FOLLOWING hot on the heels of martial arts greats Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers, this film lends a comic tone to the usually serious genre, bringing fun along with the fights.

Set in 1940s China, the mighty Axe Gang rule over both rich and poor in a bloodthirsty, merciless reign of terror. However, when drawn to the run-down Pig Sty Alley they are stopped in their tracks by a group of Kung Fu masters keen to defend their territory.

Faced with the possibility of imminent destruction, they in turn hire a legendary martial arts "baddie" to fight their corner. As the fight scenes get more complicated, the characters draw on ancient kung fu traditions and mystical powers, resulting in the climactic showdown between the bad guy and a recently reincarnated hero, who once himself aspired to be a member of the Axe Gang.

The fight sequences are choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, the same orchestrator of those in Crouching Tiger, and they are definitely as, if not more, impressive, but this is the only similarity between the films.

Kung Fu Hustle offers comedy, slapstick humour and some great one-liners. It is fast-paced and slightly bizarre, combining the ancient Chinese traditions you would expect to see with some 1940s gangster scenes. There is no deep message or trite moral to the tale, it's just a rip-roaring martial arts movie with some great comedy that is nothing but highly entertaining.

ECB