Favorite Boxing Movies? [Archive]

Soulrise

12th December 2007, 10:02 PM

Besides the upcoming Valero/Linares double-feature this Saturday all of boxing's events of interest have finally passed for 2007. With nothing else to really look forward to I figured I'd make a list of my favorite boxing movies (narrative films not documentaries, documentaries deserve a category all to themselves). Feel free to add your own.

1. Rocky - Ok the boxing scenes were horrible and unrealistic but the story is timeless.

2. Cinderella Man - Best boxing movie of all time. I only rank it below Rocky because of the sentimental value I have of growing up watching all the Rocky movies.

3. The Hurricane - Denzel should've gotten an Oscar for this. All the more moving considering that it's based on a true story (even though they took extreme liberties in telling the story of Ruben Carter's supporters).

4. Raging Bull - Very compelling and one of my favorite Scorceses flicks. DeNiro really captures the rage and violence that fills LaMotta.

5. On the Waterfront - For those who haven't seen this film it's only marginally about boxing but still a great story.

Global Honored

13th December 2007, 03:21 AM

Well, Brando coulda been a contenda in a great film...but I don't consider it a straight boxing movie, so I am going with Bobby DeNiro as Jake the Bull in Scorsese's epic. Sugar Ray fights in that movie were so brutally genius.

K-1 Extremist

13th December 2007, 04:31 AM

Rocky 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.

RHK

13th December 2007, 06:58 AM

who doesnt love Rocky? i get so amped when i hear the Rocky theme song/music!

The Rocky Marciano movie was pretty good. as well as Cinderella Man

Global Honored

13th December 2007, 11:25 AM

When We Were Kings is probably my absolute favorite. Though it would have to be categorized in the documentary department.

Sozaburo

13th December 2007, 11:59 AM

When We Were Kings is probably my absolute favorite.

When somebody mentions this one it instantly brings back to my mind a scene where Foreman pounds a heavy bag. Every time he hits the bag his fist just sunks in to the bag. Scary.

RHK

14th December 2007, 12:20 AM

When We Were Kings is probably my absolute favorite. Though it would have to be categorized in the documentary department.

i've always heard about this, never got to watch it thought :(

Soulrise

14th December 2007, 12:55 AM

i've always heard about this, never got to watch it thought :(

RENT OR BUY IT TODAY!!!!!!! If I would've included documentaries on the list it would've easily been #1.

aubtin

14th December 2007, 01:09 AM

For me it has to be Raging Bull, it's a beautiful, powerful film. Rocky comes in second place.

FieldingMellish

16th December 2007, 02:10 AM

Somebody Up There Likes Me.

Fat City.

Both are quality films.

I have a hard time watching the Hurricane because of knowing a little of what Carter was really like.

When We Were Kings is a great documentary.

Cinderella Man is a beautifully crafted film but is just too predictable and schmaltzy.

The Rocky series was fantastic - if VERY up and down. Rocky is a superb film. Rocky 2 is decent but cashing in and offers little of interest. Similar with Rocky 3. Rocky 4 actually says a lot but is essentially very preposterous. Though I'll never forget being a small boy and crying my eyes out in the cinema when that BASTARD Ivan Drago killed Apollo. Rocky 5 was an abomination. Rocky Balboa was a great way to end the series.

One thing I like about Stallone is that he understood Rocky never really needed to win, at least not in the first and last film. His seeing it througuh to the final bell was the triumph.

And as much as people rag on the lack of realism in the fights in Rocky, take a look at the so-called realism in Raging Bull. Its a great film but come on, we're not talking the most realistic stuff in the world here.

Brock8

16th December 2007, 06:24 AM

I don't consider Raging Bull a "boxing" movie really but just a fantastic, one-of-a-kind film.

I recently saw the documentary Shadow Boxers, and I thought it was excellent. It follows women boxers, and I recommend it highly. I wish they made more movies on boxing like this.

I can enjoy all the The Rocky movies (except 6) despite their obvious shortcomings just because...well, I guess they hold this childhood mystique--and the training scenes are great.

I did not care for Million Dollar Baby--except a few Morgan Freeman scenes that are classic Morgan Freeman scenes--nor did I like Cinderella Man, because generally all Ron Howard films seems overly contrived and maudlin.

Toffa

16th December 2007, 10:35 AM

Split Decisions
This is a story about 2 brothers, one who got all the support and training from his former boxing father and grandfather and is a top amateur, the other who split from his family to become a professional and ultimately a clubfighter.

The elder (the clubfighter) refuses to take a dive and is murdered by his to-be opponent outside the ring, so the younger throws away his dream of joining the olympics and signs to fight the murderer. He does some Rocky style training and hitches up with his brother's ex girlfriend. After a hard fought battle he KOs the murderer who is then arrested by the Police.

I like this movie because its about boxing, Gene Hackman is convincing as the harsh father and I got it for $3. Its obviously a big cliche but I like to think that as an earlier movie it was not a cliche but the beginning of that sort of story.

Global Honored

16th December 2007, 02:44 PM

Shadow boxers is well made, and features Lucia Rijker and wow....that chick is a "man's man" in the ring!

Did not know Fat City was ever made into a film, the book is excellent though so I will hav eto check it out.

If anyone gets a chance, try to find an old 1963 Twilight Zone Episode called STEEL featuring Lee Marvin. It's the future of boxing! Classic!

Plus the original East Side - West Side war featured in the 43 film KID Dynamite.

And Brad Pitt was terrific in Snatch, which is a stretch...but was based in a fight.

FieldingMellish

16th December 2007, 04:32 PM

Toffa

17th December 2007, 10:14 AM

Given the sheer number of British boxers who had roles in Snatch I'd consider it a boxing movie.

I think I remember seeing Skelton in there but who were some of the others?

Soulrise

17th December 2007, 05:42 PM

I've never heard of Fat City but I'll probably check out the book now. If I like that the movie will be next.

I could've done without Rocky 4 & 5 but I loved Rocky Balboa. I agree with Fielding, the whole motif of "it's how hard ou can get hit and keep moving forward" is what made him the lovable character that he is.

And yes Cinderella Man is cheesy, but it's also based on a true story. What really got to me in the movie though is the principles that Braddock displayed. When he forced his son to return the stolen meat something about that scene struck me. I try to live by a certain set of principles in life but Braddock took that to an extreme. If it was me and my family was starving I would've told my son "Good job son! Can you get any more?" :lol: The way he handled Baer's trash talk at the restaurant was another memorable scene for me.

Global Honored

17th December 2007, 05:52 PM

Baer I believe is the Max in question. Who got a bum deal with evil portayals in Hollywood films, which is a bit ironic to say the least.

Soulrise

17th December 2007, 06:14 PM

Baer I believe is the Max in question. Who got a bum deal with evil portayals in Hollywood films, which is a bit ironic to say the least.

Yikes. You are correct. I corrected it, thanks.

Kenshin

17th December 2007, 08:14 PM

I did not see much so i say the Muhammed Ali Movie with Will Smith.

Long Fist

18th December 2007, 08:35 PM

Rocky and the Raging Bull ...

for the serious movie buffs:does anyone guess or know from what Italian movie is this:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/EdwardCopeland/foreign/rocco.jpg

Lord Gaul

18th December 2007, 10:23 PM

Rocky 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.
Rocky 5 sucked.

As for my favorites I would say Rocky 3, Raging Bull, and Girl Fight are my favorites. I really like Against the Ropes, Vargas, and Price of Glory even though they are less known Movies. Other then that I like the remaining Rocky movies and I too feel that they ended it on a high note with Rocky Balboa. But 5 was horrible to the point were I forget it even existed.

Soulrise

18th December 2007, 11:13 PM

Rocky and the Raging Bull ...

for the serious movie buffs:does anyone guess or know from what Italian movie is this:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/EdwardCopeland/foreign/rocco.jpg

I'm no movie buff, what film is that picture from?

Global Honored

19th December 2007, 04:34 AM

There is a great old classic with Bogart as a reporter turned promoter who gets in with the mob to push this giant South American fighter, touring with him as they pay off his opponents to take the fall, setting him up for a big title shot and payday as well as eventual butt kicking. Can not remember name off top of my head, but its terrific.

Lord Gaul

19th December 2007, 11:20 PM

^^The movie you are thinking of is called "The Harder they Fall." I will find the movie in the picture when I get back.

Long Fist

20th December 2007, 07:54 AM

I'm no movie buff, what film is that picture from?

It's from "Rocco and his brothers" (1960), by Luchino Visconti.
http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200/drt100/t143/t14367yrnrf.jpg

Long Fist

20th December 2007, 08:13 AM

^^The movie you are thinking of is called "The Harder they Fall." I will find the movie in the picture when I get back.

I've read the the book, long time ago ... don't recall seeing the movie, but I read it's Humphrey Bogart's last film, definitely want to see it;

http://www.thecolumnists.com/isaacs/isaacs40art2.jpg

BTW, there's something with B&W movies, photos ... strong B&W imagery around boxing, they connect somehow - I think that's why Scorcese did "Raging Bull" in B&W...

FieldingMellish

22nd December 2007, 08:13 PM

I think I remember seeing Skelton in there but who were some of the others?

Danny Williams, Scott Welch (he fights Brad Pitt) and Mickey Cantwell. There may have been others.

I don't remember Skelton in there but its years since I watched it.

elgigante

23rd December 2007, 05:36 AM

my favorite boxing movie is actually a comedy. Anyone like "Diggstown?"

Lord Gaul

23rd December 2007, 09:57 PM

^^Diggstown is pretty fun.

Long Fist

29th January 2008, 12:26 PM

... just saw a SUPERB old boxing movie "The Set-Up" ... it's outstanding in every possible way, the camera work, soundscapes, the actual fight sequences are remarkable - the lead actor Robert Ryan was a former college HW champ -the acting, details, ...

it's got DEPTH and SOUL .... if you've got the chance to see it, don't pass it!

http://www.hillebrander.de/ryan/bild27.jpg

and here is some boxing movies and documentaries on line:

http://filmschatten.blogspot.com/search/label/Boxing

Toffa

9th February 2008, 09:50 AM

I actually really enjoyed Million Dollar Baby, the boxing was some of the most realistic I have ever seen in a movie.

Global Honored

9th February 2008, 12:32 PM

The boxing was very realistic EXCEPT the scenes involving that Billie Blue Bear character. She may have been a fine actor, but where did she try to learn to box? Pathetic.:confused:

Global Honored

9th February 2008, 12:53 PM

machsaku

9th February 2008, 07:11 PM

anbody ever seen this?

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j290/dwbtdom/6321-large.jpg

I watched it like 10 years ago and remember enjoying it.

Sixtus

20th February 2008, 01:01 PM

anbody ever seen this?

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j290/dwbtdom/6321-large.jpg

I watched it like 10 years ago and remember enjoying it.

Thats a good one.

How about The Great White Hype?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5106R3PYPDL._AA280_.jpg

James "the grim reaper" Roper :D

Paul T

20th February 2008, 02:20 PM

What is the latest on the Mickey Ward film "The Fighter" that was supposed to star Marky Mark Wahlberg as Mick and Matt Damon as brother Dicky? Is this still in the works? Leguizamo (sp?) as Gatti was also rumored. And besides that...what is the deal with the old UFC - Wahlberg movie that was rumored a few years back? Any updated info would be nice. Thanks.

The Fighter looks to still be in preproduction. They are still ironing out casting etc http://imdb.com/title/tt0964517/

Not scheduled for release till fall of 2009, so quite a bit could still happen on it. Looks like they are attempting to get Brad Pitt as Dickey?