Review of Champion

Introduction

Having only just watched the below average film The Calcium Kid, I had my guard up when it came to discovering that Champion is another boxing film. This time it`s a 2-disc set on HKL`s Premier Asia label, so the least I could hope for was something better than Orlando Bloom`s boxing ring taunts. Champion is a biographical film of real-life Korean boxing hero Kim Deuk-gu. I had never heard of him before, but then I`m hardly a big authority on boxing, and the mention of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini held equally a glazed look. All that would change.

Video

Presented with a 2.35:1 widescreen enhanced video transfer Champion looks quite good though does suffer from some grain and noticeable edge enhancement. There`s a DTS 5.1, 2 Dolby Digital 5.1 (Korean and English dub) tracks and a commentary track, so with space being used up, the video transfer has had to be more compressed. It`s not bad though and not too noticeable when you`re watching the main feature.

Audio

You can choose from three soundtracks: Dolby Digital 5.1 Korean (448Kbps), Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dub (384Kbps) and DTS 5.1 Korean (768Kbps) so there`s something here for most setups. The English dub is what you`ve come to expect, it`s silly while both Korean 5.1 tracks sound very similar. Dialogue comes out well from the centre channel and sound is spread well across the front speakers. The rears kick in when appropriate, such as crowd scenes and general ambience, and the LFE gets called upon with heavy punching and other low range effects; the sound works well throughout the film.

Features

As you would expect from a Hong Kong Legends DVD, this has easy to navigate animated menus with a good selection of extras.

Disc One:
• Audio Commentary with Bey Logan and Mike Leeder - Neither Bey nor Mike need an introduction to HKL enthusiasts, and having them both here to provide a commentary is nothing short of stimulating, fun and very, very good. Bey talks incessantly, and Mike isn`t shy when it comes to the verbal either; with both of them talking about the film, it works really well and there`s never a quiet moment. If you have the time and inclination, this is definitely one audio track to listen to.

• Bey Logan Biography - This is an up-to-date bio and always worth updating yourself with occasionally.


Disc Two:
• Love Conquers All (widescreen enhanced) (12:22) - This is an interview with the leading-lady Chae Min-seo where she talks about her experience on the film as it was her first acting role. She recounts about playing the wife and how she spoke several times with Kim`s real wife, who was initially against the film, and how she formed her character for the part.

• Rolling with the punches (widescreen enhanced) (29:51) - This is an interview with action-director Jung Doo-hung. He gives us some background into his upbringing and experience as an action director. It`s partly interesting, but you won`t get any relevance with this film until about half way.

• Ringside Raconteur (widescreen enhanced) (17:34) - This is an interview with Jack Massarik, the former boxing correspondent for The Guardian where he paints an interesting picture of the period and the Korean fighter. It`s very interesting and I found it helpful since I don`t follow boxing.

• Going the Distance: The Making of Champion (47:46) - This is an interesting documentary as it covers the beginnings of the film right through to the end including some of the special effects. The cast and crew talk about the story, about the boxing and training and it definitely adds something to the film.

• Taking up the Challenge (widescreen enhanced) (5:49) - Short interviews with the director and lead actor, a little of which is covered elsewhere, but still worth watching the one time.

• Making the Grade: In Training with Yoo Oh-seong (widescreen enhanced) (2:37) - No one can deny that lead actor Yoo Oh-seong is in great shape for his role, so watch him train for a few minutes...not particularly interesting.

• Trailers (widescreen enhanced) - Original Theatrical Teaser, Original Theatrical Trailer and UK Promotional Trailer.

• Music Video (widescreen enhanced) (5:10) - This is one of the ballads used in the film, cut to clips of the film.

• TV Spot (widescreen enhanced) (0:24) - a TV spot!

• Champion Film Notes (text) - Pages of text about the film and its production.

• Biographies (text) - Pages of text covering Yoo Oh-seong, Jung Doo-hung and Kawk Kyung-taek, the lead actor, action co-ordinator and director respectively. Interesting to read at least once.

The film comes with easy to read English subtitles.

Conclusion

Champion is a very entertaining film. Director Kawk Kyung-taek, in casting Yoo Oh-seong as the lead character, has made a very good choice. Painting this boxing biopic with humanistic perspective works well too and gives us more than just some boxing, training and angst. There are some truly interesting characters, dialogue and situations that I don`t think anyone who sets out to watch this would get bored.

The real life boxer was Korea`s national hero so it`s good to see more than just `another boxing film`. As a boxer, he impressed with his kill or be killed attitude when in the ring; this won him the Korean Lightweight Championship and eventually led to his world championship bout with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. I couldn`t help but feel moved by actor Yoo Oh-seong`s portrayal as an everyman struggling to make something of himself. It`s all the more tragic when events turn sour. There`s plenty of humour to counter some of the more serious moments, and having watched the film a couple of times, it still has the same effect. The romance that blossoms with Chae Min-seo is never sentimental and `mushy`, and is treated well. The one side that we don`t see or have explained is his family and what his parents or siblings think of what he does so I got the impression he was on his own.

The video transfer is good, the sound delivers some might in the boxing scenes, and the extras add up to a very comprehensive collection of things to plough through. All in all, this is more than just a Eastern update of Rocky and well worth checking out.