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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The last thing you might expect from a movie called Fighting is excellent acting, but that’s what you’ll get. A scam artist named Harvey (Terrence Howard) sees a young would-be hustler named Shawn (Channing Tatum, Step Up, Stop-Loss) in a street scuffle and lures him into a no-rules fighting circuit. Shawn’s relentless drive to win leads him to unexpected success, but when he gets put into a big fight with a professional boxer, Harvey asks Shawn to take a dive. The plot sounds like a thousand boxing movies, but the difference is all in the texture. Fighting takes place in a very real New York City, with cramped, make-shift apartments, cluttered streets, and seedy nightclubs. Scenes get knocked sideways by odd bits of life and character quirks that feel organic, not shoehorned in by some clever screenwriter. There’s a marvelous scene where Shawn is trying to woo the Puerto Rican waitress he’s smitten with (Zulay Henao, Feel the Noise), but they keep getting interrupted by her suspicious mother--which sounds like a rom-com cliche, but is completely transformed by the wonderfully human interplay among the actors. Howard has always had a magnetic talent, but Tatum reveals an engaging vulnerability that contrasts nicely with his big-slab-of-beefcake look. The movie hearkens back to 1970s classics like Midnight Cowboy and Dog Day Afternoon, and though it doesn’t achieve the same emotional heights, it’s reaching in the right direction. Writer/director Dito Montiel (whose previous film, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, also featured Tatum) promises to make some truly memorable movies. --Bret Fetzer
Stills from Fighting (Click for larger image)
Stills from Fighting (Click for larger image)
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Product Description
Small-town boy Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Public Enemies) knows firsthand that every day in New York City is a struggle to survive. So when scam artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard, Iron Man, Hustle and Flow) gives him a chance to be something more in the brutal underground world of bare-knuckle street-fighting, Shawn decides that he has something worth fighting for and puts everything on the line to win. Every knockout brings him closer to the life he’s always wanted, but also traps him in a dangerous web he can’t escape.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By PJR
Format:DVD
Fight films are not my thing. They have been done and done and done. I mostly watched this film because I just saw Channing Tatum in the Eagle (first time ever for this actor) and thought he did well but was curious to see how he might do in a film with some dramatic potential. He did just fine in Fighting in my opinion and showed much more range (because more range was called for) than in the Eagle. I think he has charisma and a lot of potential for good roles in the future.
What surprised me was how good the script was in Fighting and how fresh the acting was of some of the supporting actors. This was more like an indy film than a regular Hollywood or Hong Kong fight film. I especially liked the supporting actor who was a very engaging character.
The dialogue was not lofty, but it was realistic and "authentic" and thus atmospheric. All in all Fighting was a refreshing break from the usual fight films and for me at least, a "real film about people" and not just genre. Of course in this respect it may be very disappointing for viewers who want genre films that compete to top each other.
I will say on the negative side that Tatum was hyped in the film as a fighting white college student, yet he did not fit any stereotype of a college student. This bothered some reviewers and I must say I had to work to remember that a lot of college students in real life actually do not come across as any more sophisticated in manners or speech than he does. He comes across almost as sort of a bumkin, though with some good sense. This is not truly unrealistic, but it is not close to a stereotype of college students in a serious film. So I won't fault it for this. I watched the Blu Ray and it had minimal extras. Only one deleted scene added much.... Read more ›
What surprised me was how good the script was in Fighting and how fresh the acting was of some of the supporting actors. This was more like an indy film than a regular Hollywood or Hong Kong fight film. I especially liked the supporting actor who was a very engaging character.
The dialogue was not lofty, but it was realistic and "authentic" and thus atmospheric. All in all Fighting was a refreshing break from the usual fight films and for me at least, a "real film about people" and not just genre. Of course in this respect it may be very disappointing for viewers who want genre films that compete to top each other.
I will say on the negative side that Tatum was hyped in the film as a fighting white college student, yet he did not fit any stereotype of a college student. This bothered some reviewers and I must say I had to work to remember that a lot of college students in real life actually do not come across as any more sophisticated in manners or speech than he does. He comes across almost as sort of a bumkin, though with some good sense. This is not truly unrealistic, but it is not close to a stereotype of college students in a serious film. So I won't fault it for this. I watched the Blu Ray and it had minimal extras. Only one deleted scene added much.... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J. Yee
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is generally not my kind of movie, but I did like it as it had kind of a Rocky element going. I also thought the actors gave sincere performances and the story was gritty enough to keep your attention - I get bored easily. As I watched it, I really felt this movie had a lot of potential to be great but because it was kind of rushed, it couldn't quite get there. If it could have taken a little more time to develop the characters and their relationships, it might have gotten there. I know that Channing Tatum is always criticized for his non acting ability, but if you really watch this movie, you can sense his potential, there were several times that you got a sincere sense from him that his character really wanted to do the right thing and Tatum does this more with expression than words. The only other thing that I feel could have been better was the connection between Shawn and Zulay, I just didn't get a sense of actual attraction, it really seemed kind of forced, like there was no choice. Obviously not one of the best movies of 2009 but certainly one of the better ones. I hope you enjoy it.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Bitter Bunny
Format:DVD
The main problem with a film like 'Fighting' is the expectations that come with the obvious - fighting, or fight sequences. Although the movie centers on fighting, it seems like attention was spent elsewhere. In other words, the filmmakers did not conceptualize intricate fight sequences that would leave Bruce Lee breathless. On the contrary, the fights here are very low brow, meat and potatoes, bare knuckle, anything goes kind of brawl, which I'm not opposed to whatsoever. Personally, every now and again, the over-orchestrating of fight sequences can be a bit too much for me, but the minimal aspects here lend quite nicely to the main character's plight to survive.
As you've probably read the other reviews, the story surrounds the nicest small-time drifter once could ever hope to meet (quite a stretch I may add). He holds doors for strangers, pays fair prices for goods and aside from the funky smell & shabby clothes, you'd be proud to bring him home to mother for Thanksgiving dinner. Although money is the object of his desire, he struggles to keep the only thing he's got going for himself - his pride. Something from his past that has made him run but must soon face head on. Howard stars as a small time conman with connections but in his older age, he represents the road Tatum could be headed. He takes him under his wing, primarily for the potential of making plenty of dough but soon realizes that a life without dignity isn't worth much. For example, to Howard, throwing a fight seems like smart business-making but for Tatum it means letting go of your most fundamental values as a person.
I enjoyed the movie for what it was worth although I could clearly see the potential for a deeper, more soulful searching between the characters.... Read more ›
As you've probably read the other reviews, the story surrounds the nicest small-time drifter once could ever hope to meet (quite a stretch I may add). He holds doors for strangers, pays fair prices for goods and aside from the funky smell & shabby clothes, you'd be proud to bring him home to mother for Thanksgiving dinner. Although money is the object of his desire, he struggles to keep the only thing he's got going for himself - his pride. Something from his past that has made him run but must soon face head on. Howard stars as a small time conman with connections but in his older age, he represents the road Tatum could be headed. He takes him under his wing, primarily for the potential of making plenty of dough but soon realizes that a life without dignity isn't worth much. For example, to Howard, throwing a fight seems like smart business-making but for Tatum it means letting go of your most fundamental values as a person.
I enjoyed the movie for what it was worth although I could clearly see the potential for a deeper, more soulful searching between the characters.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Vino DeViNo
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This director Dito Montiel really is great at what he does.... I highly recommend it. U must have it on your collection. And also a "Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By CES, NO, LA
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This guy is soooo all american that you can't help but love him. Loved all of his movies. Can't wait for the next one.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This movie sucked badly. Channing's character came off as being kind of slow. His speech was really slow as if even before he even started fighting, he took one to many blows to the head. And he couldn't even fight. He only won his first fight by knocking a guys head into some kind of fountain. He couldn't even beat that big guy. Oh and don't get me started on the fight against the chinese guy; three time world champion Cung Le. Even without me knowing who Cung Le was I could see that Channing's character was no match for him. The only good scenes in this movie was when he fought Evan in the end and when they won all that money. Now that was a real fight.
So glad I waited until this came on cable, because had I'd went to see this at the movies I would have been pissed off. This movie is not even worthy of Channing or Terrance Howard. I can't believe someone actually made this movie as a supposed action movie and then named it "Fighting", it should have been called "Dreaming". Because the character in this movie must have been dreaming if he thought he was a good fighter.
So glad I waited until this came on cable, because had I'd went to see this at the movies I would have been pissed off. This movie is not even worthy of Channing or Terrance Howard. I can't believe someone actually made this movie as a supposed action movie and then named it "Fighting", it should have been called "Dreaming". Because the character in this movie must have been dreaming if he thought he was a good fighter.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I do
Love this movie. It's freakin badass. All of it including Channing Tatum. He is freakin pretty ripped in this movie and beats ass.
Published 5 days ago by Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars
fighting
cool real time street fighting movie that you can chill-out too . I have being looking for this movie about 3 years now. thank you gals and guys so much at amazon.
Published 8 days ago by nelson j pavon
2.0 out of 5 stars
Acting not required
The plot moves slowly due to the fact that there is little acting. What acting there is, is weak. With the exception of Terence Howard's portrayal as a hard-luck loser, the... Read more
Published 20 days ago by LilP
2.0 out of 5 stars
so-so
would give 2.5 stars if I could. story blows, fight scenes are mediocre at best. pretty much getting what you pay for here. full of the usual "fighter" movie cliches
Published 23 days ago by Brandon
5.0 out of 5 stars
great for the right audience
I love Dito Montiel, and have begun to really notice Channing Tatum. This is not quite "On the Waterfront" but it's a powerful and surprising "thinking" movie. Read more
Published 1 month ago by MonkGroupie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fighting DVD with Channing Tatum
I really liked this movie. It had a good story to it. It was enjoyable to see a lot of Channing Tatum in it. It had a surprise ending. I will watch this movie again.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Rose Kennedy
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
We are very satisfied due to getting it in a reasonable fast time!!!! Disk and disk cover in good shape!!!!
Published 2 months ago by Megan Rawlinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ok movie
Always a fan of Channing Tatum, I have not opened it yet but already seen some part of the movie. Just wanted to collect more action movies as well.
Published 2 months ago by mary jane smith
3.0 out of 5 stars
okay
I thought it was going to be more about fighting than a love story. I should have know consider who's in it. You win some and you lose some, what can I say.
Published 3 months ago by Matt R Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable movie!
Well-developed characters rescue some improbable situations making the whole movie more believable. I enjoyed it and will watch it again!
Published 3 months ago by movie fan
