Champions

Not bad, some entertaining moments from the wisecracking Dicky Cheung, and the hiding the baby scene, but there's a lack of focus, of general direction, and purpose not only with the script but the characters and fights too. Especially nice to see so many martial artists in one single film. Didn't find it too long, but thought the random events don't add anything to the plot.

Good choreography of Praying Mantis (which is said to be Tsui Siu Ming's forte) and Eagle Claw, but Tai Chi is turned into aggressive rather than softer style here. The fights are quite nice, with varied forms, but they're more like mini-fights, some kind of prelude to a fullblown one to one exchange that never really happens - they just end halfway, such between Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang, Dicky Cheung and the bodyguard/henchman.

Perhaps, Tsui Siu Ming is trying to take a conciliatory, peaceful approach to martial arts, even then, he should not have every fight ending halfway all the time. Whether they end in a draw or not, they could go some more, not be interrupted by some haphazard occurrence. And it's jarring to juxtapose another event in the middle of a fight scene and keep switching to the running scene in the finale.

Excellent wushu display in the middle and expounding of wushu philosophies but never fully explored. There should have been some actual training rather than just an explanation of the opponents' styles in preparation for the tournament.

Xu Xiang Dong's fantastic as usual and dominates whichever scenes he appears in. Whatever forms he does he just outshines everyone else. His two sons and the kidnapper's bodyguard look to have great skills too.