A fairly decent fighting film (Fighting (DVD))

Member Name: yahoo2003

Product:	Fighting (DVD)
Date:	15/10/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A few good fights, a couple of sub-plots

Disadvantages: Lots of mumbling, not one of my absolute fav films

I thought this was a fairly good film but not fantastic or particularly memorable. However, I'm starting to get the feeling that it would be one of those films that I would enjoy more the second time I watched it, and having thought more about it since I watched it last night I'm already starting to appreciate it a bit more. It's a pretty understated film with no glitz or glamour in it and there isn't that blockbuster feel about it, which means that it doesn't really grab you straight away like some films do which have fantastic special effects or build-up, but I think it deserves respect in its own right.

***** Storyline *****

Channing Tatum plays Shawn MacArthur, the main character. Channing is known for his leading role in Step Up, where he is also very easy on the eye! His character, Shawn, is a lad struggling to make ends meet and make a living. In an attempt to make money he tries selling goods on the street but this gets him into trouble with other street vendors who are territorial about their patch, and he ends up in a brawl. A man who noticed him fighting and holding his own sees potential in him as a fighter for the illegal fights that he helps organise, and Shawn is tempted by this as a way to start making some money in life and to finally get the break he has been looking for. The film shows him getting into this world of fighting and coming across a couple of arch enemies from his past along the way. Of course like every other film there is a romantic element to the film, but I will not be telling you the ending!

***** Fight Scenes *****

There were a few pretty decent fight scenes in the film. Because it is illegal fighting, the scenes are quite 'raw' so no gloves are used and there isn't a ring or anything in any way official going on, and definitely no rules! This, I think, probably makes it a bit more exciting, although I probably would have liked to see a few more fight scenes than there were. As mentioned before, it's not a blockbuster / glitzy film so this also means that it's a 'little' more realistic with the fight scenes which I like. There is one fight in particular which is very impressive, dramatic and exciting and you see a lot of punches, wrestling, foul play and blood!

***** Sub Plots *****

At first I found myself just thinking of it as a pretty average fighting film but there are a couple of messages behind the fighting which make it a bit more meaningful and give it a bit more depth. Success, honour, family, and respect are themes which run through the film and motivate the characters' actions. None of the characters have had an easy life and are struggling to find themselves in life and make their life successful in their own way.

***** Characters *****

I have already mentioned Shawn, played by Channing Tatum. He is a very quiet character who sometimes seems like he doesn't have a lot to him, but you do also get the impression that this is partly to do with his past and everything that has gone on in his life. You do get the impression that he is quite a basic person who would just like a comfortable life, but it just hasn't happened for him like that. I must admit I did sometimes find him a little boring and would have probably liked to get a bit more of an insight into his character.

Terrence Howard plays Harvey, Shawn's manager for the fights. At first he really got on my nerves as I found his accent quite whingey and strange but I got a bit more used to it by the end of the film. He is a very quiet man who likes to keep himself to himself and despite playing a more lively character to get Shawn's attention in the first place, he is actually pretty reserved. Every now and again, however, he does lose his temper and lash out, when he is treated with what he feels is disrespect or when he feels like people are trying to mess things up for him. He seems to have a lot of barriers up and he uses his temper as his way of defence.

Zulay Henao plays Zulay (yes same name). She is stunning and works as a waitress / barmaid in a club, struggling to pay her rent and support her family. She meets Shawn when he is selling dodgy Harry Potter books on the street and he starts to fall for her. There are also a couple of other twists with Zulay which I will not give away! Her main motivation seems to be supporting her family, but perhaps it's time that she did a couple of things for herself.

***** Overall *****

I thought this film was pretty good but not one of my favourites. It was entertaining and quite interesting but it didn't particularly stand out as an amazing or memorable film. It did also really annoy me that the characters seemed to mumble and I couldn't always hear what they were saying - I think that was an accent thing and it reminded me a bit of the way the characters talked in 8 Mile. I think they also wanted to keep a bit of realism and not make every single conversation dramatic or meaningful like blockbusters tend to do - they also wanted to represent a bit more about real life.
It lasted about an hour and a half and is out to rent now.

Summary: A pretty good fighting film but nothing hugely special