I watched Kung Fu Hustle this afternoon at the Bruin. It’s the best movie I’ve seen this year. It’s directed by Stephen Chow, and has the impeccable comic timing you’d expect. Yuen Wo-ping (w/ an assist by Sammo Hung) does loads of astounding action choreography (which again, isn’t unexpected).

What for me was unexpected was the sheer amount of cinematic joy in it. The visual creativity (the film-speed play is the best I’ve seen), the direction, the genre-absurd (but inspired) twists and turns, and the crazy kinetic energy of it all kept me smiling through the whole thing. It really blew my hair back.