Kung Fu
2021
Original language: English
- action & adventure
- drama
The story
A quarter-life crisis causes a young Chinese-American woman to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to find her hometown overrun with crime and corruption, she uses her martial arts skills and Shaolin values to protect her community and bring criminals to justice…all while searching for the assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her.
What it’s like
Brisk, kinetic fight choreography cut against quieter scenes of family dinners, shop counters and dim apartment hallways, with the city's streets rendered in warm practical light and the occasional cold blue of night. The contrast between the austere, sun-washed stillness of the monastery and the grimy, neon-tinged neighborhood gives the show a restless, searching feel. Its score leans on percussive pulses and drum-heavy action beats, with softer strings in reflective moments. The pacing is episodic and propulsive, with frequent set-piece fights and steady escalation, and the tone is earnest and hopeful, with a current of mistrust and loss running underneath. Violence is regular and physical: punches, kicks, weapons and some blood, but no gore or sexual content, and it is more clearly action than horror. A good fit for a Friday night with a snack, for viewers who enjoy martial arts action with heart, family loyalty and a young woman finding her footing, and less suited to anyone wanting something entirely gentle.
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