I was just watching the Jean-Claude Van Damme classic Bloodsport for the first time in many years, and I was reminded of something I’ve wondered every time I see this movie: what the hell was the referee there for?
As far as I can tell, his only purpose was to start the fight, because other than “…there are three ways to win: one, you knock the guy right out. Two, he shouts ‘matay’; it’s like saying ‘Uncle’. Three, you throw the fucker right off the runway!” there are no discernible rules, not to mention that the first rule doesn’t appear to be enforced, as Chong Li is repeatedly seen giving his opponents a finishing blow well after they are clearly already knocked out, and in at least one case it’s fatal.
Because I could have a hidden knuckle duster and win unfairly with it. The time Chong Li crushed the blinding powder pill he had in his waistband and threw it in Dux’s face was deliberately concealed from the referee. While anything you can do to someone with your own body was allowed, using weapons was not.
And yet, evidently that wasn’t an actual violation or something, since nothing much happened and nobody seemed to care that much. Oh, sure, they considered stopping the fight but apparentyly Chong Li didn’t face instant dismissal and expulsion in disgrace. Maybe they operate on the “Can’t Touch This” principle, so as long as they don’t spot you cheating before you blatantly reveal it to everyone. In which case, I want to compete because I’m pretty sure I can hide a gun long enough.
Also, you can’t expect much from a about the life of a con artist who wrote a cheezy novel about a secret martial arts tournament and tried to pass it off as biography.
To give it a veneer of respectability so opportunistic sleazeball Congressmen don’t raise a stink.
Seriously, I remembered seeing Bloodsport as a teenager, and even in the terminal addlebrainedness of my youth, it was obvious that the whole movie was complete fiction. Even if it actually was based on a real-life underground fighting tournament, it wouldn’t have been anywhere near this…plotted. (Having watched the early UFCs, in particular 3, 5, 9, and 11, I know quite well how much reality can shred a storyline.) Heck, pro wrestling is more real because there’s always the chance that the match can go completely off the rails.
Anyway, the ref was a minor character who served his minor character role, waving his hands and moving things along and conveniently ignoring Li’s brazen illegal attack because…well, it was in the script, dammit.
