 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Shaolin Soccer
- Review Date: August 22, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Untraditional underdog sports team story.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has some comic violence and crude humor, including a scene of a man peeing on a wall. There is some action/fantasy violence, and characters are wounded. Characters smoke and drink, and there's a reference to "American drugs" (presumably steroids). A character mentions suicide as a response to humiliation. There is a joke about being in love with a married woman. A character removes his pants (off camera) and makes another character wear his underpants on his head to humiliate him.
What's the story?
When former soccer superstar "Golden Leg" Fung sees Sing demonstrating Shaolin in the streets, he realizes the guy has what it takes to be a great soccer player. Sing (Stephen Chow) dreams of a world based on the principles of Shaolin. He realizes that becoming a soccer champion by using Shaolin techniques could bring his message to the masses. So, Sing agrees to help Fung start a team, and they invite Sing's brothers to form a team. At first, they suffer humiliating defeat. When they register for the big tournament, the owner of Fung's arch-nemeses Team Evil laughs at them. But then the games begin. The Shaolin team's magical leaps and kicks bring them to the final round where they must face Team Evil. But when the goalie is injured, who will replace him?
Is it any good?
The most successful Hong Kong film ever, SHAOLIN SOCCER is a very traditional underdog sports team story told in a delightfully untraditional style, with whimsy, fantasy, and heart. The movie is pure silly fun with such wonderful spirit that even the dumbest jokes and most predictable developments seem brighter.
The film's visual imagination and effervescent good spirits are pure delight. A group of Chinese people spontaneously break into a dance number to the Kool and the Gang song, "Celebration." Soccer players fly through the sky and kick the ball the length of the field. A sweet bun maker (that is, a sweet maker of sweetbuns) uses kung fu to mix the flour and gets fired when the buns get sour after her tears fall into the batter. And the hero tells the heroine she is beautiful before her makeover.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Sing saw Mui as beautiful even when no one else did. How did he know? What made it possible for the Shaolin team to begin to win? Families could also talk about the way that Sing made Shaolin into a way of life that affected everything he did.
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AGE
The 'Soccer' Sum Up
I think its a GREAT movie, BUT, there is a lot of violence that I don't think is appropriate for some ages. It may scare them or make them cover their eyes. It can be a great family movie and a lot of fun. Its a wonderful comedy and a must have around the house.
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AGE
Strange!
Subtitles in the version we rented. Bizarre. Slapstick. Was looking for more realistic martial arts. My son didn't want to watch it at first but got sucked in and loved it, got his little sister to watch it, and now trying to get his friends to watch it. You almost have to see this movie to believe how bad/good it is. Lots of inappropriate behavior.
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AGE
Original Asian Blockbuster
AWESOME! YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH IT IN CHINESE WITH SUBTITLES THOUGH! EPIC!
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AGE
Sometimes you can't be sure if it's supposed to be funny or serious
For example, some of the soccer "action" sequences can be so over the top that you might be laughing but you're still not sure if its supposed to be taken seriously. However, this movie is definitely aimed at the younger crowd, but I still found it quite amusing due to its randomized humor. If you are older and this type of off the wall humor, I highly reccommend watcdhing "Airplane", the greatest spoof movie helped rejuvinate the genre. That, or the other Zucker movies such as "The Naked Gun" series.
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AGE
Boon's rating
Whats with the PG-13 rating? this movie is clearly fine. if you want something more adult-like, watch kung fu hustle. it has most of the same cast and crew from this movie. not bad except for one seen where a guy makes out with another guy. its not as bad as it sounds, try it out yourself and see if you would like your kid to watch it.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Stephen Chow |
| Cast: | Man Tat Ng, Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 111 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 26, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | August 24, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | martial arts action and some thematic elements |
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