Kingdom of Heaven = Kung Fu Hustle

I went and saw the same movie twice last night.

On the surface, some might challenge that and say that I really saw two. And they would have some cause. Yes, the movie had two different names. Yes, they had completely different settings, characters, time periods, styles, and feelings. Even the plots were different.

In fact, it seems like Kingdom of Heaven, a story about the Crusades, and Kung Fu Hustle, a story about chinese gangsters and a peaceful slum called "Pig Sty" are total opposites, but I saw some striking similarities.

Most people have seen or at least heard about Kingdom of Heaven. On the other hand, Kung Fu Hustle, in Chinese, with English subtitles, is probably not coming to your local Target, and that's a shame. I like Kung Fu movies, and this is one of the most original takes on the genre I've seen yet. Kung Fu Hustle takes Crouching Tiger and Flying Daggers, adds a little Al Capone served Spaghetti Western Style, and shakes them up into a Kung Fu Power Jumbo that puts Chow Yun Fat to crying shame. The mid level fighters in this movie could take him and that Jade woman, and twist them into pretzels. Halfway through the movie, the idea of what you thought was really cool Kung Fu gets sent back to school for extra homework and returns like a mindblowing tsunami. In the end, the most dangerous Kung Fu Killer around, The Beast, gets worked by the Chosen One in a battle that really screams.

So how does this connect to Kingdom of Heaven? Well, I saw them both last night, and thought they would be totally different, but they weren't. In both stories, the main Hero and Villain end up respecting each other. They finally find worthy opponents. The real antogonists are side characters who end up humilated and unimportant. Respecting and understanding virtue in their enemies leads to peace in both movies.

They also both glorify the common man and his ability to rise to power and respect through talent rather than rank or title.

I hope people go to see (or rent) Kung Fu Hustle. But if you do, you'll never look at your landlady the same again.