Make sure you go and see 'The Fighter'

1southpaw · Post by **1southpaw** » 26 Jan 2011, 06:24

Carlos-Wigan wrote:
boxingchat wrote: course he was, everyone in prison is innocent aren't they?
Terry Marsh certainly was!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i know otherwise ???

Srebmun · Post by **Srebmun** » 26 Jan 2011, 07:40

Whilst....er.... backing up the internet (should it go down) last night I... er.... realised The Fighter is part of the backup so am gonna watch it tonight.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 26 Jan 2011, 09:14

My wife has agreed to watch it with me but on the condition that I don't comment about any inaccuracies. I think I went overboard on Cinderella Man. It will be tough

reggaereggae · Post by **reggaereggae** » 30 Jan 2011, 16:31

I didn't think it was that great. The whole film had a feel of a made-for-TV movie. Not sure Christian Bale is such a great actor; I just think he's good at losing and putting on weight.

It was OK. Nothing more really.

The TV documentary about Eklund and other crackheads is better:

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/hi ... _in_lowell

Final round · Post by **Final round** » 30 Jan 2011, 16:37

reggaereggae wrote:I didn't think it was that great. The whole film had a feel of a made-for-TV movie. Not sure Christian Bale is such a great actor; I just think he's good at losing and putting on weight.

It was OK. Nothing more really.

The TV documentary about Eklund and other crackheads is better:

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/hi ... _in_lowell

Wow,

thanks for the link

Deno1986 · Post by **Deno1986** » 30 Jan 2011, 19:28

Carlos-Wigan wrote:Watched it on a Chinese torrent three weeks ago, it might be an accurate reflection but isn't Christian Bale's Dicky Ecklund an annoying fornicator! I liked Wahlberg as Mickey Ward though, he was really good.

They left a lot of it out, his first title shot against Cool Vince Phillips and his fight vs Judah but I suppose they only have so much time to make a film - 4/5 - very good. This is the torrent site if you fancy downloading it.

http://www.funshion.com

Dicky Ecklund IS an annoying fornicator from what I have seen and read about the man. Bit disapointed that the film didn't include the Augustus and Gatti fight's. I thought the Phillips fight would have got some sort of a slot in the production. The mother was a nasty piece of work.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 30 Jan 2011, 21:21

Maybe a sequel is being planned with the Gatti trilogy the main storyline. Those fights are worth a movie in itself!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAM7bqTsQOY - still one of the great all-time dust-ups.

gmanji · Post by **gmanji** » 31 Jan 2011, 04:33

I just bought it pirate for 3manat out in baku before going offshore.... Thought it would be shit so not even watched it yet but ill look forward to watching it tonight. Nice one Jeff ;)

Jeff Thomas · Post by **Jeff Thomas** » 31 Jan 2011, 11:33

No probs happy to recommend

winkveron · Post by **winkveron** » 31 Jan 2011, 11:59

A sequel including the Gatti fights would be difficult, if not impossible. How could they replicate those fights on screen?

Scottrf · Post by **Scottrf** » 01 Feb 2011, 05:59

winkveron wrote:A sequel including the Gatti fights would be difficult, if not impossible. How could they replicate those fights on screen?

Get two drunks to fight over the last kebab.

jtourettes · Post by **jtourettes** » 01 Feb 2011, 12:25

Hopefully seeing this tomorrow, much in it for the missus to like? It's this or Black swan and I would rather watch this.

It'll be nice to see a film that Bale actually has to express emotion in rather than playing some wooden automaton (not a great stretch from playing himself by all accounts).

hurlock · Post by **hurlock** » 01 Feb 2011, 12:47

there is rave reviews on this film. but all films get this these day's. i dont think you'll ever get anything as roar & well directed as raging bull. wether deniro was like lamotta or not he was great.

Final round · Post by **Final round** » 01 Feb 2011, 14:29

hurlock wrote:there is rave reviews on this film. but all films get this these day's. i dont think you'll ever get anything as roar & well directed as raging bull. wether deniro was like lamotta or not he was great.

Nope it's nowhere near as good but still very well made and without lashings of cheese.

T.M.K · Post by **T.M.K** » 01 Feb 2011, 21:02

1) It was strange how they re-jigged his career to fit in with the whole "Eklund is out, now he doesn't lose anymore" theory... they didn't need to do that - but then again it's a bit more Hollywood to have it simpler.

2) Why make-up fake opponents? Just use real ones!

3) Why not get his ring record correct, it wouldn't have detracted from the story at all

4) Saying Welterweight instead of LIGHT-Welterweight was just baffling....

Still thought it was good, and agree with the above that Bale stole the show!

Colin "T.M.K" Harris

freddydoesdallas · Post by **freddydoesdallas** » 03 Feb 2011, 06:04

Went to see it last night and thought it was pretty good. A few things made me laugh (the British fight fans waving the little British flags that you see about when the Queen is walking around) but for a Hollywood gloss over, it wasn't bad at all. They didn't take too many liberties.

Scottrf · Post by **Scottrf** » 03 Feb 2011, 06:18

Was funny in parts (was the Britishness of the final fight a parody of how Brits are portrayed in American programmes or serious?), overall I didn't like it. Not too sure why, didn't really interest me for large parts and didn't find the family story interesting, just annoyed by most of the characters. Some good performances but not a great film.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 03 Feb 2011, 14:04

I think the secret is is to take it all with a pinch of salt really. We all know how Hollywood normally embelishes things a bit in order to make it a more functional film for the fans. We know the mistakes made in it, but let's be grateful that now everyone will know how tough Mickey Ward is, and the pleasure he gave in his performances in the ring. People will also be reminded just how hard this sport of ours is, and that for many a fighter such dreams are unrealised. For those who make it to the top, it's often a road littered with major highs and major lows. Even those with an Olympic gold medal, a huge signing-on fee and a comfortable ride to the top will still have to get out there, run in the mornings, eat a strict diet etc etc. and be denied a life the rest of us have. I think the film tells that story, albeit a story about one of boxing's unsung heroes who had his highs and lows and finally made his name with not only the Gatti trilogy but also this film about him.

reggaereggae · Post by **reggaereggae** » 03 Feb 2011, 18:24

Scottrf wrote:Was funny in parts (was the Britishness of the final fight a parody of how Brits are portrayed in American programmes or serious?), overall I didn't like it. Not too sure why, didn't really interest me for large parts and didn't find the family story interesting, just annoyed by most of the characters. Some good performances but not a great film.

I agree, I didn't think there was anything that good about it. The 'Irish'-accented Shea Neary was a bit odd.

Though good luck with Yanks understanding a Scouse.

I did watch the Neary-Ward fight again; which was a great fight. Ward's body shots made the difference, I forgot how Neary made Ward's legs dance like that.

I think Ward's Gatti fights have overshadowed the excitement of this one.

Andypittcov · Post by **Andypittcov** » 04 Feb 2011, 13:41

Just watched it at the cinema,good film enjoyed it but for anyone still yet to see It don't go in expecting a masterpiece it's just a good movie,they've made a good job of telling wards story,bale's good like everyones said but not phenomanal,the neary fight was surprisingly realistic.

3.5/5

freddydoesdallas · Post by **freddydoesdallas** » 05 Feb 2011, 06:27

Is there any official outlets to buy the gatti ward trilogy? after the film, i was explaining them to the missus and now she wants to watch them.

TempleSlave · Post by **TempleSlave** » 05 Feb 2011, 06:36

Saw it yesterday and I think it was really good. Inaccuracies aside (remember guys it's not a movie just for hardcore boxing fans...), Wahlberg was cast perfectly, Bale's performance masterful and fight scenes were very decent. Also I've read the interview with Mickey Ward who seemed very pleased with the movie.

8/10

winkveron · Post by **winkveron** » 05 Feb 2011, 06:40

I enjoyed it but thought it was too polished and Hollywood. Would've been better in my opinion if it was more gritty, a la The Wrestler. We didn't really get to know Micky well enough I didn't think, seeing as though it seemed to be more about Bale and his mother/sisters. A few more introspective moments of Wahlberg might have been better.

One question, his trainer O'Keefe....When Ward got his hand broke by the police why didn't O'Keefe bat an eyelid, seeing as though they were his colleagues in the Lowell PD that did it?

TempleSlave · Post by **TempleSlave** » 05 Feb 2011, 06:46

MightyWarrior wrote: They ran out of money, and had to cut half of the proposed story out of the picture,

I don't think this is the case. It's said to be shot in just 33 days but with $25M behind it you wouldn't call it low budget project, would you? Also, with such cast and storyline I think it was obvious the movie would be a success so the reason for cutting the story short was probably to just make it more concise and better suited for cinema.
This is simply how screenplays are being made...

TempleSlave · Post by **TempleSlave** » 05 Feb 2011, 06:59

winkveron wrote:I enjoyed it but thought it was too polished and Hollywood. Would've been better in my opinion if it was more gritty, a la The Wrestler.

'The Wrestler' was Aronofsky's film and the guy likes dark stories ;;-)
The fighter is brighter, and more optimistic as that's how the real story of Mickey Ward happened. It's about situation that had a potential to turn really bad (with all the family mess, drugs etc.) but didn't. I think the movie says that you can conquer obstacles if you're tough and have a big heart.
It's a real-life, good story. I liked it.

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