Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...Michael Mann the director of Ali then, decided to cleverly copy neither style and invent his own quite frankly crummy depiction of Boxing. With Raging Bull you felt every punch and were right next De Niro as he won or lost, but with Ali you get neither that feeling of being there nor the emotionally charged atmosphere of Rocky. It seems Michael Mann had everything laid, all he had to do was pick a style and copy it, that coupled with the wonderful ...
...just doesn’t suit the film, Ali is a biopic, Mann makes thriller/action films which is what he’s good at. But don’t get me wrong Ali is entertaining enough in a dull lifeless sort of way, I just don’t understand how they could make a movie about Boxing and not make it exciting or interesting. Basically the film is like one big history lesson, you know what I mean like a documentary on a fascinating subject with all the good ...

willgould 23.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

Ali is a biopic of the former heavyweight champion Mohammed Ali. The firm starts with Ali fight against Sonny Liston. This is the fight in which he wins the title for the first time. The last fit of the film is Ali victory over George Foreman in the contest known as the Rubble in The Juggle. This is where Ali regains his title. The early parts of the film center on Ali relationship with Malcolm X and the Muslim Brotherhood. The next major section ...
...banned from fighting. Eventually Ali manages to overturn the ban and regain his fighting license. He fights Joe Frazier and he loses against him. Then before a rematch can be arranged Frazier himself loses as George Foreman knocks him out. Ali arranges a fight with Foreman in Zaire. This fight will be known as the Rubble in The Jungle and is probably the most famous fight in the film. The best part of this film is probably Will Smith’s performance. ...

Fantasyman 22.11.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...four wives. By 1967 Ali has become a major international celebrity, in part because of his television appearances with sportscaster Howard Cosell (Jon Voight). But with the Vietnam War in progress and most Americans still supporting U.S. involvement in that war, Ali refuses induction into the Army on religious grounds, even though the Nation of Islam does not endorse his refusal. Ali is convicted of draft evasion and while his case wends its way ...
...from organized boxing. In 1968 Ali marries Belinda (Nona Gaye), his second wife. In 1970 Ali is permitted to return to organized boxing, and in 1971 he fights Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title, but loses a 15-round decision. Also, in 1971 the U.S. Supreme Court overturns his draft evasion conviction. The last part of the film focuses on Ali's 1974 championship bout with George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Promoted by Don King (Mykelti Williamson), ...

teckie 18.08.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...painted a good picture of Ali and did so with incredible performances by the two stars. I really did like the film, but like a long documentary, find it hard to easily sit through in one sitting. That's the beauty of DVD though, you ca pause the film and resume it at any time. Those looking for an action packed film on Ali's boxing exploits or a piece of information on the champ that is groundbreaking will walk away partly disappointed. This is a ...
...that punch could have been, I am not sure. Video: A lot of buzz circulated over how Will Smith prepared and trained to take on the physical appearance of Muhammad Ali. Michael Mann has also earned a reputation for creating visually stunning films with a lot of style. Columbia/TriStar's DVD presentation of the film does not put the efforts of the filmmakers to waste and the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is quite impressive. To give a historical ...

puccio 24.05.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

Muhammad Ali is probably the greatest boxer of all time but whether his life transfers onto celluloid and makes interesting viewing is a different story. The biopic directed by Michael Mann is 159 minutes long, most of which is relatively boring. The plot is mainly a chronological following of Ali’s life while he was at the peak of his boxing capabilities. It follows his life in a selective way but unfortunately it chooses most of the dull stories ...
...speeches and rhymes for which Ali was also renowned. When it comes to the boxing scenes he has mastered the style of fighting used by Ali and literally does “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”. He handles the fight scenes in an incredible manner and you soon forget that its Will and believe that you are watching the man himself. He is very believable in the role and has a screen presence that dwarfs all others. He conveys as much emotion ...

elspeth334 11.03.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...too young to remember Mohammed Ali in his prime. All I see is a weak and frail man savaged by his illness. However his catchphrases are famous, taunting opposition, changing from his slave name to Nation of Islam and refusing to fight in Vietnam. Apparently he could also box a bit. Ali does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a biography of one of the greatest sportsmen and characters in sport ever. It follows the real life of Mohammed Ali through ...
...presenter Howard Cosell, he and Ali enjoy several exchanges comically and also supports him in worse moments. Mario Van Peebles plays Malcolm X who has a big part in the film and Ali’s three wives are also in, Jamie Foxx as his first wife Bundini Brown standing out. The whole lot are really good, there are no weak links and Smith especially excels. ‘Ali’ gets political in places, depicting his friendship with Malcolm X and him changing ...

Chris_Padden 16.07.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...I remember very little about ALI except that he was a great boxer. All my memories of him are recent. When I think of ALI, I think of the man whose body is riddled with a crippling disease. A man who has trouble walking. Not the determined, arrogant, but seemingly gentle man portrayed in this movie. I vaguely remember him not going in to the Army, and thought him just another draft-dodger. I did not understand his disgust at killing when he seemed ...
...through ALI’s early life. His first fight in the ring as Cassius Clay, his conversion to the Nation of Islam. His friendship with Malcolm X. His being stripped of the championship title, his fight to be allowed to box again and his comeback against George Foreman in a boxin promotion titled “RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE” Through it all, he is portrayed as a peaceful, soft spoken man, until he gets in to the boxing ring, and then he seems ...

CanadasCousin 21.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...the man and his times. Ali looks great, slick and pretty in the showier sequences and gritty and jumpy during the edgier moments. If I could name a director to lens the story of my life, I’d have no qualms about hiring Mann. Eric Roth’s script covers 10 volatile years not only in Ali’s life, but in America’s. Roth won an Academy Award for his Forrest Gump screenplay, and there are too many times when Ali Gumpifies its subject. Rather than digging ...
...a complicated world. Both Ali and Forrest Gump give us a highly impressionistic, Cliffs Notes version of the late ’60/early ’70. The new film shows us Ali’s embrace of Islam, the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, and the rise of the anti-Vietnam protests, but offers little insight into them. It’s as if Ali were Gump, popping up at crucial moments in American history. Think I’m reaching? Just try to watch Smith jog through the ...

naryan1 17.03.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

Muhammad Ali is one of the most hyped films ever made. It stars Will Smith as the cocky Cassius X AKA Muhammad Ali and tells the tale of events leading up to the Rhumble in the Jungle and his incredible win In the 2 hours and 40 minutes you get to see four main fights that look so real they made me cringe on many occasions, as well as his love of different women, religious extremists, and his religious beliefs. This film is not for the light hearted. ...
...the American Government brought against Ali when he refused to fight for them when they wouldn't except his real name. "What's my name?" We see his ups and downs and overall beliefs in himself and Islam. Will Smiths wife Jada plays his first real girlfriend who he eventually wont except because of the clothes that she wears because of Islam, and we are given insight to his first marriage and Child. I believe that Ali is a ground breaking film although ...

siany 23.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...between these action packed sequences. Ali is an extremley interesting person, whos life has taken many twists and turns, and to try to cram all this into one film was always going to be a struggle. Smith is superb as Ali, he looks, walks and talks just like the great man. But However interesting Ali's life may have been Mann still manages to slow the film down to a snails pace. This leaves the viewer hanging on to the next fight while the narrative ...
...take up a large section of the film. His relationship with Malcolm X is one of the most interesting cross over relationships ever. But Mann doesn't do the relationship justice. The director also manages to kill a huge amount of screen time by covering Alis various marriages. Important to the narrative of the film, but very boring. To sum this film up is easy. With the great man still alive this looks and feels more like a tribue than a film in its ...

Ghostface999 11.04.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...about the well know boxer Ali (played by Will Smith). Its the whole life story sabout Ali and how he made it as a professional boxer and what he had to go through to get there. I mysef find will smith a good actor and although he was good in this film its not the best i have seen. The film was very slow to get started and i cant say that it ever really picked up. I found it very boring to watch and it did not keep my attention. A film i was so ...
...it off half way through as i just couldnt watch anymore as it was making me fall asleep. This could be a good film for someone who is a fan of Ali or Boxing but if you are not then i would definately not recomment this film to you. ...

Sugarsparkle5 03.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

Ali is, I hate to say, a great example of a film which can not live up to the huge expectations surrounding it. Will Smith is one of the biggest celebrities in the world right now - actor, musician, professional etc. etc. and we all know Ali was and is one of the greatest sportsmen EVER. However, I feel that due to the scale of the afore mentioned expectations and the slow, tiresome and frankly boring script the film is a huge disappointment. The ...
...of interest to the typical Ali fan but the way in which they are covered is too brief. King of The World was a far better Ali film (at least thats what I think it was called). In short, although Will Smith is a fantastic actor, I never felt myself moved or entheusiastic about the film. Also the film only covers Alis life from 64 to 74 when the man is still a legend even today. Director Michael Mann should be less than pleased with what he has done ...

nik.pamplin 13.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...the long silent pauses that Ali would take as he mulled over the information he was digesting. Will Smith did a fantastic job in this role, and is certainly deserving of any awards that may be bestowed upon him. He is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most prized possessions. The film does a fine job of telling the story, and doesn't attempt to shine favorable lights on Muhammad Ali. As such, the movie has a documentary-type of flavor to it, ...
...Ali that I was able to absolutely fall into the film and believe that I was witnessing events while they were taking place. At 2 and 1/2 plus hours, at times I was a little bored with the film. I am sure a true Ali fan might dissagree with me because most, if not all, of the scenes in the movie are relevant to the story. The only problem being, that some of the story is just not that entertaining. --BOTTOM LINE-- Great film but too long, about ...

azeltroth 04.07.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

...had already seen previous Muhammed Ali films; ones which focus on his life story, others recreating the drama before his first title win and another just including plain old boxing. All of these films had been good to watch. However when I saw 'Ali', I asked this question to myself, How was this film going to be different to all the others that I had previously saw? My question was soon answered quickly. 'Ali' shows everything that happened in Muhammed ...
...my opinion, Will Smith recreates Ali exactly and it was no surprise he was nominated for Best Actor, at the Oscars. 'Ali' personifies how great an actor Will Smith really is. To conclude, 'Ali' is a great film to watch if you knew the history of the man. For other people though, it would come across as a tad to much. ...

Da_Man_Benny_Boy 27.07.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)

The main critiscism i've heard about this movie is that Will Smith cannot be Ali, that it is impossible to get used to Will Smith in this role, and therefore the film is majorly flawed. Well i agree that Will Smith cannot BE Ali, but who can? When viewing this film, remember that Will Smith is an actor PORTRAYING Ali. And he does it very very well. Smith has completely devoured his character, he moves, speaks, looks and is as built as Ali, and he ...
...performance though, 'Ali' manages to capture the boxing legends greatest moments in a monumental way. Director Micheal Mann (Heat, The Last of The Mohicans), has created a masterpiece,whilst remembering not to concenrate souly on Ali's boxing feats. The extras on the DVD: Footage backstage shows Will Smith training and meeting with the great man he is to play, the making of is long and enjoyable, the disc also features Cast and crew soundbites ...

davebarf 28.01.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Ali G - Aiii (DVD)