4. Kung Fu Dunk
This 2008 Chinese film offers a basketball martial arts combination not too dissimilar from Shaolin Soccer. Directed by Yen-Ping Chu and written by Takehiko Inoue, this doesn't have the comedic ingenuity of the 2001 film, although it utilises the same mix of Kung Fu and another sport. The story line features orphan boy Fang Shi Jie (Jay Chou) who grows up attending a Kung Fu school. He is used as the principals teaching tool until he uses "the iron shirt" technique to stop feeling pain. As a punishment he is forced to stay on the street for one night. While there, he meets street hustler Wang Li who notices his unerring ability to throw cans into a litter basket. After winning lots of money playing darts at a casino and then causing highly expensive damage after a fight at the same casino, Jie is expelled. His old pal Wing Li arranges for Jie to play for the First University basketball team. In short order he falls in love with Li-Li (Charlene Choi) and becomes the star player on the team. The end of the film features a parody/reference to the 2006 World cup soccer match between Australia and Italy. Kung Fu Dunk uses the same CG/wire work formula that Shaolin Soccer started, but, the film offers less in the way of character development and the comedy is not so inspired. Fans of the first film will probably enjoy this martial arts/basketball mixup.