Kung Fu Dunk
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| Kung Fu Dunk | |
 Promotional poster using the original English title Slam Dunk featuring Jay Chou as lead actor |
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|---|---|
| Directed by | Chu Yin-Ping |
| Written by | Takehiko Inoue |
| Starring | Jay Chou Charlene Choi Wilson Chen |
| Cinematography | Zhao Xiaoding |
| Distributed by |  Emperor Motion Pictures MediaCorp Raintree Pictures |
| Release date(s) |  February 6, 2008 |
| Language | Mandarin, Cantonese |
| Budget | US$10,000,000 |
| IMDb profile | |
| Chinese name | |
| Simplified Chinese: | 功夫灌篮 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 功夫灌籃 |
| Pinyin: | Gōngfū Guànlán |
Kung Fu Dunk is a 2008 Taiwanese live-action film released in February 2008. The film is inspired by the Slam Dunk manga and anime series, and was previously titled Slam Dunk[1]. It was filmed in both Taiwan and Mainland China. The filming, however, conveyed a strong flavour of Hong Kong films, reminiscent of movies like Shaolin Soccer.
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[edit] Plot
The film revolves around an orphaned boy who grew up in a kung fu university and becomes a talented basketball player.[2] The youngster, Fang Shi Jie (Jay Chou) grew up at the Kung-Fu School. He practiced excellent Kung-Fu and is equipped with good skills. When he is punished by his principal to stay on the streets for one night, he demonstrates his incredible accuracy to a down-and-out hustler, Wang Li. On the pretext of helping him search for his family, Wang Li invites him to play basketball at 'First University' as the new star of its basketball team. Meanwhile, Wang Li capitalizes on media interest in Shi-Jie to make money via interviews and news articles.
After joining the basketball team, Shi-Jie finds that Li-Li (Lily) whom he had admired for a long time is the sister of Ting Wei (Bo-Lin Chen), the leader of the basketball team. Shi Jie is desperate to draw her attention. Therefore, he attempts to compete with Xiao Lan (By Baron Chen), who is Li-Li's idol. The competition between Shi Jie and Xiao Lan generates an unstable atmosphere within the team. After Ting Wei counsels Shi Jie, the basketball team becomes more unified. Meanwhile, he helped Shi Jie combine his foundation of Kung-Fu skills into basketball techniques, which in turn brings his skills into full play and helps the team win many rounds of the inter-varsity tournament.
By the time of the finals, the major competitor faced by Shi Jie and his team members is the team led by Lee Tien. Lee used to be on the First University basketball team alongside Ting Wei and Xiao Lan, but became arrogant and was lured to their competitor's camp. The competing team comprised of players who had been banned from all basketball games in Japan. The competing university also bribed the referee of the final game. Although Wang Li had enlisted the aid of Shi Jie's kung-fu teachers, the opposing team had put in place a number of measures to prevent First University from winning, up to and including injuring First University's star players Shi-Jie, Ting Wei and Xiao Lan. Thus, due to both unscrupulous fouls from the opposing team and the referee's biased decisions and outright interference, First University is defeated. Unwilling to admit defeat to such unjust conditions, Shi Jie recalls a technique his first teacher had utilized, and manages to turn back the clock. Eventually, First University wins fair and square.
[edit] Cast
- Jay Chou
- Charlene Choi
- Wilson Chen
- Eric Tsang
- Baron Chen
- Will Liu
In the initial planning for filming, director Chu Yin-Ping wanted NBA player Yao Ming to make a cameo appearance in the film. However, he is unlikely to do so due to injuries.[3]
[edit] Sequel
It has been widely reported that the sequel is on the way, and production has begun. [4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Frater, Patrick. "Emperor scores rights to "Kung Fu Dunk"" (Web article), Variety Asia Online, 2007-05-16. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ "Jay Chou to Do a SLAM DUNK with Yao Ming" (Web article), english.cri.cn, 2006-06-30. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ "Shooting Starts for Jay Chou's New Movie" (Web article), english.cri.cn, 2007-03-13. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ "Kung Fu Dunk Sequel" (Web article), jaychousecret.com, 2008-02-20. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
