CJ7 (2008)

Fantastic flick (!), but why does everyone believe you must watch it dubbed if you watch it with a child? My 9-year-old son watched it twice with me subtitled (and we ordered a stuffed CJ7 from EBay he now sleeps with...everyone who mentions wanting a CJ7 toy should check out the EBay vendors because there are some really cute CJ7 toys out there!) and when I mentioned he could watch it dubbed without me in his own room if he wanted to, he looked at me strangely and said he never would because it's better as it is. He's watched CJ7, Hero, Pan's Labyrinth, Kikujiro, and many Zatoichi films with me subtitled.... give children a little more credit :-)

Fmovies: I saw this movie as part of a free screening in New York City, and I have to say that, even though the movie is extremely geared toward children, many people in the all-adult audience (including myself) seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

This film is unmistakably a Stephen Chow movie, with all of the requisite sight gags and overdone physical humor (not that the latter is a bad thing). However, far from being a straight comedy like "Kung Fu Hustle," this movie veers a little bit into drama (not much, since the drama elements are quite formulaic and easily recognizable by anyone over the age of 12). However, I think that, as a whole, these elements combine with the comedic elements to create a good, if not short, movie.

"CJ7" can probably best be described as a Hong Kong "Flubber." Again, it's designed mainly for children (especially those young enough to beg their parents for their very own cute little CJ7 toy). However, for the adults dragged along by their kids to this movie, there's enough there to keep them interested as well. The storyline seems to flow reasonably well, and there's just enough of a hint of moralization thrown into the mix to keep it from just being a "from point A to point B" movie with nothing in between.

The ending, however, does leave a little bit to be desired. While not necessarily bad or detracting from the movie, it ends a bit after it should have. Again, though, because it's a children's movie, it's very easy to see why it ended the way that it did.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed "CJ7" very much. Its blend of comedy and drama works very well, while retaining more than a hint of Stephen Chow that keeps audiences coming back to his movies.

I saw this movie last night (i live in Taiwan) and before, if i highly enjoyed a movie and told people how good it was, their high expectations could make a movie less funny, you know what i mean? Anyway I'll praise the heck out of it coz i loved it and Stephen Chow has a great sense of humour! The movie is basically about a young boy and his father, who are poor but uphold good morals and ethics (we may be poor, but we don't steal, fight etc.). The father is a construction worker and doesn't want his kid to wind up like him, so the boy attends a very expensive high class school, but to compensate they live in a falling apart building and his father gets all his clothes etc. from the garbage dump. One day the father finds something there that he gives to his son, this (CJ7) changes their lives, for the better. I know that's probably what every review says! but i don't want to say to much as I'll probably ruin the beauty of it all! I will say that there are some scenes that nearly made me cry i as laughing so much. It's subtle things that do it, like the teacher won't let the poor student boy near him because he thinks he's so dirty! And the boy's a great little actor, cracked me up. Unfortunately i have yet to view S.Chow's other flicks, but i'm about to. I hope you'll get a chance to watch it.

CJ7 fmovies. It's been a long and almost 3 year wait for the coming of Stephen Chow's new movie CJ7, on the heels of his international success with Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, both of which were adapted/parodied/copied in the other two competitive movies this holiday season in Kung Fu Dunk and Ah Long Pte Ltd. If imitation is the best form of flattery, that goes to show who's the boss and who calls the shots in the innovation and creativity departments, that there's only one force to be reckoned with in drafting comedy that appeals to the world.

You might think that I'm singing praises of Chow and his works, but yes, that's the skyrocket high expectations that he had built for himself over the years with his rapid fire mo-lei-tau (nonsensical) comedic movies entertaining the masses pre and post 1997 Hong Kong, and now he can afford to take his time in releasing his movies once they pass through his perfectionist quality control. Sitting through CJ7, I had initially thought that it was amongst his weaker works, but then came the final act, which while it was emotionally manipulative, I cannot deny that I both laughed and cried at the same time, which is extremely rare, and only pulled off by Chow's knack of structuring his scenes.

Chow has shown his pedigree in becoming a good storyteller. If he is not already being considered one, then CJ7 is a sign of better things to come, as slowly, it can be seen that he's giving up his presence on screen, and turning his attention to behind the camera instead. Even with movies like Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, while he was the lead actor, he still made room for his supporting casts to shine through.

This time though, he had totally taken the backseat and gave the spotlight to the child actress Xu Jiao who plays Dicky, the son (yes you read that right) of Chow's construction worker character Ti. Being poor, Ti works extremely hard to send his son to a premier school to receive a good education, in the hopes that he will be able to break out of the poverty circle in time to come. But in being in an elite school, Dicky becomes automatic fodder for rich school bullies, who look down on him because of his social status. Much of the movie dwells on this schoolyard politicking, and with Ti trying hard to impart good principles to his son that it becomes somewhat repetitive.

In trying to pacify his son who yearns for the latest toy in town, a high-tech robotic dog called CJ1, Ti goes back to his favourite haunt, the junkyard, and picks up a green ball outfitted with an antenna, as a replacement toy. Without his knowing of course, this ball turns out to be an alien lifeform, and Dicky soon uncovers that it has magical abilities. Christened CJ7, much of the laughs come from CJ7 and Dicky, in the form of spoofs ranging from Mission: Impossible 2 to Asian fare like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and also takes a spin from Chow's previous 2 movies.

But don't expect the jokes to be of the mo-lei-tau type, as there aren't that many jokes to begin with. Gone are the days of laugh-a-minute type comedy from Stephen Chow. While toilet humour is still quite staple, Chow seemed to have embraced special effects even more this time, starting with a totally animated CJ7, which has "cute" plastered all over it, making it a delight amongst the young and the female audience. I tell you, if it's not already available, someone should make the plush toy right now and milk it for all it's worth. Most of the jokes a

I just finished watching this film and just loved it. It's done intelligently very well so an oldie like myself enjoyed it probably as much as children. The little CJ7 character was really adorably creative in it's design and the cgi animations done outstandingly.

Yes, I got out a hankie to wipe my cheeks down from one of the most touching and endearing scenes (even though I had anticipated it coming, but didn't expect I'd get so emotional over it!). Very touching and sweet ... and in a very good way.

The story was well played out with the youngster learning there is more important things in life than his own selfish wants, and his Father had taught him good values of integrity, respect and morals. CJ7's role was akin to a magical subconscious compelling him to do the right thing(s), and that sometimes one makes a choice for an unselfish ultimate sacrifice.

This was, by far, one of the best foreign children's films I've viewed in some while. Set aside the English dubbing and get past that, I recommend this one for a good feeling viewing experience.

Once again, Stephen Chow delivers a movie which is both funny and clever.

From the acting which is amazing (the young actor is incredible) to the special effects which are by far some of the best I've seen recently.

The movie's funny when it comes to the situations which are sometimes just unbelievable but it is also very kind and tender when it shows the relationships between father and son.

This movie can be seen by children or parents and you will all fall in love with CJ7.

It is well worth a trip to the theater (if it's released where you are) or to a shop near you . I'll buy it right away when it gets released on DVD.

Good job, Mr Chow !