Customer Reviews

Greatest [VHS]

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

 

 

Muhammed Ali, acting, and 1977 might all have added up to a recipe for disaster, but the overall result is rather entertaining. I saw this movie on the late show and ended up watching the whole thing. Movie traces Alis career from his Olympic victory to the George Foreman fight in Zaire. Unlike some of the media reviews above, I thought Ali made a fine actor, mostly because he was playing his larger-than-life self. Some scenes had the feel of a documentery, as Ali's quips fly a mile a minute. Ali deserves credit for portraying some of his flaws as well. Not suprisingly, the boxing scenes consist of actual footage. A not-too-shabby supporting cast includes Robert Duvall, James Earle Johnes and Ernest Borgnine. Paul Winfield and John Amos also have brief roles. Overall, it's a good capsule of Ali's razor-sharp wit and charisma that unfortunately has been silenced by Parkinsons disease.....

After listening to the audio book Sound & Fury from Blackstone Audio, this bio pix of Ali is a wonderful self promotion.

This 1977 movie had a great cast of actors. Such names as James Earl Jones as Malcolm X, Lloyd Haynes as Herbert Mohamad, Ernest Borgnine as Dundee, John Marley as Ferdy, Roger Mosby as Sonny Liston in minor roles. There are also cameos from Robert Duval, Paul Winfield, Ben Johnson, and David Huddleston. All this creative talent playing against Ali. Ali isnt acting, he is being himself...but himself works.

They skip over his religious beliefs in this film to focus on his career.

Lets be honest, the film isnt a great film..its music is wonderful. The film is minor in scope and its major starred cast.

This movie is for real boxing fans who love films like Rocky, The champ and Digsstown, this is great to add to the DVD film library

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

To sum it up, "The Greatest" is not a very well made movie. There are a few very taltented actors in it, but overall the movie lacks that certain special somthing that a movie needs to be good. Most of the scenes are dull, long and drawn out. And i don't believe that Muhammad Ali was the perfect choice to play Muhammad Ali, he really is not a good actor. But I did enjoy the movie, because I am a huge Muhammad Ali Fan. Many that ive heard have tried to compare this movie and the recently released "Ali" on DVD. But you can't really compare the two movies. "The Greatest", even though it's not a very good movie, its does portray what happened in Muhammad Ali's life very well. But the movie "Ali" does not portray his life, It just portray's Muhammad Ali himself, not his life. So I would say that this movie is a must for those who want to know more about Ali. Then after wards, rent or buy "Ali" to understand Ali's mind. when you do that, you'll have a great understanding of what kind of person, what kind of things he had to go through, and a much higher respect for "The Greatest."

Excellent fight footage and the always controversial Bert Sugar lead to a enjoyable 60 minutes of action. Bill Cayton and Bert Sugar go head to head to try to decide who is the best Pound for Pound. Since Big Fights Inc. has the largest collection of fight films the is no shortage of great fighters and fight action. A must have for the serious fight fan and enough fight action for the viewer to form their own opinion on who was the best pound for pound.

The Greatest is the story about Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time (based on a novel of the same name). Who else could play the champ better than the man himself. Ali does a good job carrying the film but he seems to be weighed down a clunky script and pedestrian directing. I would recommend this film if you enjoy bio-pics or a fan of Ali. James Earl Jones guest stars as Malcolm X, Drew "Bundini" Brown, Howard Bingham and Ali's brother portray themselves.

Highly recommended.

I found 'The Greatest' to be a more enjoyable film than Ali (2001) starring Will Smith. No one can play the champ better than the man himself and I found him to be a breath of fresh air in this well made picture. It is not high budget and does not have a strong storyline apart from the fact it is a biographical picture but Muhammad Alis' acting and dialogue is a must watch for anybody with an interest in the phenomenon that was and is Muhammad Ali.

I have really enjoyed this movie. It might only appeal to hardcore Ali fans but something about the man just tickles my funny bone. The music is hilarious as is the greatest himself. Great fight action and a pretty good story about his life. It is also rather inspirational.

The day after I paid to see the film ALI, starring Will Smith, THE GREATEST, starring Muhammad Ali (playing himself), showed up on cable television. I had high hopes for ALI and low expectations for THE GREATEST.

The better picture? THE GREATEST. That's not saying much (if you saw ALI), but if nothing else THE GREATEST is worth a look for Muhammad Ali's charming performance. THE GREATEST offers several compelling scenes, even if they don't add up to a coherent film, all anchored by the ever-watchable Ali.

As the 5/30/00 review points out, Muhammad Ali doesn't sanitize himself in THE GREATEST. However, the movie's 1960s documentary fight footage followed by Ali, age 36, playing himself at age 22, breaks your concentration. Thankfully, talented actors, including Ernest Borgnine, James Earl Jones and Robert Duvall, help Ali pull it together. See THE GREATEST.

I think that the actor that portrayed Muhammad Ali as an adolescent, in The Greatest, did a fantastic job. Whatever happened to him? I think his name was Chip McAllister

Expecting to see a documentary of the great man I was rather surprised when I realised this is in fact a film starring Ali himself detailing what he sees as the key points in his life.

As the three stars indicates this film is a mixed bag. Ali does a solid job of portraying himself and the ever brilliant Ernest Borgnine does a good job as Angelo Dundee. The storyline is somewhat disjointed and seeing an old Ali replaying his youthful antics is only a limited success.

There are points in the film where Ali is acting like a prize ..., whether he intentional meant to show this or whether he still didn't realise considering it was still only 1977 when this was made I am not sure.

Like the life of Muhammad Ali himself there are some areas of the film which age very well whilst others already seem rather embarressing and will only get worse as time goes on.

Ali's risking prison by refusing to be inducted into the military is a great example of a principled stand, something that will never be diminished.

However the three stages of Ali's interest in women is an example of the rather dated attitudes of the day. First we have Ali with the white hooker, thankfully saved ...by the calling of Malcolm X. The not so subtle message of this encounter equating white women as basically [easy] who are there to tempt the black man from the righteous path is racist nonsense. Ali is then saved by the perverted ideology of the Nation of Islam as spoken by Malcolm X (bizzarely played by James Earl Jones) and their "blue eyed devil" hate filled speaches. Next he moves to a transitional stage where he is with a black woman who is swiftly got rid of once she dares to dress provocatively and heaven forbid is willing to talk, even flirt with the devil white man. Finally Ali gets the perfect girl, your classic submissive and virginal young black muslim girl who needs her parents permission to go on a date.

The scenes where Ali encounters racism is no more or less convincing than the usual Hollywood stuff. Ali looks all noble whilst some small time actor is paid to stand there and call him "boy" and generally give him grief.

All in all this is probably only going to be enjoyed by the Ali fan. As someone who is a huge fan of the man despite recognising his many shortcomings I found it interesting. Someone with a limited knowledge would perhaps be better off with the modern day Wil Smith epic.

ps. I noticed they didnt include Ali getting pole-axed by 'enrys Hammer (Henry Cooper) in London. Where only the quick thinking of Angelo Dundee ripping Ali's glove and thus stopping the fight for five minutes and allowing Ali to recover prevented him from losing. ;)