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Never Back Down [2008]
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A happy slappers dream film
Review date: 2008-10-10 Rating: 2 out of 10
I watched this movie based on the Amazon reviews here so it's my own fault really!
This is a souless mish mash of popular action films of days gone by such as The Karati Kid and Fight Club, deliberately targeting the Dawson's Creek audience. The acting is of Dawson's Creek standards too, lots of school kids who look 30 trying to be all grown up while having terribly one dimentional angst issues and who like to film school yard scraps with their mobile phones to be posted on the web.
But the main aim of the film is to show fighting action and is therefore based on the UFC 'style' of fighting. This here was the main problem with the film: Isn't UFC fixed? Another extention of the Wrestlemania phenomina? Is it possible to get odds at Ladbrokes for the next UFC championship? UFC basically looks like one big cuddling competition anyway and the fights in this film afirm that, with the odd break of a clinch to land a bone crunching blow or two then back to the group hugs again!
To mis-quote Jason Statham in Snatch: "This isn't a tickling match". Or is it?!
Pointless
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Reviews
A film which cant make its mind up
Review date: 2008-09-15 Rating: 6 out of 10
I had to give this movie three stars because it cant decide whether its a low brow actioner or something a little more profound, on the other hand it strongly deserves three stars because I had expected something more disappointing and banal than what it is.
As another reviewer has said it is very reminescent of Karate Kid, repeating a lot of themes, a single parent family moves to a new town, the protagonist, an angry son doesnt want to commit to the move, gets beat on by the local jerks and their ring leader, with whom he's in competition for the affections of a girl and takes solace in the coaching of a paternalistic martial arts coach/guru.
The camera work is great, as is the choreography and there's scenes which arent surely references to Raging Bull and Rocky too, there's also some interesting literary references to the Illiad. In fact its surprisingly smart, the mixed martial arts angle is more Muay Thai than UFC too. The acting's also good, the difficult family dynamics and roles are played really well and in this respect it reminded me of Rumble Fish.
So far as angst, unresolved issues and pent up rage leading to underground fight scenes and orgies of self-destruction I actually found it much more realistic and convincing than Fight Club, although perhaps without Fight Club these themes wouldnt be in the mix. Its much more visceral, unforgiving, cruel and unambiguously a case of the mighty holding sway.
There are some hackneyed narratives and it takes some well worn and highly predictable twists and turns but not without the film losing its entertainment value.
A Karate Kid for the 21st Century....
Review date: 2008-09-02 Rating: 8 out of 10
..and that's basically it. The plot is virtually identical to the Karate Kid, but without the camp 80's-ness of it. It also parallels the Iliad to a certain degree, which I quite liked, especially since the book was referenced in one scene.
Decent action sequences though if you can overcome the paucity of the plot, which is, lets face it, thoroughly predictable. Decent lead actor, looking not like Ralph Macchio, but more a young Tom Cruise, and another example of just how good an actor Dijmon Hounsou is, even outside of real character roles.
I thought I'd grown out of this type of, well, cr*p, but I was entertained. I don't much like the concept of UFC/MMA, especially not portrayed as a rite of passage, but the violence was contextual without glamorising it too much, the sequences were good enough, the soundtrack hot and heavy, and if you're prepared to turn your brains off for a couple of hours, it's not that bad a movie. I doubt if it'll become the cult movie that the Karate Kid was to us kids of the 80's, but what is??!!
4 stars for a expected 2 star film!
A fast flowing mixed martial arts flick with a really energetic and wholesome story
Review date: 2008-08-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
If you take the martial arts classics of "Karate Kid" and "No Retreat No Surrender" and add some Beverly Hills / Fight Club ingredients - the outcome would be this movie. A fast flowing, punch, block, submit and kick, quick thinking adrenaline rush movie.
In my opinion there aren't enough of these movies. The majority of recent martial arts movies have overpaid Hollywood actors or an abundance of high wire CGI effect ridden pieces, that look good and are excellent films in their own right - but it's so nice to see a movie that looks really good, contains some excellent choreographed fight scenes and has some upcoming stars.
The story sees Jake Tyler (Faris), American football all-star who has anger issues in consequence to the death of his father. He moves house with his family and joins a new school where his past American football exploits are discovered and he's tricked into a martial arts fight contest with Ryan McCarthy (Gigandet). It's a high-flyer world of huge mansions, flashy cars, and gorgeous girls but Tyler seeks refuge and support in a local martial arts club run by Jean Roqua (Hounsou) and begins to train to become the best he can be.
Beyond the adrenaline rush of training, sparring and learning techniques this movie touches on the emotional side of blame and disappointment, pride and friendship and more than anything - determination.
Excellent mixed martial arts movie, that has an awe-inspiring soundtrack and definitely, when it comes to the fighting sequences, this hits the mark.
Instant Classic!!!!!!
Review date: 2008-08-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
I saw first caught a glimpse of this film in the cinema when the previews were playing and a few months down the line my girlfriend bought it for me on dvd. All i can say is that this film is great! Good acting, good storyline, superb fighting scenes and very nice women in bikini's. Instant Classic.
Buy it now! You would be fullish to miss out on such a great film.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Sean Faris
Amber Heard
Leslie Hope
Evan Peters
Cam Gigandet
Creators:
Sean Faris (Primary Contributor)
Amber Heard (Primary Contributor)
Chris Hauty (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5060116722826
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-08-18
Audience rating: To Be Announced
Region code: 2
Running time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2008