In the late 1970s and early 1980s the world was football mad. Even those countries that had traditionally been less than enthusiastic about the sport, instead opting to create their own sports so they could anoint themselves as “World Champions”, despite being the only country to actively participate in them. And yet even they were caught up in “soccer-mania” with its creation of the NASL (North American Soccer League) attracting legends like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia and having teams with such lavish names as New York Cosmos, Los Angeles Aztecs and Minnesota Kicks.
Hong Kong was not immune to this craze, in fact, after nearly a century of British rule, football was considered the most popular sport in city. Pitches could be found scattered throughout the urban landscape with games from around the world broadcasting on a regular basis, and usually at unsociable hours. So with the sport having such a tight hold on the populace, celebrities were not going to miss out, with exhibition charity games popping up all over South and Eastern Asia. The likes of Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Andy Lau and even Jackie Chan would apply their talents to the beautiful game. Yuen Biao was also another actor that would lace up his boots in the name of charity, but in 1983 he would take it one step further, he would team up with the Yuen Clan and attempt to put the world’s sport on film, but with that Hong Kong action flavour in the Champions.
Let’s get something straight, this film isn’t an accurate reflection of the game that so many of us love. I’d even go as far to say that some “liberties” with the rules were taken just to fit it in the confines of the action movie criteria. However, do not let this distract you from what is a joyful and entertaining slice of Hong Kong action cinema at a time when it was really coming into its own.
In The Champions there is less focus on “Team”, because this is just Yuen Biao, Cheung Kwok Keung… and a bunch of other blokes, and that’s all it needed to be, because this film rips along like a hare at a dog meet.
Yuen Biao is a kung fu bumpkin that, with a bit of practice, turns into quite the talent. He earns the scorn of the current superstar of football in Hong Kong, King (Dick Wei), but with his friend (Cheung Kwok Keung) and his friend’s sister (Moon Lee), he has the chance to take the football world by storm.
So far so very Shaolin Soccer, and you’d be right for thinking that. Knowing that Stephen Chow has a huge love for King Fu cinema, it would not surprise me to find out that Stephen Chow made Shaolin Soccer as a homage to The Champions, but armed with a different set of jokes. However, before we all get the “RIP OFF” cleavers out, tonally these are two different film, also in The Champions there is less focus on “Team”, because this is just Yuen Biao, Cheung Kwok Keung… and a bunch of other blokes, and that’s all it needed to be, because this film rips along like a hare at a dog meet.
Eureka Entertainment once again splash the cash when it comes to extra features, including commentary tracks from the likes of East Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng, along with action cinema royalty in Mike Leeder and Arne Venema. Add to this a fun feature looking at the 1987 Hong Kong Celebrity Football Team and brand new interview with film critic Andrew Heskins, and what you have if a release fit for a …. King.
With anarchic action and a style unique to Hong Kong cinema of the time, the Golden Harvest production may not be held in the same regard as the likes of Police Story and Project A, but it is more than capable of holding its own against some of the very best, and when the best is this good you really can’t go wrong.
The Champions is out now on Eureka Blu Ray
Ben’s Archive – The Champions (1983)
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