Redbelt (Mamet, 2008) — Chiwetel Ejiofor's jiu-jitsu movie
#26
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I'm glad people are liking this, because the time away from my intial viewing the better I like it. 2008 has been off to a slow start and this is easily in my top 10 thus far, nearly a 1/2 the way through.
I loved the fight at the end. Mike never uses an offensive attack, they are always defensive attacks. Sweet.
I loved the fight at the end. Mike never uses an offensive attack, they are always defensive attacks. Sweet.
#28
I actually had a lot of problems with this film. Chiwetel Ejiofor was great, but there were so many plot points started and then just went nowhere (cop's wife, clothing line, legal thing, lawyer lady etc...)
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
#30
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Originally Posted by Pillowhead
I actually had a lot of problems with this film. Chiwetel Ejiofor was great, but there were so many plot points started and then just went nowhere (cop's wife, clothing line, legal thing, lawyer lady etc...)
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
The cop's wife was addressed with Mike looking at the bills later on: he did not dismiss her, and I doubt his internal code would allow him to forget about her.
The clothing line was a secondary ploy against Mike and his wife. The Bakers put them in a situation where she couldn't escape and she eventually did by turning in the evidence of the shooting. That's why we see her in the fight venue talking with the Bakers again and her brother says that she made the right choice (money over being poor).
I agree that the legal thing and the lawyer's storyline were never really resolved. At least I couldn't see clues as to what would've happened.
The more I think about this movie the more I like it.
#33
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According to the "DVD Talk New-To-DVD Theatrical Release Calendar & Discussion Thread", this is due for an August 26th DVD release. No word of Blu-ray. If this was still playing in a theatre near me, I'd go see it again.
#34
DVD Talk Hero
Entertaining flick and the build up of inevitable dread was great, actually most of it was pretty depressing. Agreed the marbles wouldn't fly in any kind of officiated fight like that and some of the plot elements were too out there (a lot of happenstance, and the movie does flat out fall apart near the ending), but whatever, it was a good watch.
I prefer movies that play out how this one did. You know exactly how much the character knows, and to Mamet's biggest credit, you know the exact moment the characters figure they've been fucked over (which happens to be about the same time the viewer realizes it, even if they foresaw it), the cop's wife, clothing line, legal thing, etc; were all explained to the extent they needed to be explained. I didn't buy the cop thing but it did make the character realization
that much more depressing. I think the movie could have been better in a few places, namely:
The movie was apparently inspired by Ed O'Neill's participation in the sport, and it was good seeing him in a cameo. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as usual, has excellent screen presence and is a damn good actor. I'd give it a 3 outta 4, as despite my reservations, it really is a well made movie.
The Karate Kid for adults by way of noir traditions.
Originally Posted by Pillowhead
I actually had a lot of problems with this film. Chiwetel Ejiofor was great, but there were so many plot points started and then just went nowhere (cop's wife, clothing line, legal thing, lawyer lady etc...)
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
The movie just sort of ends without explaining anything. I'm not a person that needs my films spoon fed to me, but this movie just kind of threw me for a loop.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
The movie was apparently inspired by Ed O'Neill's participation in the sport, and it was good seeing him in a cameo. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as usual, has excellent screen presence and is a damn good actor. I'd give it a 3 outta 4, as despite my reservations, it really is a well made movie.
The Karate Kid for adults by way of noir traditions.
Last edited by RichC2; 07-13-08 at 08:59 PM.
#35
I saw this twice and really enjoyed it. It was a movie made for true martial artists and was still entertaining and interesting enough for those who aren't. Maybe it will not satisfy action movie fans because that's not what it is about. I think this is the direction that Bruce Lee wanted to go if he had lived on. I remember his saying something about how he wanted to make a movie that told what martial arts was really about as much as entertain the viewer. Mamet did that by being able to show both and I don't even think he is a martial artist. It was also good to see two of Bruce Lee's students do cameos in the film.
#38
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I picked this one up off the shelf last week and put it back because I had a bad feeling it was going to suck but it looks like I now have a movie to watch for tomorrow.
#39
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
I just can not get into a Mamet film. There's always something that feels too setup, preposterous, or too coincidental. Having said that, this was enjoyable.
#40
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I really, really, liked this film. "Karate kid for adults" is a little out there though. I mean it's cool for people to reach out and compare it to something else but.....that's strecthing it a bit.
The highlight in this film for me was that there was absolutely nothing glorius about it at all....it was simple and straight forward and kept me interested and caring about the main character.
Also - it's been a very long time since a film of this type threw me for a loop with it's flow and I'm mainly talking about how the ending went down - great stuff.
Awesome opening as well - so glad someone bumped this thread as I wouldn't have rented it.
The highlight in this film for me was that there was absolutely nothing glorius about it at all....it was simple and straight forward and kept me interested and caring about the main character.
Also - it's been a very long time since a film of this type threw me for a loop with it's flow and I'm mainly talking about how the ending went down - great stuff.
Awesome opening as well - so glad someone bumped this thread as I wouldn't have rented it.

#42
I really, really, liked this film. "Karate kid for adults" is a little out there though. I mean it's cool for people to reach out and compare it to something else but.....that's strecthing it a bit.
The highlight in this film for me was that there was absolutely nothing glorius about it at all....it was simple and straight forward and kept me interested and caring about the main character.
Also - it's been a very long time since a film of this type threw me for a loop with it's flow and I'm mainly talking about how the ending went down - great stuff.
Awesome opening as well - so glad someone bumped this thread as I wouldn't have rented it.

The highlight in this film for me was that there was absolutely nothing glorius about it at all....it was simple and straight forward and kept me interested and caring about the main character.
Also - it's been a very long time since a film of this type threw me for a loop with it's flow and I'm mainly talking about how the ending went down - great stuff.
Awesome opening as well - so glad someone bumped this thread as I wouldn't have rented it.


I thought it was a great film. The ending at first seemed abrupt but it seemed to fit perfectly. I wish I had seen it in the theatre.
#44
DVD Talk Legend
I didn't like it at all. I'm not against brainy movies and I love the world of martial arts, but this movie did nothing for me, even though I was highly anticipating it.
I think Fearless is exactly this type of movie but does it a lot better (that's one of my most favorite movies).
I think Fearless is exactly this type of movie but does it a lot better (that's one of my most favorite movies).
Last edited by GatorDeb; 12-14-08 at 12:57 AM.
#45
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Redbelt (Mamet, 2008) — Chiwetel Ejiofor's jiu-jitsu movie
Good that others found enjoyment in this, but I thought it was embarrassingly bad. I can't believe Boom Boom Mancini, Couture, Trigg and other great athletes allowed themselves to be attached to this movie. There was a good movie there...but I thought it was just so poorly crafted and executed.
#46
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Re: Redbelt (Mamet, 2008) — Chiwetel Ejiofor's jiu-jitsu movie
Good that others found enjoyment in this, but I thought it was embarrassingly bad. I can't believe Boom Boom Mancini, Couture, Trigg and other great athletes allowed themselves to be attached to this movie. There was a good movie there...but I thought it was just so poorly crafted and executed.
#47
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Redbelt (Mamet, 2008) — Chiwetel Ejiofor's jiu-jitsu movie
Haven't seen any of those (on purpose). But I see no problem with him being able to do his thing with Stallone. He didn't seem out of place and because Hollywood is a bunch of midgets...Couture looks HUGE on screen.
#49
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Redbelt (Mamet, 2008) — Chiwetel Ejiofor's jiu-jitsu movie