Ne jamais reculer

Picture the classic movie formula: Guy gets into a fight. Guy loses the fight and the girl. Guy goes to some karate master. Guy wins the fight. Add just enough innuendos so that the kids will believe they are watching actually watching an R rated movie. Then do some final editing for the critics, and you have Never Back Down. I can see how preteen boys will like this movie for the fights. Or how teenage girls will come to see sweaty male models showing it all on screen. But the overall movie is below standards, and definitely not worth the time or the money. This production is a disappointment from director Jeff Wadlow.

This is one more film with quite good idea. Though, there are a lot similar films that we could bracket in one group with this one. Yet, it has something outstanding. It inspires me in a way. To strive for my life-goals, never back down, no matter how hard it may be, what sort of obstacles are ahead of you.. Maybe that's the real purpose of this film? To inspire one, to be confident and persistent. At least, I was affected in this way. I presume, that this movie is suitable for those, who have a very deep and grim times, who need some sort of wake up call to evoke positive feelings to what's life.. to make one be optimistic again...

Now in the 21st century, the old school brawlin' movies are over with. Their fad has worn out. Now, we are shoveled crap like Meet The Spartans and other seriously stupid parody movies, and then movies where senseless violence reigns dominant and there is no point to the movie anymore. But the beat-em-up genre has returned with Never Back Down. Most of you know the cheesy story line, which is the only reason that I have to give it a 9 instead of 10, a rebellious teen who gets caught up in some trouble which leads to the whole development of the movie. If you can set that aside and see what is being shown to you, it is easy to see why NBD is such a good movie. There is just enough action to keep the fans excited, enough drama to keep them drawn in, good plot development to keep you interested, a good mix of hot girls and for the ladies there are buff dudes, and the sense of morality and character. Being a martial artist for 10 years myself, I was pleased with the fight scenes (although they cannot compare to The Protector) but since this movie wasn't starring people like Jet Li who dedicate every performance to fighting, the actors did very well and proved themselves. The cheesy storyline and mediocre character development are the only things keeping me from giving this movie a 10 star rating. The critics gave this movie too harsh of a rating because they just didn't understand that this movie wasn't meant to win an Oscar or be hailed as the movie of the year, it was meant to give us a break from most of the crap movies now and do what movies are supposed to do, entertain us. Really worth a watch, check it out.