Champions (2008)

Old school styled fight scenes makes up for the heavy-handed approach to patriotism

Tsui Siu Ming may not be the household name for western audiences but he is a highly accomplished action director and director. Though his library is not as extensive as the likes of Yuen Woo Ping, Sammo Hung, Tony Ching Siu Tung, Tung Wei etc. his body of work provides enough qualities. Just look at his directional films such as Buddhist Fist, The Gang Master and Bury Me High for some quality martial arts films.

Tsui Siu Ming still adheres to the old school formula of throwing everything together, 2007 saw his return to the silver screen serving as action director, writer and producer on Twins Mission starring Sammo Hung, Wu Jing, Yuen Wah, Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung. It was a mismatched product of old school and new school that did not quite successfully balance the two. 2008 sees Tsui Siu Ming return to the director’s chair in the propaganda film Champions to coincide with the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In the 1930’s a group of athlete students wish to participate in the Olympic Games but there dreams are squandered by the fees required to send the participants abroad. In hopes to raising the amount they set about in various fund raising activities. Lead by martial arts student Cheung Fung (Dicky Cheung Wai Kin) they embark on street performances, side shows, menial jobs and sports participation. Along the proceedings fellow martial arts student Kwan Shue Po (Xie Miao), in a chance encounter rescues a baby boy of a wealthy businessman from his conniving nephew, So Sam Pei (Chi Long). While Cheung Fung and Shue Po’s master Cheung Chi Kong (Yu Rong Guang) becomes a representative of the Chinese martial arts community which enrages rival master On Yung (Xu Xiang Dong) who suggest that a martial arts competition of ‘winner of the fittest’ should be a fairer judgement of the best martial artist. The outcome is a martial arts tournament that means the winners gets to participate in the Olympics.

Champions can be a hard film to stomach filled with heavy dosages of melodrama and heavy-handed messages of the greatness of China. Subtly is clearly not Tsui Siu Ming’s intentions with things like if we work together we are greater, the unity of people are better and the power of the Chinese spirit are all messages that Tsui Siu Ming forces down the audiences throat. Brass comedy, nonsensical plot, over wrought emotions, undying love, self sacrificing heroism and martial arts fights creates a product that would not be out of place in the 80’s. Amidst the story is some very dull side plots that drags proceedings down but thankfully they don't linger too long before the fight scenes occur. The track race competition in particular is shot in a very mundane manner lacking tension or excitement. Though the film still somehow manages to entertain with its old school approach throwing everything on the table and shuffling it into an enjoyable end product.

Xie Miao is probably best remembered as the son of Jet Li in My Father is a Hero and The New Legend of Shaolin, here he shares costar status and does a fine job as the good intentioned Shue Po. Dicky Cheung performs adequately as the loud mouth cocky lead but can sometimes border on irritating with his constant barrage of jokes and antics. Priscilla Wong Chui Yu over acts as the track runner and love interest of Dicky Cheung. Her emotions don’t quite hit the mark and her pain and suffering is thrust in the faces of the audience opposed to slowly developed. Playing her rival track runner is Debbie Goh who leers and delivers lines of angst in a flat manner. Chi Long who plays the criminal boss gives a cartoon performance that is laughably bad. Yu Rong Guang most will recognise from Iron Monkey and the lead villain in My Father is a Hero opposite Jet Li and Shanghai Noon opposite Jackie Chan. Here he is a pleasant surprise as the master, he carries an air of authority with a sense of honorable pride. Rival martial arts master Xu Xiang Dong is probably best remembered in Tai Chi 2 fighting Wu Jing during the finale and a fellow comrade of Jackie Chan in Dragon Blade, here he is gives one of the better performances successfully capturing his arrogant pride and cocky attitude. Most of the problems of the actors can be attributed to the lousy script.

Being a product of Tsui Siu Ming there is a healthy amount of martial arts action that makes up for everything that precedes it. Collaborating once again with Benz Kong To Hoi (Director of Twins Mission), Tsui and Benz crafts some very creative old school fights where a lot of forms and shape are thrown in. Helped by some long takes and wider angles it’s definitely a welcome product of this day and age of choppy editing, tight framing and shaky cam. The use of actual martial arts talents is a great choice, as the martial art movements are smooth and convincing. Dicky Cheung one of the few non martial arts artist given prominent fight scenes delivers the fight moves convincingly and demonstrates a great grasp of the style he is made to use. The eagle claw and mantis fist are given a lot of screen time and everyone performs adequately. Xie Miao is a welcome talent on board and demonstrates some fluid body movements, it is help that he is an actual practitioner of the mantis fist. Yu Rong Guang makes a welcome return in a fighting role after appearing as bit roles in films like The Myth and New Police Story, though not as agile as witnessed in films such as Iron Monkey or Project S he delivers some great hand to hand combinations against fellow martial arts actor Xu Xiang Dong. Xu Xiang Dong performs the eagle claw with ease providing great power and threat with his smooth movements. Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang’s fight is a great demonstration of the eagle claw and tai chi showing great use of locking and reversals. Making a brief appearance is real life tai chi practitioner Lee Fei best remembered in the Iron Monkey as the Witch, here she engages in some brief tightly choreographed scuffles that she gracefully demonstrates nice use of tai chi. A surprising turn is actor Xiao Ming Yue (The Legendary Amazons) who shows much grace in his kicking combinations. A slight drawback is the over abundance of wire enhanced moves that usually involves lifting the talents in the air to deliver an otherwise impossible amount of kicking combination. There is a health amount of fights scattered throughout and each one provides enough variety.

If you can stomach the melodrama and the heavy handed approach of patriotism then underneath is an old school film created in the modern generation that provides quality fight scenes.

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