I just watched this movie today, and my GOD it was wonderful! It’s this great movie about a washed up ex-soccer player who meets a student of shaolin and convinces him and his brothers that the way to incorporate their training into real life is to set up a soccer team.
Not only is this simple little fact genius, but the direction of the movie and camera tricks are great as well. Sure, the fx are a little off, you can definitely tell when the guys are kicking around a fake CGI ball, but who really gives a shit? Towards the end of the movie, the ball spends half of it’s time on fire, so it’s not like realism is a big addition to the film anyway. It’s a great little combination of the classic kung fu master films, rough and tough sports team films, and just good ol’ plain fun. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend checking it out.
The only problem I had with it was there wasn’t enough focus on the games. For the most part, the team is able to kick anyone’s ass, no problem, and the final game is great, but I really wish the semi-final game had more too it. It was the first team the heros encountered that also had special attack powers, and the fact that it was made up of cute women with fake mustaches just made me with they had more screen time. But overall, a great film. Anyone else see it?
I have a bootleg DVD version direct from Beijing 
Specially requested from a friend there. However it doesn’t have english sub-titles sniff so I still haven’t gotten around to watching it.
Will do so very soon and get back to you.
I saw it a while back.
As you said, the special effects are a little off, but the movie is such fun that you don’t mind!
Only saw the previews, but they were absolutely hilarious. I was kicking myself for missing it when it was double-featured with Spiderman at the local theater last month. As soon as I get back from vacation, I’m renting it!
I caught a glimpse of it when I was at a convention. There was this little TV playing what I thought was the World Cup. But I see this guy kick the ball so hard that it leaves a ‘railgun’ type effect behind it! :eek:
Then it hits the ‘bad’ goalie square in the torso and the shockwave it makes rips the guy’s clothes off! I was like WTF?! Also watching a guy get knocked down that 2 guys come up at opposite directions and kick him on both sides of the same leg…yeeeeeouchh!!!
Are you sure that FOX sports didn’t just add those effects because their audience has trouble seeing the soccer ball? 
I remember seeing the bright blue aura of a hockey puck turn bright red for a slap shot and soiling myself in horror.
LOVE that movie. I got a pirated copy online about 6 months ago and, after watching it, immediately ordered the DVD [self hijack]Take that, MPAA[/sh]. I’ve shown it to almost all my friends.
It’s even got humorous translation: “I should explode”, “Fit!” (when they are shouting in excitement), and of course, the fact that the villain team is named the “Evil Team.”
I have a pirate copy and a real copy i bought in chinatown. Best HK movie in years. I mentioned it in the thread in my sig.
[quote]
the fact that it was made up of cute women with fake mustaches just made me with they had more screen time.[/quote
Those women are Cecilia Cheung and Karen Mok. They each have dozens of movies and many albums (both have starred with Stephen Chow a few other times). Karen Mok is one of my favorite singers, especially I will be fine.
Would love to get this DVD for my teenage sons. It sounds right up their alley. Is it kind of hard to find?
fit!
I ordered my copy from Amazon. They have affiliate stores that can get import DVDs. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time.
Much thanks Koffing.
I just ordered a copy. I think we’ll all love this movie.
Got our copy straight from Hong Kong.
Absolutely ADORE it. Where else will you see a homage to Saving Private Ryan in the middle of a soccer match to the death, or Tai Chi Bread Making?
-A2K