The Fighter

[Hector]

Saw it today...GREAT movie!





I was going to check out TRON...but I saw The Fighter being shown there as well...so me being a huge boxing fan...opted for the Fighter instead...and glad I did...what a terrific movie.

Based on real life boxer Micky Ward (best known for his triple epic battles with the late Arturo Gatti)...Mark Walhberg (who is in awesome shape) gives a solid performance as tough Micky Ward...the fight scenes themselves are gritty and realistic, much more so than Rocky or Raging Bull.

But the one who really steals the show is Christian Bale (looking really gaunt) as Micky Ward's brother...a role for the ages...he will be nominated for an Oscar...and he will win...the dude is one of the greatest working actors today.

You don't have to be a boxing fan to enjoy this film...this is for anybody who likes good movies with solid acting performances.

Hector says...go check it out...

[Hector]

The real Micky Ward...




...and here's Walhberg and Ward together...

[Hector]

Ward's fights with Arturo Gatti were even more brutal than the film...check out round 9 of their first fight...one of the most brutal rounds ever...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71tRlcy5Nbo

[Goblin19]

Yep, this is tops on my list at this time.

[saildog]

Ward's fights with Arturo Gatti were even more brutal than the film...check out round 9 of their first fight...one of the most brutal rounds ever...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71tRlcy5Nbo

Good Lord...that was hard to watch, but I couldn't quit watching.

I think I want to watch it again in the morning and count just how many punches were landed.

[Hector]

Good Lord...that was hard to watch, but I couldn't quit watching.

I think I want to watch it again in the morning and count just how many punches were landed.

Yes...brutal round...and all three of their fights were almost like that...amazing stuff from two tough warriors...Micky Ward and the late Arturo Gatti.

Highlights from their THIRD fight (the one I showed before was their first fight)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFKwv...eature=related

[Zemo]

Great fights and tough guys for sure.

[Mr.Krusher]

Wait...didnt they already remake Rocky like FIVE times?!?

There is another one coming as well...this one appears to be a rip-off of that Twilight Zone episode, and has that tool from those X-Men movies starring in it..

As per usual, HollyWood is a sad well that has been tapped DRY, thats not to say that none of these films are any GOOD, but damn - Look at those "inspirational sports films"...my god, there must have been TWENTY with the EXACT same format in the past ten years alone - Will the madness ever END?!?

As far as this genre, it begins with "Raging Bull" and ENDS with the Rourke film "The Wrestler" - all you need to know kiddies.

[Hector]

Great fights and tough guys for sure.

Indeed.

[Brown Bear]

Of all the great boxers, Mickey Ward gets a movie?! Gimme a break!

Where's Holyfield's movie? Or Frazier? or Duran?

[Hector]

Of all the great boxers, Mickey Ward gets a movie?! Gimme a break!

Where's Holyfield's movie? Or Frazier? or Duran?

Mikey Ward might not have been a great fighter like the ones you mentioned...as a matter of fact...he was rather a solid journeyman who made good later in his career...especially with his his three fight with Arturo Gatti...while not exactly Graciano vs Zale...they were action-packed fights with lots of drama...and whether you think they sucked or not...their hearts and determination cannot be denied.

What makes this a good story is the relationship between Mickey and his older brother...Dick "Dicky" Eklund...who himself was a journeyman during the late 70s and early 80s...Dick's most notable fight was against Sugar Ray Leonard...and managed to go the distance against him.

Dick "Dicky" Eklund gave up boxing in the mid 80s due to a crack cocaine addiction...which was documented by HBO for 18 months.

After many bouts with the law, he was given a decade long prison sentence...during that time...most of his friends have died of overdoses.

The one who eventually saved his life was his brother...Mickey Ward...you steered him towards the right path (although Dicky is still in trouble with the law).

The Fighter is actually more about Dick "Dicky" Eklund than Mickey Ward...it's a great human interest story...boxing is the secondary story here.

Believe me...I've been following boxing for almost 40 years...and the fact that Mickey Ward was a B-level fighter at best (or even C+)...doesn't bother me in the least.

To make a great "boxing" film...the protagonist does not necessarily have to be a boxing legend...just a good story with great acting...and this movie delivers.

[Hector]

Where's Holyfield's movie? Or Frazier? or Duran?

Holyfield has absolutely no personality, Frazier would be a boring character...and Duran can't even speak English...

[EMCE Hammer]

Well Hec, the ladies apparently think Holyfield's got *something*.....

I love Mickey Ward. 100%, every time, all heart.

[Hector]

Well Hec, the ladies apparently think Holyfield's got *something*.....

Yeah...that's why he has about 20 illegitimate kids from 20 different women out of wedlock...and is near dead broke now...hey...that would make a great movie actually...

[toysrus]

You beat me to it. I agree again with Hector 100%. And actually just today I went and saw " The Fighter". Awesome movie! Go check it out! Like Hector said, this is not just a boxing movie. And coming from a boxing background this movie was very accurate.

I would like to see a Tyson movie. Not the cheap one made for HBO or whatever it was. But a quality tyson movie.

Mikey Ward might not have been a great fighter like the ones you mentioned...as a matter of fact...he was rather a solid journeyman who made good later in his career...especially with his his three fight with Arturo Gatti...while not exactly Graciano vs Zale...they were action-packed fights with lots of drama...and whether you think they sucked or not...their hearts and determination cannot be denied.

What makes this a good story is the relationship between Mickey and his older brother...Dick "Dicky" Eklund...who himself was a journeyman during the late 70s and early 80s...Dick's most notable fight was against Sugar Ray Leonard...and managed to go the distance against him.

Dick "Dicky" Eklund gave up boxing in the mid 80s due to a crack cocaine addiction...which was documented by HBO for 18 months.

After many bouts with the law, he was given a decade long prison sentence...during that time...most of his friends have died of overdoses.

The one who eventually saved his life was his brother...Mickey Ward...you steered him towards the right path (although Dicky is still in trouble with the law).

The Fighter is actually more about Dick "Dicky" Eklund than Mickey Ward...it's a great human interest story...boxing is the secondary story here.

Believe me...I've been following boxing for almost 40 years...and the fact that Mickey Ward was a B-level fighter at best (or even C+)...doesn't bother me in the least.

To make a great "boxing" film...the protagonist does not necessarily have to be a boxing legend...just a good story with great acting...and this movie delivers.