Plot Summary: A former Shaolin monk reunites his scattered brothers to form a soccer team, combining their extraordinary martial arts skills with the sport to compete for a major tournament and restore the dignity and reputation of Shaolin kung fu in the modern world.
Director: Stephen Chow
Writers: Stephen Chow, Tsang Kan-cheung
Producer: Yeung Kwok-Fai
Cinematography: Kwen Pak-Huen, Kwong Ting-wo
Editor: Kai Kit-Wai
Music: Lowell Lo, Raymond Wong
Starring:
Stephen Chow as Mighty Steel Leg Sing
Zhao Wei as Mui
Ng Man-tat as Golden Leg Fung
Patrick Tse as Hung
Wong Yat-fei as Iron Head
Tin Kai-man as Iron Shirt
Danny Chan as Empty Hand
***SPOILER ALERT***
A Disconnect Gone Wrong
The world seems to be going completely insane. Between the Charlie Kirk assassination and the subsequent censoring, Brian Kilmeade calling for involuntary injections for the homeless on live TV, and the finance minister of Israel laughing about how lucrative Gaza real estate will be... it's just one crazy thing after another. I felt I needed to turn off my Wi-Fi and just focus on my surroundings. With that said, I don't think I was in the right state of mind for Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer. Think of that scene where we see the guys in the bar watching Mighty Steel Leg and Iron Head with totally serious faces. That look pretty much describes me watching this.
I found it really stupid and not that funny. It has a few good moments, but overall it's just too childish, without any important or interesting narrative to grab my full attention. I was initially glad to see familiar faces like Man-Tat Ng, Kai-Man Tin, and Chow himself, but knowing the cult status this movie has, I was pretty disappointed.
Watch the clip below of a very mean scene involving a banana peel; I was still cheerful at this point and found it funny for its cruelty.
A Game I Just Can't Watch
To try and understand the hype, I did a bit of research. Shaolin Soccer was a passion project for Stephen Chow, a way to promote Shaolin kung fu, which he loves. He's a lifelong martial arts enthusiast who idolizes Bruce Lee, and you can see that reverence in the film. After winning at the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards, he began his speech by paying tribute: "First of all, the late Mr. Bruce Lee because I was so enchanted by his films that I resolved to be an actor." I was very impressed with Chow's martial arts moves; the guy really knows how to move. The film isn't a parody, but a loving, if very weird, evolution of the genre. However, a huge reason I didn't enjoy this movie is that I'm not a soccer fan, which might come as a shock since I'm Portuguese, and I also hated Captain Tsubasa. Chow has explicitly said that the classic soccer manga, which was huge in Hong Kong, was the primary inspiration for the physics-defying action. For me, that combo just didn't work. Another recurring theme I'm starting to notice in Chow's work is the "rags-to-riches" story. The six Shaolin brothers have lost touch with their cultural heritage in the face of modern, soul-crushing jobs, and the movie is about them finding their way back. It's a fine theme, but it wasn't enough to hook me.
Watch the clip below to see what I think is my favorite scene and a perfect example of Chow's "mo lei tau" nonsense comedy.
Cartoons, Numbers, CGI, and Maybe a Decent Ending
| Region | Reception of Shaolin Soccer |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong | A phenomenon. It smashed box office records with over HK$60 million, becoming the highest-grossing local film ever at the time. At the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards it dominated, winning Best Picture, Director, Actor, and more, cementing Stephen Chow's "box office king" status and elevating his once-dismissed mo lei tau comedy into official critical prestige. |
| Mainland China | A scandal. Despite being shot in Shanghai, it was banned from theaters by SARFT for skipping official approval, mocking soccer, and "sacrilegiously" linking Shaolin monks to the sport. The government even flagged a trademark dispute with the real Shaolin Temple. Chow's refusal to change the title sealed the blacklist. |
| West | A cult detour. Miramax acquired the film early but butchered it for release, cutting 20 minutes and dubbing it in English. The U.S. run tanked at under $500,000, but Europe and Asia embraced it, pushing worldwide gross past $42 million. Critics like Roger Ebert praised its wild slapstick and inventiveness, helping it thrive later on DVD and piracy as a quirky, beloved cult classic. |
Below, you can see one of my favorite action scenes where Mighty Steel Leg confronts the impossibly powerful, drugged-up goalkeeper.
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