Kung Fu Hustle proves staying power at Golden Horse awards

Released in 2004, Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle, nominated in 10 categories, racked up 5 Golden Horses in Taiwan on Sunday night. Chow was not present to accept his awards for Best Picture and Best Director. The film also won in Best Supporting Actress [Yuen Qiu], Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design.

Johnnie To's Election was nominated in 11 categories but only managed to win in Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound Effects.

So of the biggest surprises may have come from the acting categories. Shu Qi won for her triple-threat role in Three Times. Aaron Kwok [Divergence] edged out Tony Leung [Election] for best actor. Kwok said he had not starred in many movies and the award marked "another beginning" for his career. But I am also surprised that Anthony Wong and Jay Chou won Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer for their roles in Initial D, likely proving that commercial success equals award wins. "I'm not very confident about acting, unlike my music," Chou said in his acceptance speech. "But after winning this award, getting this recognition, I'm very happy."

And the most laughable win for the evening was Seven Swords winning the Best Action Choreography over A World Without Thieves, Election and most surprising of all Kung Fu Hustle. I won't apologize but spinning around in circles with a sword waiting for minions to run into it doesn't count as action choreography. The win could only be based on the very nice sequence at the end of the film in the tight corridor but nothing else in that movie warrented this win. Disappointing.

via MonkeyPeaches, AsianFanatics and XinHauNet.