Shaolin Soccer (2001)

"Everybody wants kung fu fighting!"

Does it sound familiar to you? Well, your guess is most probably correct. That is a line from a famous song Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. Now, how is it related to my post today? Let's just say it kind of played  a big role in the film.

Movie Poster in UK (photo credits todianying.com)

I first watched Shaolin Soccer in one of our cable channels back home when I was in college. It was dubbed in Filipino and I thought it was an awesome movie.

SUMMARY

Shaolin Soccer (2001) was a Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Stephen Chow who happens to be the actor as well who portrayed the male lead character in the movie.

photo credits to caamedia.org

The movie was about Sing (Chow), a shaolin kung fu master, who is struggling to make ends meet everyday ever since he left the temple. Working as a junk collector, he thinks that kung fu can be applicable to the everyday lives of ordinary people and that he just has to find a way to convince them first.

photo credits to incine.fr

One day, an ex-soccer super star offered Sing an opportunity to play soccer and earn well. Convinced that he can also promote his kung fu advocacy, Sing contacted his other kung fu brothers who are all suffering the same fate as him at that time and asked them to join their soccer team and win the championship.

photo credits to rocksclan.com

So how is soccer related with kung fu?

If you haven't seen this movie yet, then watch it and find out the answer yourself. And if you have, I'm sure you know how soccer was related in kung fu in the film.

QUICK FACTS

Stephen Chow dubbed his own voice in the North America release of this movie.

The movie was raining of Puma branded stuff and advertisements.

MY TAKE

This was the first Stephen Chow movie I have ever seen and I was glad I did. It was an enjoyable movie to watch not only because of its funny scenes and lines but also because of the way they showed how awesome martial arts is. It may not be the usual Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee type of kung fu movie (which is a totally different kind of martial arts awesomeness by the way) but still very entertaining and cool. Also, the fact that the movie really has a good story, with a moral lesson in the end mind you, I think that this movie is worth watching not only by adults like me but even the younger generation.

Until next time!