Hustle season two is just as fun as season one. The style is evolving a little bit, but still has the freeze frame shots and characters looking directly into the camera to let you know something is up. The stories are always fun as are the cons. Most of the time I figure out the double cross, since their is almost always a double cross, but oddly this does not make the show any less enjoyable. The characters are just so great to watch that figuring stuff out doesn't matter. That is not to say that the story or writing is bad. Both are great, but if you watch a lot of con movies you will see some things coming. If you love cons you have to watch this show!

Even better than Season 1.......2007-06-16

Britain's finest team of long con artists are back for another oh-too-brief season of grifting. The second season is even better than the excellent first season. Highlights include: a cop strong-arms Eddie the bartender into spying on the team; Stacy's ex-husband makes a reappearence; and the team decides to heist the Crown Jewels. This show keeps you on your toes: the dialogue is fast and witty, the cons are entertaining and clever, and things are rarely as they seem to be. The free-wheeling scripts often break down the fourth wall to address the TV viewer directly to great effect. I look forward to Season 3.

Average customer rating:

Non-Stop Fun
Excellent Show!
Where can I get more TV like this?
Uneven start to a fine series
British Long Con is great

Hustle - Complete Season One
Director: Robert Bailey (VII)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FUH350
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Amazon.com

An elaborate con game has a built-in dramatic structure--so it's almost effortless for Hustle to turn a band of con artists into a stylish, charming BBC series. The key to the show is that it's realistic enough to get the audience engaged in the psychology of the swindle, but preposterous enough to be completely entertaining. A team of five--Mickey "Bricks", the charismatic leader (Adrian Lester, Primary Colors); Albert, Mickey's old mentor (Robert Vaughn, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.); Ash, who rigs things up (Robert Glenister, Prime Suspect 4); the drop-dead gorgeous Stacie (Jaime Murray, The Taming of the Shrew); and newcomer Danny (Marc Warren, The Revenger's Tragedy--are cunning crooks with hearts of gold, who routinely turn their skill at fraud to help needy friends. Despite this implausible sentimentality, the show's great pleasure lies in the fallibility of human nature, as mark after mark is led awry by his or her worst impulses, ranging from a brutal casino owner to a predatory art dealer to a vicious ex-cop. The best episodes have double twists that turn the con on its head; the weakest ones rely on devices already made familiar by movies like The Sting. But consistent throughout are entertaining performances by the core cast and delightful freeze-frame sequences in which the details of the cons receive a swift and lucid explanation. All in all, thoroughly fun stuff. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The art of the con is not dead. You merely can not see it. If you do see it, then it is inevitably always too late. It is an invisible crime built on the premise of finding someone who wants something for nothing and then giving them nothing for something. Choose the mark, reel them in, play on their desires and set them up. It does not matter whether they are black or white, male of female but they must be strictly major league. There are no quick fixes. Patience is truly a virtue in this game. All you have to do is make them believe.

Customer Reviews:

Non-Stop Fun.......2007-09-16

Every so often there's a television show that completely enchants me; Hustle is one of those shows. Taking place in contemporary London, it's a caper-a-week tale of con-men with hearts of gold earning a living by duping wealthy ne'er-do-wells of their ill-gotten gains.

Hustle follows a crew of grifters including legendary con-man Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone (Adrian Lester), Danny Blue (Marc Warren), Stacie Monroe (Jaime Murray), Ash Morgan (Robert Glenister), and Albert Stroller (American acting legend Robert Vaughn) as they pick up the big con game again after a long haitus during which Mickey was in prison. Danny, an untried novice, is the newest addition to the crew - with some hesitation. Each of them has their particular jobs to do - Mickey and Danny work the inside to convince their marks, Ash is the man who can get or make anything, Albert is the roper who brings the marks in, and Stacie plays convincing backup parts, as well as lending her expertise as a pick-pocket. Working as a family unit, these grifters struggle to make ends meet while pulling cons and taking scores off of those wealthy they deem deserving of comeuppance.

This series is a treat. Unlike most American crime shows, where the focus is on the dark and depressing reality and violence of the streets, Hustle is a refreshing tale of modern-day Robin Hoods staying just one step ahead of the law - and their marks. The emphasis here is on fun. The music is light (a bouncy sort of techno-jazz), the dialogue crisp, and the atmosphere humorous. These are characters, and a show, that you will quickly grow to love and return to again and again. Admittedly, this program owes a great deal to the Academy Award-winning Paul Newman/Robert Redford opus The Sting (which is heavily referenced in the first episode), but they take that film's love of capers and sense of fun to new levels.

However, do be warned that while this set includes the full first season, it is, nonetheless, only six episodes long and, thus, goes by very quickly. Setting this aside, Hustle is a brilliant show that I cannot recommend highly enough. Check it out, and enjoy!

Excellent Show!.......2007-08-09

Everyone I have shown this show to has been hooked! I can't recommend this show enough! From the producers of MI-5 (spooks) is a cast of grifters that work the long con. Mickey Bricks, Danny Blue & Crew are a joy to watch. The comedy and the writing is top notch! Although there is only 6 episodes per season, I highly recommend this wonderful program. The freeze frame/cast talking to the audience is brilliant and has become a staple all their own. Enjoy!

Where can I get more TV like this?.......2007-05-29

Excellent character development and superbly written. It is amazing that they can produce so many riveting plots. Most series take a couple of episodes for the cast to gel - this one takes right off. You won't be disappointed.

Uneven start to a fine series.......2007-05-26

"Hustle" has become an excellent show, full of intricate plotting, sharp wit, and enjoyable ensemble acting. The first season, unfortunately, is seriously marred by a lack of originality. Both the first and last episodes are shameless ripoffs of "The Sting." When you have only six episodes, stealing the plots for two of them from the SAME movie is quite a con!

However, three of the four remaining episodes (all but the weak second ep) are very good indeed. At its best, the show has the feel of a breezy "Mission: Impossible" with more interesting characters.

If you're discovering this show for the first time, start with Season 2.

British Long Con is great.......2007-05-13

Hustle is another wonderful program to come from England. This program about British long con artists is well written, well acted, and well staged. Think of this as the British television version of Ocean's Eleven. If you enjoyed the series MI-5, you will enjoy this (it is even made by the same people).

Average customer rating:

Hustle and Flow [Blu-ray]
Starring: Taryn Manning , Anthony Anderson , and Terence Howard
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000OONQ94
Release Date: 2007-06-26

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