User reviews

This has to be one of the goofiest, dumbest, strangest - and funniest - films ever made! It made sound like a cliché, but you truly have to see this movie to believe it. It's that outrageous, far-out: a slapstick film containing martial arts, supernatural power and the sport of soccer.

We get the usual misfits-make good story, which is nothing new, but how it happens in unlike anything I've ever seen. I can't recall how man times I literally laughed out loud watching these ludicrous scenes. The climactic soccer game at the nd got carried away, of course, but it was still fun to watch.

Earlier in the story, the bizarre dialog, odd encounters with different characters and the humor is stupid many times.....but so stupid, it's comical! I just shook my head in amazement at what I was seeing and hearing. Be prepared, as I said, for some incredible dumb things, but also for much weird but definitely entertaining stuff.

Note: I watched the short "English theatrical version" which runs 89 minutes. You can also view the 112-minute Chinese version. From what I've heard, read, and witnessed, the 89- minute is sufficient. Any more of this insanity would be too much.

Stephen Chow writes, directs and stars in probably his funniest and most accessible (to Western audiences, at least) film to date.

Sing (Chow) is trying to find a way to encourage his countrymen to re-embrace their Shaolin kung fu heritage. When he meets down-at-heel ex-soccer coach Fung (Ng), the pair hatch a plan to form a soccer team with Sing's Shaolin brothers. Unfortunately, these guys have lost their kung fu skills. Sing resolves to help his brothers regain their dignity, then lead them into a championship showdown with the seemingly unstoppable Evil Team. He also finds time to fall in love with Tai-Chi baker Mui (the usually lovely Vicki Zhao), who gets some of the funniest scenes in the movie.

As a non-Chinese speaker, my experience with Chow's previous films is patchy, his wordplay humour rarely making a decent transition to subtitles. The comedy here though is mostly physical, possibly even deliberately geared more towards a Western market. The plot - however clichéd - is a pleasing tale of underdogs made good, and the movie has a definite feelgood feel and uplifting ending. Even the CG is impressive and well used. It's the most entertaining movie I've seen in ages.

I was watching the Universe DVD. Subs are decent enough, without too many typos, and the 'making of' and other extras have English subs also.

Although the Sports Comedy genre is often plagued with cliché and is usually only for the most strict of fans, you definitely don't have to be a Soccer/Football fan to enjoy Shaolin Soccer, It helps if you enjoy the idea of a silly (but not stupid or bad) Martial Arts Flick.

Compared to films of director Stephen Chow's past (King of Comedy, God of Cookery), Shaolin Soccer is a much greater visual treat. Although he's not exactly from brilliant yet, the direction has improved vastly. And the new CG scenes are often amusing and visually interesting demanding repetitive viewings.

While the film is fun and generally smart, it falls prey to a bit of an obvious story, of course this is one of those little-plot high-laugh comedies, One can't help be feel bogged down by some of the love plot, which unlike a lot of the soccer field action, it's totally predictable and at times is a bore.

If you must see Shaolin Soccer, be sure to watch it with it's original language and subtitles. The American English version had many of the films funniest scenes cut to make the film more PG-13 rating. Watch it in it's uncut version to see one of the funniest and most enjoyable Sports-Martial Arts-Comedy of the 2000's.

Throughout the nearly two hour running time of this movie, the room was a glow with merriment, excitement, and remarks of "Holy crap, that is the coolest thing ever!" Indeed, for this movie is filled with amazing visuals, fantastic fun, and all around goodness. Shaolin Soccer is a harmless movie, the type that mentions the normal morals you might find in a children's movie (work in teams, don't let success go to your head, cheating is bad, etc.), without preaching them.

Some Shaolin-trained, but for the most part poor and unhappy men get organized in a soccer team with a coach who was crippled in a soccer riot after losing the big game twenty years ago. You've got a variety of misfits--the spunky young'n with the steel leg, the obese convenience store clerk who can nearly fly, the plutocratic salary man who uses a style reminiscent of Flying Chimpanzee's Cotton Belly in Wing Chun. It's an odd little band, stretching from barely-post adolescent to nearly retirement age. This rag-tag band is quite endearing and it works so well.

Sure, there are a few instances of cheap humor, but you've got to expect this. The visuals are fantastic, the characterization competent (even if you probably have seen the archetypes before), and it's a lot of fun, whether it's the parody of a war movie (which my friend called scant instants before it happened) or the somewhat unusual tribute to Bruce Lee (hint: it's all in the sunglasses).

Should you see this movie? Yes. I'd say this movie deserves 4 1/2 stars out of five based on technical merits, etc. But on fun? That's right, it gets a million billion stars. Now let's see what Miramax cut out--25 minutes? Crap.

'Shaolin Soccer' is a film probably unlike you have ever seen, it is goofy fun, totally ridiculous, but entertaining all the way through. Discussing the plot would be as silly as the film itself, but I will say a couple of things to give you an idea. The soccer competition is in the hand of one man named Hung (Yin Tse). He leads a team called Team Evil, winning the competition every year. Now Golden Leg Fung (Man Tat Ng), a man made cripple by Hung a long time ago, ensembles his own team which exists out of Shaolin kung-fu fighters, lead by Sing (Stephen Chow). There is also a girl involved, of course.

What you can expect is a lot of fun and funny moments. To give you an example, Sing can kick the ball so hard he can disable four opponents with one shot. Other can defy gravity the way the characters did it in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. From time to time the ball changes into a ball of fire, causes strong winds or the earth to tremble. Of course the Shaolin team will face Team Evil in the final game and of course it is a big surprise who will win. What does it matter? By then you have laughed a lot, you have seen some pretty images, you are really entertained.

KUNG FU + SOCCER = lots of laughs!!

Funny funny funny. And that's coming from a non-soccer fan.

Great performances here in this blend of comedy and high flying soccer action. Stephen Chow as Sing packs one hell of a kick!! His chemistry with Ng Man Tat (Golden Leg) is natural as it is in most of their films together. Plus, Sing's Shaolin brothers provide for a lot of comic relief!! From their soccer training to the championship game, there are really cool kung fu soccer shots, a mix of Matrix/Crouch Tiger special effects and it delivers. Oh, and Vicki Zhao literally steals this in the end (you have to see it).

The Bruce Lee goalie scene is priceless. This movie can definitely be watched several times with even more satisfaction!

This is a ride, more than a movie. And well, if it is a movie, it could be many more movies also. It has a story about a soccer tournament, like in a sports movie. It has a story about love, a really good one, like in a romantic movie; and it has a story about friendship, like in many kinds of movies. It surely has some other stories which I won't tell. Here, Stephen Chow took the amazing work of creating a story involving real characters in not so real, but agreeable situations. He has given each character a personality of its own; just to create comedy, with a humor that is sometimes honest and others rough. It has some great comedy moments although, coming from the characters, very peculiar ones.

It basically all comes from the characters. You have different persons, united by one thing: Shaolin Kung-Fu. And then you have one man, with one passion: Soccer. This premise helps to create human emotions in the characters. They all have a past that, for some reason, want to forget. Except one of them, who could be living in the past, and still thinks in the goodness of Shaolin Kung-Fu. He believes in it so much, that he gives speeches to people about the qualities of his culture, and the improvement it could do in society. He is right, and sooner or later, she will remind these things to some people, and they will all remember. They will all be prepared to get together again.

What a good-hearted film this is, and how it is filmed, it's beyond imagination. You will find special effects from other world. In occasions, these will seem slow for you, and you will think they are not well managed or handled; but then you will watch. Watching will make you connect all the elements of the story, to make it one. In elements I include special effects, and say again: they couldn't be done better, especially in a movie like this one.

The actors do a great job, the entire cast. They give their characters, the personal development they need. They are not playing the most complex people in the world, but they still know what characters they're playing.

You will probably find something you've seen before, I can't deny that. You will find the ending you expect, the situations you imagine, the resolutions you anticipate, or not. You'll have the old coach, the person with the dreams and the heart, the girl; it's just that you'll have them differently (you'll realize what I mean).

The truth is, that in a world full of clichés, this is another type of cliché. A very different one. So different that I would say it is not a cliché at all.

Wow, I was really surprised by this movie. It is totally unique, I've never seen anything else like it. There is a very charming love story, and the effects are really cool. The idea of combining kung fu with soccer is very original.... even though it's so bizarre, you'll find yourself asking why nobody has done anything like this before. I laughed constantly throughout this movie and went out and bought it a few days after I first saw it.

I would recommend it to everyone I know. This is the best Asian comedy since the heyday of Jackie Chan and "Fighting Benny"! Go see it, buy it, whatever, just make sure you do see this film.

I would be surprised if there is not a sequel. This film should have been released theatrically in the US; I've heard Miramax handled it. Sorry guys you lost millions of dollars, this film would have been a smash hit. They probably just didn't think that soccer would sell in America, but word of mouth would have sold this movie very well.

Much can be said about the movies that Stephen Chow have been behind, love them or hate. Luckily I am a big fan of the Hong Kong cinema and I like Chow's particular style of movie making and comedy, so "Shaolin Soccer" (aka "Siu Lam juk kau") is without a doubt a classic movie.

The storyline in "Shaolin Soccer" is pretty straight forward; an underdog team of losers pick up soccer and incorporate Shaolin Kung Fu into the game, but the road to the championship is long and hard, not one that gives them an easy ride.

"Shaolin Soccer" has a good amount of comedy, as is the trademark of the Stephen Chow movies. So if you enjoyed his other movies, prior and post this movie, then you will most certainly also enjoy "Shaolin Soccer". And there is also a good amount of action in the movie as well.

This 2001 Hong Kong comedy has a great ensemble of cast, with the likes of Stephen Chow, Man-Tat Ng, Wei Zhao, Kai-Man Tin, Yat-Fei Wong and Tze-Chung Lam. But what really tipped the scale of impressive moments was when none other than both Karen Mok and Cecilia Cheung showed up in the movie, that was just priceless. If you are a fan of the Hong Kong cinema, then you are in for quite a treat here in terms of familiar faces and talents.

"Shaolin Soccer" is a feel-good action comedy that none other than Stephen Chow would be able to pull off this nicely. And it is a movie that is very enjoyable and entertaining. It is one that I can warmly and highly recommend that you sit down to watch if you aren't already familiar with this classic.

My rating of "Shaolin Soccer" lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

Or: the funniest movie I've seen this decade! I was expecting a moderate little asian comedy worthy about an IMDB 7 TOPS, but at the end, I was forced to give this 9 points! See, no other comedy has actually brought me to tears laughing in recent history! Either mr. Chow is a genius or he's one lucky sonova. See, "Shaolin soccer" just happens to press all the right buttons, and in right places! In the little "relief" spots it's as dramatic as it's supposed to be, and the rest, it's big, big, BIG laughs all the way. HIGHLY recommended! P.S. If you don't like this movie, your heart must be made of stone and you have absolutely NO sense of humour. My condolences.

(59%) A very crazy, very childish - but in a good way - effects based comedy. The ideas featured don't always work well (like most comedy), although largely they do, and even the few more subtle comedic elements translate nicely. There's quite a number of strange, and very eastern almost manga style elements that would never make it into a western film such as the really unusual romantic love interest character that comes across as more confusing than anything else. In terms of the actual soccer played it's more likened to an episode of "Wacky races" than the real game itself, but it's still very fun to watch, and fans of Chow will almost certainly like his over-the-top brand of comedy.

What a wonderful sports film. STOP, read that line one more time. I ask you to do this because you will probably never see this again.

This was a sports film, for me to say that it wasn't would be a bold faced lie. This had all the characteristics of the modern Hollywood sports film, but what made it stand out and enjoyable is that it did not take itself seriously … AND … it had some amazing CGI action sequences. I recently watched a film called Equilibrium where it was mentioned that it could rival the popularity of The Matrix, well I would have to say that perhaps this film, Siu lam juk kau, would probably do more in toppling the king of bullet-time cinematography than Equilibrium would. I was impressed from the beginning till the end of this movie. The characters were all animated and individual in their own way. There was time used to set them up and learn about each of them. This wasn't one of those films where you spent most of your time with one of the characters then never really got to know the rest of them … you knew them all and couldn't wait to see what they were going to bring to the table next. Hong Kong has crafted a spectacular film here. They have taken the popularity of the bullet-time effect and applied it to a genre that definitely needed a face-lift. I am surprised that America wasn't the first to do this, but we are a nation that loves the standard sports film, so why change what we love. PWFSSSST. We are so lazy sometimes.

Siu lam juk kau tells a spectacular story coupled with some amazing graphics to create a story about love, teamwork, and superpowers. I also enjoyed the fact that this film also tried to say that kung-fu is not an old topic, that it can and should still be used in society today. When we think of the martial arts films (and physical aspect), we see them as a very old and dated genre. Well, let me be the first to say that they are coming back, and coming back with a vengeance. I enjoyed the fact that this was a revenge film. So many of our kung-fu films are revenge films, I was happy to see that this one was not far off. This film used techniques that I have not seen used in any other films. They took the old, skillful ways of the dated kung-fu film, added the work of bullet-time, and added the sports flare to it to create Siu lam juk kau. It had us laughing, it kept us based in reality, and it focused my attention to the screen for the entire film (a task that no other sports film has been able to do). I think that by having your star also direct it (directed and starred Stephen Chow) it builds upon a sense of comfortability with the story. Chow is a master of slapstick, yet seldom overdoes the silliness, choosing carefully timed gags and meticulously mounted visual construction over slapdash comedy. The film is also no stranger to the bizarre, with Chow's multiple homages to Steven Spielberg, and a weird egg gag that I'm honestly shocked still remains the American cut of the picture.

Overall, Siu lam juk kau is a amazing combination of comedy, action, romance, and dazzling soccer footage, forming an irresistible package to those looking for something they haven't seen before. We see that it is a personal story that everyone is having fun being a part of. That also helped this film … the characters really wanted to be in this film and it shined like the North Star through our screen. The dubbing (which seemed off a couple times) only added delight to this film. Chow's Siu lam juk kau, is and will always be breathtaking.

Grade: ***** out of *****

There is nothing deep and revealing to talk about in regards to Shoalin Soccer other than the fact that it took too damn long to get to the US. Granted, the final product was cut short and seemed missing some elements within the film, at least it still remained true to its original intent on providing a silly movie for the viewing public. Stephen Chow may be considered a hit and miss kind of filmmaker, but he caught on to something rather funny and intriguing with this hybrid film. Sure, the dubbing is horrible, but then again, it makes the movie even funnier and doesn't detract from the final product. However, I did see this movie in Chinese, so hearing them speak was still quite a riot to behold. I curse the fact that Miramax seems to have no respect for Asian cinema (but they milked Kill Bill for all its worth), and perhaps they should stick to releasing European style films and leave the Asian film work to someone else.

I am not asking to be a prick, i really want to know what kind of people rate this movie 7 and above. I did laugh during this movie, but that was in the beginning of the movie. All that shaolin soccer thing became boring really fast. After the first match it was all the same all the time. Flying, kicking, flame ball, blah blah blah. Maybe if i was drunk as a alcoholic skunk and 18 years old i would love it. But i am not and i don't. Some of my friends told me it was hilarious but i suspect that they were lying or under influence when telling me. It seems like i really really hate this movie, but i don't. I just don't like it. I have seen far worse movies than this one, and that is why i rate it 4.

This film was seen as something of a surprise. Having only heard of Shaolin Soccer on the net, and seen a teaser for the film, I thought nothing more of it until given the opportunity to go and watch the UK release. My initial disappointment with the dubbing (I am a subtitle die-hard) was soon overcome with admiration of how far HK cinema has come. Imagine the FX expertise of the Matrix with the comedy of Jackie Chan fused into a somewhat generic football film. In a word, a brilliantly scripted and often funny film. Many moments are extremely funny, with the over-the-top storyline made famous by HK, and also the very touching moments with the acne-ridden baker girl/love interest as she is only accepted for what she is. It feels as if there is more to the love story in the original cut of the film, as the story occasionally skipped in places, like a bad DVD. But the overall story is not affected, it moves sedately at first, which is good, as the excessive use of Kung-fu and Football are shown in increasingly ridiculous stages. The final goal reminds me of Hot-Shot Hamish, for those that read the comics. Worth seeing, and I can't wait for the DVD - providing it has the original cut, and subtitles.

I got to hand it to my library. They had the UNCUT version of this movie, so I can just skip right over the what-appears-to-be brutally edited American release of this. Stephen Chow seems to have found a niche. Find rather strange looking Chinese people, and endow them with super powers! (see Kung Fu Hustle for another great example of this). Shaolin Soccer follows a down on his luck one-time famous soccer player as he discovers a secret to putting a great soccer team together. Mix Shao-Lin Kung Fu with soccer! Soon, he finds a vagrant who is QUITE nimble with his feet. He in turn recruits his brother who were also trained in the same form of kung0fu and they in turn compete to face the biggest baddest soccer team in all the land! (drugs help). I'm sorta glad I didn't see this in the theater, uncut or not, because I was giggling like a school girl throughout it. There's some rather cool effects and dumb humor associated with it. Stephen Chow is someone we should all be looking out for in the next couple of years, because his star is just about to shine!

I've seen this movie many, many, many, many, many & many times. A friend recommended this to me and unfortunately that's still the only way people in europe know about this movie: from mouth to mouth. Absolutely one of the most brilliant comedies i've ever seen. Must see. Won't tell anything else.

This movie contains the traditional Chineese fundamentals for a comedy; Pain, humiliation, cheap effects and serious over acting. Regardless of these facts it held me enthralled all the way to the End. A truly funny and original film!

Combining soccer with kung fu, what an odd but yet at the same time logical and humorous idea. It's a combination that works out well for this movie, that you of course shouldn't take serious in any way.

It's a really over-the-top movie with all of its action and humor. It's what makes this movie basically some perfect good, light, entertainment to watch. But it at the same time also makes this a quite simplistic movie, that doesn't has much to offer story-wise and because of its simplicity also never rises above the level of simply good.

But this doesn't really matter when watching this movie, fore no one will of course watch this movie for its story or realism. When watching this movie you'll surely have a good time and you don't necessarily have to be familiar with soccer or Asian cinema or kung fu movies in general because this movie has basically nothing to do with soccer or kung fu. It doesn't follow any rules or logical and makes up its own stuff, which is actually one of the movie its strongest points. It's unlike anything you have ever seen before, in terms of its action and entertainment.

What this movie mostly does is using "The Matrix" techniques for all of its action, applied to the games of soccer that are played throughout this movie. So you could call this a "The Matrix" spoof, though it's more making fun of the entire kung fu movie genre, by using the "The Matrix" techniques and effects. But at the same time the movie still manages to feel like a fresh and original enough movie on its own. All of the soccer games are done quite creatively but even when no games are being played the movie still manages to be a fun and entertaining watch, which is also thanks to some good and likable characters that are all in it.

Biggest mystery of this movie is why there never was a sequel. This movie was an huge success at the time, globally and is still a quite popular movie to watch now days. It's one of the few movies I wouldn't had minded seeing getting a sequel. There is still plenty of stuff to explore and put into a second movie, without becoming a tiresome one or a simple rehash of the first movie. Surely there is still plenty of good and creative stuff to be shown during all of its soccer games.

Perfect, harmless, family entertainment!

7/10

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After watching the deadly dull and self important road to perdition, my friend and I needed a movie to cleanse our system. Shoalin Soccer is the perfect movie for that purpose. I dare anyone to actually hate this movie. The special effects are great, all the performances are great, and the movie doesn't take itself at all seriously. I think the horrible translated subtitles actually improved the experience. GO EVIL TEAM!!! Stephen Chow is definitely a talent to watch.

Miramax, please don't mess with this movie too much if you ever release this in america.

You can term it as a battle between the good and the evil. It's all about how Sing (Stephen Chow) convinces rest of his 5 disgraced brothers to use Shaolin Kung-Fu as a medium to play soccer and ultimately win the championship against the Evil team headed by the notorious Hung (Yin Tse) and in this venture he is helped by Golden Leg Fung (Man Tat Ng) who plays the role of the coach and Mui (Vicki Zhao) who loves and helps Sing during his difficult times.

The first half of the film seems a bit boring (Sing preaching his brothers to make Kung-Fu acceptable and interesting for others) though some scenes make you laugh but you really like the film due to it's much funny latter half(the match scenes to be specific). And adding to the humour is some good dose of emotional scenes though sometimes they feel like becoming overdose. Chow, Zhao and Tse are good. The main ingredient of the film is it's special effects and that aspect has been handled well. But you feel that all this could have been much better and done in a more professional way. The match scenes act as the main attraction for the film. They make you laugh and you can't help thinking about the amount of innovativeness that has been used to execute those scenes. Overall the film is good and funny. It's suggested that you watch the movie with blank minds, lay back and just relax.

I would give it a 7 off 10.

It was hilarious and I love it but its quality wasn't the best

Okay, I'll admit it. This movie was worth a chuckle or two, and since it wasn't made to be a serious kung-fu flick I can see how a lot of people enjoyed it. I've seen more than my fair share of movies like this and it pretty much delivered what I was expecting it to. It's not packed full of high paced, dare-devil kung-fu action, and the story is as dopey as expected.

If you want to watch this movie to kill some time and be lightly amused by all means do so. Don't expect this movie to have a ground breaking story or stellar fight sequences. It's not that kind of movie and it wasn't intended to be.