Arahan jangpung daejakjeon (2004) Arahan

Directed by Seung-wan Ryoo

Starring Seung-beom Ryu, So-yi Yoon

Arahan was everything I thought Kung Fu Hustle should have been, it is a martial arts comedy that takes a great many sly digs at its own genre. As with Kung Fu Hustle, there are also scenes that parody The Matrix but theyre not overdone. 

The joy of this film is it is a joke that the audience is carried along with; there are the odd winks and nudges when things look as though theyre taking a turn for the serious to lighten things up though there are a couple of scenes of (to me) excessive violence which are there to supposedly give the central character motivation (imagination is never at the forefront with this type of film).

The story itself is nothing new, good guy turned bad, locked up for centuries, accidentally released by workmen, tries to take over the world. Good guys arent powerful enough to stop him, find the chosen one just in time, chosen one saves the day. Now how many films does that remind you of?

The bad guy (former good guy) is a strange one though, he looks like a Korean version of Jesus (at least how were used to seeing him) or a rock star. The action scenes both armed and unarmed are very well choreographed, some of it on a par with Hero and the like but the comedy accent which is quite subtle and genuinely funny (not forced) isnt forgotten and its what makes Arahan stand out in the crowd.

So given the choice of seeing Kung Fu Hustle or Arahan again, Arahan would win hands down.

Recommended rental for light entertainment and a good laugh.

Cheers Trev

BBFC rated 15 justified for the odd serious violent scenes.