The Champions (1983 film)

The Champions
The Champions
	Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese	波牛
Simplified Chinese	波牛
Hanyu Pinyin	Bō Niú
Jyutping	Bo1 Ngau4
Directed by	Brandy Yuen
Screenplay by	Brandy Yuen
Produced by	Raymond Chow
Starring	Yuen Biao; Cheung Kwok-keung; Dick Wei; Moon Lee; Eddy Ko;
Cinematography	Ma Koon-wa; Kenneth Sung
Edited by	Peter Cheung
Music by	Blue Max Productions; Lam Miu-tak; Richard Lam;
Production; companies	Paragon Films; Peace Film Production (HK)
Distributed by	Golden Harvest
Release date	13 October 1983
Running time	94 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK$3,206,327

The Champions (Chinese: 波牛) is a 1983 Hong Kong action sports comedy film written and directed by Brandy Yuen and starring Yuen Biao.

Synopsis

Lee Tung (Yuen Biao) is taunted by rival football teams. At first he is just a ball boy and a punch bag for the leading villain, King (Dick Wei). But after too many beatings, Tung decides to play for another local team and to go against King in a one-off football match at the end. The film also tackles problems of jealousy, corruption and bullying in sports.^[1]

Cast

Yuen Biao as Lee Tung
Cheung Kwok-keung as Suen
Dick Wei as King
Moon Lee as Fanny
Eddy Ko as Tung's Uncle
Cheung King-po as King's assistant
Kam Biu as Soccer bets syndicate's boss
Tong Tin-hei as Seng Sun Team's boss
Tino Wong as 3rd Master
Ho Pak-kwong as 3rd Master's assistant
Fung King-man as Village contest's emcee
Yue Tau-wan as Social soccer player
Brandy Yuen as Man who helps buy betting tickets
Yuen Lung-kui as Man who hits gong
Johnny Cheung as King's soccer player
Lee Chun-wa as Muscle man arm-wrestling with Tung
Liu Hok-man as Pickpocket / Soccer player
Victor Yeung as Soccer spectator
Yeung Wai as Jogger (cameo)
Lee Fat-yuen as 3rd Master's thug
To Siu-ming as Pool attendee
Ho Tin-shing as Chuen
Sin Yuk-lung as Participant at village contest
Yeung Wah as Participant at village contest
Ho Wah
Lung Ying
Sa Au
Man Ngai-tik
Leung Hung
Ernest Mauser as VIP at soccer stadium opening
Benny Lai as King's soccer player
Ko Hung as Social soccer player
Chan Leung as Soccer player
Sham Chin-po as Social soccer player

Critical response

Variety applauded the film's "impeccably-choreographed action sequences" while also acknowledging that "the storyline (the underdogs make good) and acting are secondary", with only the final football match being criticized for taking place "in some obscure sand lot that truly weakens the impact."^[2]

Accolades

In 1985, the film was nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography for Brandy Yuen and Yuen Shun-yi at the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards.^[3]

References

^ Lets Look: The Champions (1983) - review (in French)
^ Variety (31 December 1985). Variety's Film Reviews: 1983-1984 (2nd ed.). R.R. Bowker. ISBN 978-0-8352-2798-8.
^ IMDb.com: Boh Ngau awards page ^{[unreliable source?]}

External links

The Champions at IMDb
The Champions at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
Template:Allmovie title
HK Cinemagic entry

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[1] Lets Look: The Champions (1983) - review (in French)

[2] Variety (31 December 1985). Variety's Film Reviews: 1983-1984 (2nd ed.). R.R. Bowker. ISBN 978-0-8352-2798-8.

[3] IMDb.com: Boh Ngau awards page ^{[unreliable source?]}

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