TOP FIVE FRIDAY WEEK 11(Mar 14) Favorite Fight Films So the idea here was to showcase sport films/fight films that didnt fit into the martial arts genre of last week. Well start off with one of my favorite films that almost made it into the sport section 2 weeks ago ROCKY IV (1985) Ok, this one might have you thinking, huh? But hear me out. The original ROCKY won best picture and is really the true underdog tale being granted a shot at the title out of his league. It wasn’t about winning, but going the distance and proving himself; a fine drama. Now, the best in the series is ROCKY III. He comes full circle in that one as champ, then loses only to regain his eye of the tiger, which is one of the best songs ever to fit a film. So why do I love ROCKY IV? It’s got eye of the tiger, but it’s also got 3 other great songs that play into the film so well. After Apollo dies, you got a killer montage of the previous films mixed with the guilt and fear or losing. Then there’s the best ever training montage towards the end, hell there’s 2 of them. Which mirrors the high-tech training of Drago to Balboa’s back to nature setting. It’s also interesting considering the film was playing on the fear of Russia during the 80s. Regardless this film makes me stand up and cheer. WARRIOR (2011) My generations ROCKY. Its MMA fighting, which has grown into all the rage in the last 10 years. The fighting is top-notch, plus theres a really good story here between the 2 brothers. Tom Hardy does a great job playing his fighter with one goal in mind: win. Straight to business, in-win-out, no time for celebration, bring on the next competitor. Joel Edgerton plays the opposite end of the coin and brother to him. Hes more emotional and fighting to support his family. The fight at the end between the 2 of them is very...its just wow. One of them breaks the others arm, yet he just refuses to give up. Theres so much hate between them, but in the end, they really do care for eachother. THE WARRIORS (1979) One of the best cult classics of all time. This film is the true GANGS OF NEW YORK; New York has hundreds of gangs when theyre all called to a rally to unite in peace to take over New York, a big time leader is killed. The Warriors are blamed; trapped behind enemy lines, they fight to make their way home with every gang in New York out to get them. One of the coolest fights is with the baseball themed gangs. Fighting fists to bats, one of the warriors in his confident tone says, Ill shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a popsicle The film really has the intensity that was popular in the 70s. Highly recommend. Also theres a great video game that acts a prequel/ expands of scenes and moments from the film, as well as sequel, and its from the creators of GTA! FIGHT CLUB (1999) Obviously this is gonna be here. This movie changed peoples life, it did for me. Perspectives and ways of thinking were altered forever. This twist ending, which was well used here, although maybe not always original was surely heavily used afterwards in many films as it seemed to be so shocking for the masses. This film as a great creed about people in general as plays a very real message to Generation Y & Millenials: We got no great wars to define ourselves, how much can you know about yourself if youve never been in fight. Its scary to think of Tyler Durdan as a role model, but thats exactly as how he was invisioned. Yes theres the sequel coming, its time for the world to get another kick in the pants. Fight Club wasnt about winning or losing, there werent no tournaments, it was about working out agression and feeling good. The homework assignment they had? Start a fight with a total stranger and lose. This is a film that requires multiple viewings...in a row! THE WRESTLER (2008) I think theres a point in life where every boy enjoys wrestling a bit: for me it was in the mid 90s with The Rock, Stone Cold, as king of the Ring. Monday Night Raw was the first weekly show I started watching regularly...that and Buffy. Great thing about this film is it plays of the golden age of wrestling from the 80s which, due to my older brothers, Ive been well educated in that era. Mickey Rourke shines in the role. It nearly mirrors his real life, as almost he was born to play this. This film has the themes of making a comeback, playing past your prime, never giving up, you name it. Yeah its more of a drama, but a great one at that, not too many fights, but the final fight after his character has lost it all. He finally just doesnt give a shit anymore. Hes gonna do the one thing, he knows and loves. And when he walks out to the ring for that final time with Sweet Child of Mine playing, you know hes where he belongs, and the speech he gives. Every athlete should here that. For those who know baseball history, it reminds me of Lou Gehrig and his luckiest man speech after he was diagnosed terminally ill. NEXT WEEK Ill do best BIOGRAPHY type films.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:49:49 +0000