CineTV contest: Shaolin Soccer (The same football in a different pattern)

Hello everyone!

One of the African countries most passionate about football is my dear nation, Nigeria. We grew up with a big fallacy that has appeared—and still appears—to be true to this day. It is about a football match in the World Cup that allegedly featured Nigeria against India, where it is said that Nigeria was beaten 100 goals to nil. Due to how magical the game appeared, the story claims that India was banned from playing football in the World Cup. It is said that whenever the Indians kicked the ball toward our goalpost, the ball would turn into a rock, making the goalkeeper too scared to catch it....and they kept scoring goal.

When the movie Shaolin Soccer was released in 2001, it felt as if the film was made specifically for Nigerians because it portrayed exactly how the legendary match between Nigeria and India was described—where football was turning into fire and rock. Although I know the movie relies heavily on film tricks and violates many football rules, it still gives me real chills and laughter every time I watch it. Each time, I keep wondering how deadly football would be if it were played the Chinese way, just as it is shown in the movie. It would be entertaining, no doubt, but it would also be a much deadlier sport—similar to rugby or American football.

The movie illustrates how football starts from those who are truly passionate about it. Mr. Golden Leg, in his playing days, missed a penalty kick in a final match. The fans and the coach got angry, broke his leg, and he had to live with the injury for the rest of his life. He later ventured into coaching but was mocked, especially by his former coach from his playing days. He eventually gave up, but along the way, he met Mighty Steel Leg, a Shaolin professional who was promoting the idea that Shaolin can be applied to every aspect of life.

The spirit of football never dies in a sports-spirited person, and as time went on, Mr. Golden Leg got along with the Shaolin man and his friends. Together, they formed a team—Shaolin Team.

You know, there are some movies that are clearly comical and exaggerated, and at the beginning, you might decide to watch them with a serious face just to grasp the storyline. Shaolin Soccer is one of those movies, but one thing is certain, you will be amazed by the football matches and laugh at the funny reactions from the players, coaches, and officials. The first part that caught my interest was how the players were awarding themselves penalty kicks without the referee’s involvement. That is far from real football rules! 😅

There were also physical confrontations and blows, yet they were not considered fouls. I guess those are Chinese football rules. Lol.

The movie is very different from the usual storyline and fighting scenes we have known most movies to be, it's centered on football.

It is a very entertaining movie, and I would give it an 8/10.

Thanks for reading.

This is my entry to CINETV contest #127

I re-watched the movie again and got the photos from my video player (screenshots) except the thumbnail from IMDB