Only the Strong
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Movie Reviews of Only the Strong
Movie Review: Godd stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
I think this is a great flick, No need to analyse this movie too deep to see that it is not an Acadamey Award Winning flick but i feel that the story is great. I wish i could of been influenced in such a way during high school. Great moves ....well almost 1/2 as good as mine and well wicked nice movie in general...love to live and live to love The liberated mind
Pat
Movie Review: A strong movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Mark Darascos is a great martial-artist and "Only the Strong" is where he shines. This film is an under-rated flick that is a must own for any fan of martial-art movies.Movie Review: Only the Strong
Summary: 4 Stars
Very nicely done story and it explores the beautiful movements of Capoeira style martial arts.Movie Review: Unassuming B-movie, great fun
Summary: 3 Stars
ONLY THE STRONG
(USA - 1993)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Stereo SR
Upon returning home to Miami, a former Green Beret (Mark Dacascos) is employed by his local high school to rehabilitate some of its worst students by teaching them the art of capoeira (a form of martial arts from Brazil, using dance-like moves). But his work brings him into conflict with a local drug lord (Paco Christian Prieto), whose operations are threatened by Dacascos' interference...
A predictable B-movie plot is elevated above the routine by virtue of its slick presentation and interesting cast, all of whom turn in creditable performances under the assured direction of Sheldon Lettich (former scriptwriter of RAMBO III who went on to helm some of Jean-Claude Van Damme's most popular entries, including LIONHEART and DOUBLE IMPACT). The script - co-written by Lettich and Luis Esteban - provides a showcase for the visual artistry of capoeira, practised with genuine flair by DTV favorite Dacascos (BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF), whose mastery of the form helps to win over some of the most problematic students at his former high school, now a crime-ridden wasteland whose faculty (led by Geoffrey Lewis, acting everyone else off the screen) is clearly at the end of its collective tether.
A faint air of camp hangs over the entire enterprise, as ultra-buff Dacascos flaunts his pumped-up torso through a variety of tight-fitting vests (drool! slobber!) while facing off against ultra-butch Prieto (a real life martial arts instructor, making one of his first screen appearances), though ultra-cute Stacey Travis hovers around just long enough to blunt the film's relentless macho swagger and provide a fleeting romantic interest for Dacascos, thereby reassuring the movie's target audience that his character is entirely heterosexual. The film is naive, obvious and predictable, but it moves at a rapid clip and is well-staged thoughout, and the bone-crunching fight scenes manage to live up to every expectation. Good, catchy music score, too.
Movie Review: If you like Capoeira you have seen this already
Summary: 3 Stars
So only the strong is not a great movie. Poor acting, formulaic plot, cheesy....everything but it is one of the only movies in the U.S. that has a lot of Capoeira. As a capoeirista myself I found the actual demonstration of the art to be very limited and the writers understanding of the art to be somewhat lacking. Mark Dacascos is not a Capoeirista but trained in a style of kung fu, explaining why his skill in Capoeira is less than desireable but his basic fighting knowledge pretty good. He trained for six months in capoeira for this movie which is not enought to really get any good. In response to one of the other posts, Capoeira is Brazilian. It is based on an African fighting style but does not currently , nor has it since the slaves modified it so much, resembled the lost African art it originated from. OTS is a campy movie that has a lot of flaws to it.
All that being said I have to say that I really liked. Admittedly it has so many things wrong with it that I could not list them all here but I didn't care when watching it. It is fun, and easy to get into. As a capoeirista I felt that they showed a good effort in displaying all the art in many parts, even if the writers really didn't understand on a higher level what it is about. The movie was memorable and entertaining. I recomend watching it but I just can't give it more than three stars because of huge cheese factor. If you like movies such as the last dragon you will like this. If you haven't seen TLD then buy them both, get a few friends together and watch them both. Great fun and a lot of memorable, cheesy quotes that will last you a lifetime.