8. Kung Fu Hustle
The Axe Gang, as their name suggests, are rather fond of axes. They also have a soft spot for grand entrances, matching suits and well-choreographed musical numbers. You'll recognise their leader, Brother Sum, when you see him. He's the one that seems physically incapable of walking in a straight line without breaking into a shuffle. Despite (or rather,
due to) these theatrics, they're terrorising the streets of 1930s Shanghai with little in the way of resistance. And although the Gang feature in a handful of Hong Kong martial arts films (such as Boxer From Shantung, Fist of Fury and, most recently, Ip Man) Kung Fu Hustle is the first to explore their musical side. And if there's a department in which this genre has fallen short, surely it's the dearth of dance sequences. Having already witnessed the Gang's trademark (clue: it involves an axe), we are soon treated to another surreal, yet rather stylish, calling card. Their moves wouldn't look out of place in the background of Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' video, were it not for the strange fact that every member is clutching an axe. To make matters even more chilling, their dance is inter-cut with black and white snapshots of their bloody crimes. Director Stephen Chow has mashed together Eastern cinema with West Side Story to marvellous, madcap effect.