Shaolin Soccer: English Dub
When director Stephen Chow released Shaolin Soccer in 2001, it wasn't just a hit in Hong Kong—it became a global phenomenon. The film’s wild blend of CGI-enhanced kung fu, slapstick comedy, and underdog sports drama broke box office records and earned international acclaim. But for English-speaking audiences, the experience of the film is split into two distinct camps: those who watched it with subtitles, and those who experienced the infamous Shaolin Soccer English Dub .
However, when Miramax (under the Disney umbrella) acquired the North American rights in 2004, they made drastic changes. The was produced for this Miramax cut, which trimmed the film down to 87 minutes. Entire subplots were removed, including the backstory of the villainous Team Evil's training montage and the tragic love story of the character Manny (the "lightweight" steel mill worker). Shaolin Soccer English Dub
If you want to understand why Shaolin Soccer was nominated for awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, watch the original Cantonese version. But if you want to laugh until your sides hurt at a bizarre, chopped-up, wildly-voiced rendition of a kung-fu sports movie, the is an essential piece of cult cinema history. When director Stephen Chow released Shaolin Soccer in
Just don’t expect it to be faithful. Expect it to be weird. Expect it to be loud. And above all, expect to hear the words "kung fu" and "soccer" repeated about a hundred times in 87 glorious minutes. However, when Miramax (under the Disney umbrella) acquired