Title: Champion (2018)
Duration: 1.48h
Synopsis
Mark (Ma Dong-seok) is former arm wrestler champion in America who ends up working as a bouncer & a guard to support his life. His friend Jin-ki (Kwon Yul), convinces him to go back to Korea and compete there. Besides wanting to be a champion again, Mark also wants to find his mother who gave him up for adoption.
He found his mother house only to learn that his mom already pass away. He never knew he had a step sister but happy to find his family again. He also agrees to compete in a championship again to prove his worth.
Unknown to him, his friend Jinki who is also his agent used him to make a deal with a bookie. Not only that, he also learned the truth about his family from his mom email. He felt betrayed both by his friend & family.
Later he still enters the national tournament to redeem himself back & get the strength to tell his true feelings to his late mom.
My Take
I like the casting in this movie from Ma Dong Seok to the child actors. To see Han Ye ri is exciting for me as I really like her acting in previous drama like Age Of Youth and Switch. Im kinda sad that Ma Dong Seok character still like almost all his previous work; a big guy who look kinda scary and can make you fly with one punch but actually a softie teddy bear. I’m waiting for him to take totally different character after this as he got so much potential.
Another interesting here is about the sport they choose which is Arm Wrestle. This is not a common sport not in Korea but other country too. After watching this movie I do a little Google to find out that there is an official World Arm Wrestle Tournament, look here http://www.waf-armwrestling.com/members/asia/korea-south/
As a former avid stamp collector who used to enter world competition for stamp collecting, this should not surprised me but still, new knowledge everyday. I think they purposely use this sport as this one of sport that our expectation of them are macho, tough man.
They show that even these big, tough, tattooed guy also had their own issue and vulnerable with good heart. Its heartwarming and inspiring to see how Mark learn to accept his new family and even Jinki to learn to be honest.
Other issues they touch are about match fixing and the role of sport agent and bookie. This is not even an underground thing anymore as bigger and richer man involved with big money.
Conclusion
Ok movie to watch with some nice fight scene, that’s all.
How about you guys?
Did you watch this movie yet?
And how many star would you give to this? Share with me in the comment ok!
Adios
~B