Shaolin Soccer Review

"SHAOLIN SOCCER" reviews

Movie

SHAOLIN SOCCER

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-25 21:37:36

Provider

Review

If you thought Arsenal were the sole purveyors of the 'beautiful game', think again 'cause this team are about to take things up a Premier League or two.

A massive hit in it's native Far East, the film tells the story of Fang (Ng Mang-tat), a former star footballer whose decision to accept a bribe and throw a game cost him his career. Twenty years later and Fang is living hand to mouth and dreams of getting his revenge on Hung (Xie Xian), the teammate who convinced him to sky the vital penalty. So imagine his delight when he discovers a rare talent in Sing (Stephen Chow), a Shaolin student who couples his kung-fu skills with his love of footy. Soon, with Sing's help, Fang has a team to envy. No prizes for guessing whose team they'll be facing in the cup final then?

Boasting the kind of skills even Wayne Rooney would envy, this utterly ridiculous little movie has about as much to do with football as Thierry Henry does with being humble - bit it still works a treat.

Balls whizz around at a 100 miles per hour and physics takes a back seat to action with fireballs and force fields which look like they've come straight out of a video game: Crouching Tiger it ain't. And when there's a foul, it's the kind of hack which makes Roy Keene resemble the saintly Gary Lineker as players are almost cut in half in a ludicrously slapstick manner.

But it's not all football. Director, star and co-writer Chow also brings in a subtle little love story between himself and a young sweet maker, while there's also a few important life lessons to be learnt about teamwork and honesty.

However, let's face it, people will see this for the action and the good news it that it's top notch.