Champions
(2008/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: C Extras: D Film: C+
To
compete in the Olympics on the international level is ultimate honor and pride
for a nation and for Wushu masters, is no less different, street fighters Zheng
Feng and Bao two honest and good friends strive toward this goal, their own
personal dreams closely tied to this future. When only limited amount of money, only the
best can be sent compete. Each martial
arts school wishes to be the one representing the nation, and begins fighting,
challenging one another for right to go. But when there can be only one
champion, who will chosen one? Find out
in Siu Ming Tsui’s 2008 film Champions.
Only after the a recent revolution, the nation of China is poor and it's people are
in need of an inspiration. The various
martial arts schools begin competing against one another, open street fights,
the last man standing is the best and should be the one to go, but the spirit
of martial arts lies not beating one's opponents and in training one's own mind
and body to bring out one's own potential and be an inspiration for the rest, the
road to glory is not easy. It is full of
hardships and heartbreaks, and even when one loses everything does
one have the heart of a Champion to go on?
This film was filled with tons of martial artists, giving future potential
martial arts actors a chance to show off their skills in the film industry, but
the point of the story was not just about the fighting and how a community
chooses to support their local heroes and how true champions isn't just
about winning. While some believe in
friendly competition, others don't care how dirty they get as long as
it means they win. As the schools
of martial arts (and of thought) clash will it be brother against brother
or bring the community together? The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1` image (shot
in the Super 35mm film format) and lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix are about as
good as they are going to look in this format, but a Blu-ray might make this
look and sound even better. Extras
include making of the film and trailers.
This was “based on true events”, yet it was a little clichéd, but fans
might want to see it. Expect some
propaganda too.
- Ricky Chiang
