Customer Reviews

On the Ropes [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i was bored one night and walking past the castro theater in SF and i thought, "what the heck..." and went to see this film. it was amazing. the normally high-brow, semi-snooty film festival crowd was actually shouting at the screen during parts of this film. it's that exciting and emotionally wrenching.

i was so happy that the director was actually in the audience and was willing to take questions. the line was 20 people deep at one point... everyone wanted to know what happens to these people after the film ends.

the best part, though, was when someone asked about the coach, and she said something to the effect of "ask him yourself, he's right there--" when he stood up to go to the mike, the 1500 people in the huge castro theater gave the "star" of this documentary a 5-minute standing ovation.

An absolute must-see

On the Ropes takes you inside boxing....not pro boxing where everyone has money, but young-people's boxing in urban NY, where they fight for their lives and struggle to break out of "their" ring. The film is such a perfect metaphor for life in an urban american city.

What makes this film even more remarkable, is that it's all true. And not one of those washed out 'based on fact' movies. On The Ropes is a feature documentary about real people fighting real battles in and out of the boxing ring, and its production style is gritty, entangled and subsequently perfect, for the metaphor continues...the lives of the people it documents is gritty and entangled and complex.

I highly recommend this film for viewing. If you're a boxing fan, you HAVE to see it, and if you are interested in real life drama, you have to see it.

This is a great DVD that captures the lives and stories of 4 people, 3 fighters and a trainer, trying to chase the brass ring in boxing, and life. A wonderfully gripping story that mainly focuses on the life of still active middleweight George Walton. You root big time for the 4 as they struggle to leave the tough Bed-Stuy NY neighborhood they live in. The only complaint here is that the DVD cuts off a nice bit at the end of the originally aired story that follows the reunion of George and his girlfriend, now (real life) wife, after her release from prison. This also deleats the 'where are they now?' updates. Great stuff though!

This superbly crafted narrative documentary entertains as it informs, revealing the struggles of three young boxers and their trainer, all trying to rise above the circumstances of a tough neighborhood, their inner demons and self-doubts, and the pressures to exist and to succeed in the face of their dreams. Remarkably constructed, this documentary plays like a fiction film. The characters, each flawed and heroic, tell a powerful story of the human spirit, for which their sport, boxing, a familiar vehicle for such dramas, stands less as a symbol of our common fight to survive and to overcome and more as a way, a faith. Still, you can find some great boxing footage here, both in the gym and the ring. Watch out for the second round of Noel's Golden Gloves opening match! But that's just it. At the end of this film, these characters are just that: Noel, Harry, etc,: human beings. People you care about, who are fighting that which oppresses them, from within and without. Their stories are amazing and exceptionally well-told. This stands beside Hoop Dreams. Highly recommended.

This film follows the lives of three poor inner-city youths who want to get into prize fighting. It's shown very clearly that their lives outside of the ring are tougher than any boxing match one can imagine. One of the subjects has legal battles to contend with, another is having problems in school and another is having problems with the people who run the fights. Anyone who believes boxing is an easy way out for inner-city blacks and hispanics should watch this film.

On the Ropes follows three talented (but troubled) boxers from Brooklyn as they train for the Golden Gloves.

The film's best story concerns the tension between George and his trainer, Harry. Harry got George started as a boxer. But George, the most-talented of the three fighters, caught the eye of a successful manager. The manager begins moving George away from Harry in order to push him toward the "big time." The viewer feels for Harry, who seems to be a decent person.

The other two boxers are Tyrene and Noel. Tyrene is a young woman who shows promise in the ring. But she must resolve drug charges before she can focus on boxing. Noel is uninteresting; he is inarticulate and shows little talent for boxing.

On the Ropes leaves the viewer dissatisfied. The film tells the beginning and middle of each boxer's story, but we never see the end. Still, the film is worth a look.

If you are a fan of the sweet science of boxing ,this video delivers a one two punch of reality, by dealing with the ups and downs of this sport. To triumphantly overcomming personal adverisity. No this video is not scripted which makes it a knockout for any boxing fan, don't be counted out on this one i'ts a must see

after reviewing On The Ropes this video left this student of the game . wanting more. To go beyond the glitz and glamor of winning titles and making millions. to the dark side of the sport.This video delivers a one two punch of realism that can only be hailed as a true reminder that nothing good comes easy, and only the strong surive .Truly this video is championship material.And a Knockout !!!

this is the best boxing documentry since when we where kings this is high up there as one of the best boxing movies ever.

This film really inspired me when I saw it. My hobbie is an actor and lets face it I complain alot about things that revolve around it. When I see what these kids did and will do for their hobbie. I feel vain and ashamed.

"On The Ropes" follows a coach and three boxers to fighting in the golden glove tournament. Along the way they face the reality of their enviorment( The Bronx), their own identities and events around them they can't control. This documentry has the power of such sports documentries as "Hoop Dreams" and "When We Were Kings" but sadly doesn't have such a glorious ending.

One of the best documentries to come out in awhile. Watch this film and be lucky on the fact that you can do the things you want without outside troubles.