Drewlius
05-12-2008, 10:25 PM
Article I Wrote For: MMAMadness.com (http://www.mmamadness.com)
Entering a desolate theater on Sunday, I found myself in a predicament. Either I was the only one who had the audacity to see an MMA a movie on Mother's Day or I was the only one who was dumb enough to do so. Within 30 minutes, I quickly learned that "dumb" is a dish best served cold. "Redbelt" is an action-drama from director David Mamet. While it features above-average acting, it will surely fall short for any MMA enthusiast.
Fight sequences are very few and far between. Other than an early scene in which our protagonist, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), instructs his students, the only "MMA" comes at the end of the movie. The film basically focuses on Chiwetel's character and the personal struggles he endures. Terry states rather early in the movie that he is opposed to fighting, and competition as he believes it "makes the fighter weaker." Without money from competitions, Terry has to settle with making ends meat from his teaching, and it simply won't cut it with his Brazilian beauty of a wife in Sondra (Alice Braga).
Terry seemingly catches a break when he saves movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen) in a bar fight. Allen's pompous character then befriends Terry and offers him to come on as a producer for his upcoming film. Without spoiling too much of the movie, let's just say scam turns into betrayal, betrayal turns into double cross, and eventually Terry is in a terrible position in which he needs money, and quickly. Terry is thus forced to go against his morals, and compete in an "MMA" tournament in which the winner will receive $50,000.
The tournament comes off rather cheesy and, for any real MMA fan, the rules are an immediate turn off, quickly turning the movie into a joke. The rules are rather simple, three marbles are put in a bowl, one white, and two black. Both fighters will then have to pick a marble out of the bowl (held for maximum drama by a masked man). If he draws white, he gets a "pass." If it's black, he gets a the rather ridiculous "handicap" -- which includes anything from having one arm tied behind your back to fighting blindfolded.
All that can be said about the tournament, is that it doesn't really happen. Only one fight is shown -- mainly in highlight form -- and it is lacking in terms of practicality. While other fights are taking place, Terry seemingly figures out the entire tournament is fixed. Hilarity ensues as Terry realizes the masked man who shuffles the marbles is a magician who he encountered earlier in the film. It's easily one of the biggest failures of the movie and will do nothing for an MMA fan but give them a laugh.
Terry then decides he will not be competing in a fixed tournament, decides to put an end to the charade and -- in a homage to Terminator fans around the world -- goes on a tear through staff, fighters, and police on his way to the ring to proclaim it's all one big hoax. He almost makes it there before encountering Brazilian champion, and Brother-in-law, Augusto Silva (John Machado) who was billed to fight in the main event against Taketa Morisaki ( Enson Inoue ). The two square off in what is the climax and final fight of the movie, in the aisle way outside of the entrance. It's nowhere near an epic fight sequence nor is it close to resembling any great MMA fight in history.
Contrary to what was expected from the type of BJJ consultants "Redbelt" had on staff, including John Machado, and Renato Magno, the fight sequences proved poor and unrealistic. The only bright spot was the early training session shown near the beginning of the film. The one tournament fight shown is laughable, as it showcases a one-armed classical MMA fighter consistently sweeping a BJJ specialist. The fight scenes are slow and look like glorified sparring sessions with punches and kicks. Throughout the course of the few fight sequences you'll see, there will be constant sweeps, submissions relinquished for no apparent reason, and absurd fighting mannerisms.
There are quite a few MMA fighters with roles throughout the movie - including Inoue as a Japanese champion with a brief speaking role about Yamato-damashii, and Randy Couture in a decent-sized role as an announcer that includes a potshot line on boxing, claiming it's "deader than Woodrow Wilson." There are also smaller cameos from Frank Trigg, Mike Goldberg, Ray Mancini, Jean Jacques Machado and more.
"Redbelt" is a decent movie, and the acting is better than what we've grown to expect from movies in its genre. Ejiofor was one of the only bright spots in the entire movie, as it would have been almost unwatchable with a lesser actor. It might be worth the money to see, as it's really not as bad of a movie as it is a representation of the MMA world. While the various twists and surprises are enough to keep you happy, don't go see this expecting to get a "Bloodsport"-type tournament… because you won't.
Entering a desolate theater on Sunday, I found myself in a predicament. Either I was the only one who had the audacity to see an MMA a movie on Mother's Day or I was the only one who was dumb enough to do so. Within 30 minutes, I quickly learned that "dumb" is a dish best served cold. "Redbelt" is an action-drama from director David Mamet. While it features above-average acting, it will surely fall short for any MMA enthusiast.
Fight sequences are very few and far between. Other than an early scene in which our protagonist, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), instructs his students, the only "MMA" comes at the end of the movie. The film basically focuses on Chiwetel's character and the personal struggles he endures. Terry states rather early in the movie that he is opposed to fighting, and competition as he believes it "makes the fighter weaker." Without money from competitions, Terry has to settle with making ends meat from his teaching, and it simply won't cut it with his Brazilian beauty of a wife in Sondra (Alice Braga).
Terry seemingly catches a break when he saves movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen) in a bar fight. Allen's pompous character then befriends Terry and offers him to come on as a producer for his upcoming film. Without spoiling too much of the movie, let's just say scam turns into betrayal, betrayal turns into double cross, and eventually Terry is in a terrible position in which he needs money, and quickly. Terry is thus forced to go against his morals, and compete in an "MMA" tournament in which the winner will receive $50,000.
The tournament comes off rather cheesy and, for any real MMA fan, the rules are an immediate turn off, quickly turning the movie into a joke. The rules are rather simple, three marbles are put in a bowl, one white, and two black. Both fighters will then have to pick a marble out of the bowl (held for maximum drama by a masked man). If he draws white, he gets a "pass." If it's black, he gets a the rather ridiculous "handicap" -- which includes anything from having one arm tied behind your back to fighting blindfolded.
All that can be said about the tournament, is that it doesn't really happen. Only one fight is shown -- mainly in highlight form -- and it is lacking in terms of practicality. While other fights are taking place, Terry seemingly figures out the entire tournament is fixed. Hilarity ensues as Terry realizes the masked man who shuffles the marbles is a magician who he encountered earlier in the film. It's easily one of the biggest failures of the movie and will do nothing for an MMA fan but give them a laugh.
Terry then decides he will not be competing in a fixed tournament, decides to put an end to the charade and -- in a homage to Terminator fans around the world -- goes on a tear through staff, fighters, and police on his way to the ring to proclaim it's all one big hoax. He almost makes it there before encountering Brazilian champion, and Brother-in-law, Augusto Silva (John Machado) who was billed to fight in the main event against Taketa Morisaki ( Enson Inoue ). The two square off in what is the climax and final fight of the movie, in the aisle way outside of the entrance. It's nowhere near an epic fight sequence nor is it close to resembling any great MMA fight in history.
Contrary to what was expected from the type of BJJ consultants "Redbelt" had on staff, including John Machado, and Renato Magno, the fight sequences proved poor and unrealistic. The only bright spot was the early training session shown near the beginning of the film. The one tournament fight shown is laughable, as it showcases a one-armed classical MMA fighter consistently sweeping a BJJ specialist. The fight scenes are slow and look like glorified sparring sessions with punches and kicks. Throughout the course of the few fight sequences you'll see, there will be constant sweeps, submissions relinquished for no apparent reason, and absurd fighting mannerisms.
There are quite a few MMA fighters with roles throughout the movie - including Inoue as a Japanese champion with a brief speaking role about Yamato-damashii, and Randy Couture in a decent-sized role as an announcer that includes a potshot line on boxing, claiming it's "deader than Woodrow Wilson." There are also smaller cameos from Frank Trigg, Mike Goldberg, Ray Mancini, Jean Jacques Machado and more.
"Redbelt" is a decent movie, and the acting is better than what we've grown to expect from movies in its genre. Ejiofor was one of the only bright spots in the entire movie, as it would have been almost unwatchable with a lesser actor. It might be worth the money to see, as it's really not as bad of a movie as it is a representation of the MMA world. While the various twists and surprises are enough to keep you happy, don't go see this expecting to get a "Bloodsport"-type tournament… because you won't.