Customer Reviews

AKA - Cassius Clay [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this movie mainly for footage of Ali and his contemporaries, and therefore wasn't expecting much of a plot or a very deep documentary. For this reason I wasn't disappointed. Keep in mind that this film was primarily something for Ali to do during his exile that would make money. It's full of interesting quotes and clips that show a closer side of Ali and make for an enjoyable viewing. At times it slips into an argument with famed boxing trainer Cus D'Amato over whether or not Muhammad Ali is really the best boxer of his time (D'Amato thinks otherwise) that is a little pointless as it is never resolved.

I think this film is best as a companion to other films, such as Ali, The Greatest, and/or When We Were Kings. If you love Ali, you'll like this.

Complete and comprehensive. If you are an Ali fan at any level you'll absolutely love this. Get it. Now.

A.K.A. Cassius Clay is a time capsule documentary look at the life of Muhammad Ali before he was reinstated by the US boxing commission for refusing to be drafted during the Vietnam War. The film takes us from the early life of Ali until the present day (circa. 1968). One of the highlights of this film is his look at the older fighters along with Cus D'Amato and his demonstration of the Ali Shuffle. His conversion to Islam and the affect it had on his career is documented as well. If you're a fight fan this is a must for you.

Highly recommended

Released in '70, before Frazier, Foreman, Spinks, etc., it's amazing how much substance there already is. The first third of this legend's story, as told here, is more than the Mike Tysons of this world will clock in with for a lifetime.

THE DVD AKA CASSIUS CLAY WAS OK.. BUT I HAD TO GET AFREIND TO COPY IT AS MY DVD WOULD,T TAKE IT,,HOWEVER DELIVERY WAS QUICK AND ONCE I GOT THE DVD GOING OK IT WAS FINE

Sin ser un documental que trate en profundidad la trayectoria o la vida de Ali, tiene la gracia de ser contemporáneo a él, de modo que la película tiene una estética y una manera de narrar las cosas que es particular de los 70s (si no te gusta este estilo, ya puedes ir borrando una estrella).
La película trata muy brevemente la trayectoria de Ali, con algunos detalles (que se agradecen) de sus inicios aún no profesionales, para luego ahondar en su momento actual (recordemos que la película se filma cuando Ali está en pleno problema legal-militar-religioso). Vas a encontrar algunos rounds de peleas importantes, pero quizás este aspecto no es tan bueno como en otros documentales.

Lo bueno: Algunos detalles de su vida antes de volverse profesional. Su intercambio de comentarios con D'Amato, y el hecho que la película tiene ese gustillo de la época.

Lo malo: Si no eres un verdadero fanático de Ali, o estás recién comenzando a serlo, necesitas algo más general: "Ali, The Whole Story" (te va a fascinar)

Lo feo: Para algunos, la estética, el hecho que el sonido es Mono, y el que algunos clips de peleas parecen haber sido filmados desde la pantalla del televisor (de los de esa época ¿me entiendes?)