Oracle Online: ‘Shaolin Soccer,’ ‘Hero’ square off in typical kung-fu fashion

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October 05, 2004

‘Shaolin Soccer,’ ‘Hero’ square off in typical kung-fu fashion

Kari Rudd

Film Critic

With a tedious plot, thoroughly uninteresting characters, and a hokey, nationalistic message, Hero has only one thing going for it - it’s absolutely beautiful. The only things that make this flying-in-the-air, walking-on-water kung fu flick worth watching are its breathtaking landscapes, intricately designed scenery and very clever use of color.

Aside from the visuals, however, Hero is a thoroughly bland film. My suggestion? If you want to watch a kung fu movie but don’t want to be relieved when it’s over, stay home with your microwave popcorn and rent Shaolin Soccer instead.

Unlike Hero, Shaolin Soccer resembles nothing I’ve ever seen before. Directed by and starring
Hong Kong comedic superstar Steven Chow, Shaolin Soccer is a gleeful fusion of exciting action scenes and freshly original comedy.

The plot of Shaolin Soccer, though simple, is much more engaging than that of Hero. Both have the requisite love story, plenty of fantastic (as in magical) fighting scenes and a little bit of intrigue. While Hero brings us the same feudal kung fu warriors gracefully flying through the air at one another, swords outstretched, Shaolin Soccer offers us something new.

The story focuses on two characters: Sing, a young Shaolin monk whose dream is to make kung fu appealing to the mainstream, and Fung, a former soccer star called “Golden Leg” whose illustrious leg was broken and permanently damaged by an angry mob.
The two of them, each for his own reasons, decide to work together to form a soccer team using kung fu to pursue the much-sought-after Chinese National Soccer Championship.

The kung fu in Shaolin Soccer defies the laws of nature just as that in Hero does, something
we’ve come to expect in this postąCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon world. The difference is that
Shaolin Soccer deploys its magical maneuvers in considerably more fresh and interesting - not to mention hilarious - ways.

Players use the soccer ball as a weapon and do a lot more than simply fly through the air.

At one point in the film, the character “Iron Head” flips high into the air, coming straight down onto his opponent’s chest with the top of his head.

Now that’s something you don’t see every day, even in kung fu movies.

The interactions between the characters in Shaolin Soccer are also much more satisfying than the human relationships in Hero. There is anticipation and giddiness surrounding Sing’s growing friendship with Mui, a street vendor who uses kung fu styles to make delicious sweet buns.

While watching Hero, I frankly didn’t care about the romantic troubles of the assassins Broken Sword and Flying Snow, despite the notable performance of Tony Leung, who portrayed Broken Sword (okay, fine, I have two nice things to say about Hero).

I also didn’t really care what choice Jet Li’s character, Nameless, would make as he stood merely ten paces away from the most powerful man in the Qin dynasty. Even though his choice would have enormous consequences for the future of China, I just wanted the movie to end.

In contrast, when the Shaolin Soccer team faced Team Evil in the Chinese National Championship, I was on the edge of my seat.

The differences in buildup and execution between the two films were stark and drastic. Steven
Chow’s comedic stylings simply provided a better and more compelling story to follow, something not often said about a comedy.

I must admit, it is rather unfair of me to be comparing Hero, an epic historical costume-drama, to the comedy Shaolin Soccer. But in this country, the kung fu film has become a genre in and of itself, and Hero’s status as a kung fu film provides the basis for its commercial success.

In fact, if it weren’t for Quentin Tarantino’s love of kung fu, combined with his considerable sway at Miramax, Hero wouldn’t even be in the U.S. theater market right now.

So, those of you who just want to watch a movie with some great kung fu in it, try Shaolin Soccer.
Not only is it action-packed (more so than Hero), it’s also one of the most enjoyable films you could see.

Posted by msveum at October 5, 2004 08:29 PM

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