Comments Thread For: Boxing Without Boxing: Hands of Stone

[aaronbnb]

I love me some Woody, but this movie was average at best. It’s essentially a road trip dramedy with a little bit of boxing at the end. The boxing we do get, is so OVERLY dramatic, that they lost me. It boarders on ridiculous. The humor didn’t really hit.

I’d perfer the Great White Hype if we are looking for a comedy boxing movie.

Not the best movie but I thought it was pretty real about how promoters/sanctioning bodies screw fighters and how groupies are passed around. Didn't glorify the boxers as gladiators

[The D3vil]

I know I'm in the minority in that I actually liked "Hands of Stone".

I thought it was a good movie.

Ana de Armas is sooo hot.

[Sheppirino]

I thought it was a decent movie. Ana de Armas is fine as hell in this.

[crold1]

I’m going to search for the title of this Korean movie I once saw based on the young mad who tragically passed after his fight with ray boom boom Mancini. Maybe caught a decade ago. But it made a powerful impression on me. Worth a watch cliff. Love your writing. Keep up the great work.

It’s called Champion and it’s fantastic. A revealing look at the way challengers are tied to gym affiliation and the way the sport adapts governance cross culturally

[a.rihn]

Taking requests...but I remember not liking that movie much so not sure I want to watch it again. Name something I haven't seen though and that's more likely.

There was an indie boxing movie that came out a couple years ago, 12 Round Gun. It has some rough edges, but I enjoyed it.

I would also love to see reviews of older pictures, like City for Conquest or Somebody Up There Likes Me. Lotta interesting old classics in the genre.

[bulldognyc]

It’s called Champion and it’s fantastic. A revealing look at the way challengers are tied to gym affiliation and the way the sport adapts governance cross culturally

Champion! Dang you’re good! Yea it was very good. Really enjoyed learning about boxing from another culture

[landotter]

I actually know very little about the lightweight reign of Duran, as I became a boxing fan when he was competing with the greats at the higher divisions. That it skips over it bothers me. That is what made his legend, and I already know the later years of his career. I have never seen this movie, and without that time being covered I became much less interested in seeing it.

[Angeljuice]

Starting another career as a film critic, Cliff? Lol Thanks for the review. Although I’ve been a fan of Duran for years, “Hands of Stone“ never really caught my interest, not after the weak reception it got. Your review solidified that feeling. I’m a big film buff; I feel that artistically speaking, “Raging Bull” is the best boxing-related movie ever, but the original “Rocky” is my favorite. It’s tough to find something new to say in this sub-genre at this point; so many films have focused on boxing.

I hated Rocky, I was learning to box when it launched and it was useless as an educational tool.

He fights through half a dozen movies and wins the championship of the world more than once without blocking a single punch ever (except with his face).

[CubanGuyNYC]

I hated Rocky, I was learning to box when it launched and it was useless as an educational tool.

He fights through half a dozen movies and wins the championship of the world more than once without blocking a single punch ever (except with his face).

Movies, unless they’re documentaries, aren’t typically meant to be educational tools. The best films stimulate, inspire, motivate and teach beyond observable fact. Not everyone will appreciate the same works, but, in my opinion, Rocky is one of the most inspirational and moving films of all time. The scene where Rocky hits the canvass late in the fight, with Mickey screaming at him to stay down, as Stallone ignores him and the music swells, makes my hair stand up to this day. Can’t think of too many movies that can do that.

[Angeljuice]

Movies, unless they’re documentaries, aren’t typically meant to be educational tools. The best films stimulate, inspire, motivate and teach beyond observable fact. Not everyone will appreciate the same works, but, in my opinion, Rocky is one of the most inspirational and moving films of all time. The scene where Rocky hits the canvass late in the fight, with Mickey screaming at him to stay down, as Stallone ignores him and the music swells, makes my hair stand up to this day. Can’t think of too many movies that can do that.

It didn't work for me on any level. Bad acting, cheesy script, unlikeable protagonist (wanted Stallone to lose all his fights).
Worst of all, it's almost impossible to understand a single word he mumbles or slurs.