Simply A Masterpiece

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I've always been fascinated by the sport of boxing. My father was an enormous fan of the sport and introduced me to it, and even though I grew up in an era when the sport was practically non- existent, I remember as a young child being fascinated by the exploits of pugilists. I think it's because boxing is as much about the stories behind the fighters as it is the fights. "Champs" does a remarkable job of capturing that essence, telling the story of three boxers through the prism of their life experiences.The three fighters this documentary primarily focuses on are Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins. Director Bert Marcus is fantastic at telling each individual story within the context of the over-arching theme, which is that boxers primarily come from "broken" environments, rise to fame astronomically, and then usually flare out just as quickly. A version of that story happened to each of the three subjects...Tyson's troubles are well-known, Hopkins spent many years behind bars, and Holyfield was at one point nearly penniless. It is quite interesting to see how three individuals can take different routes to boxing stardom, yet all be pretty much motivated by the same themes: violence, money, and "getting out of the old neighborhood".Besides the stories of those three fighters, this film spends a good deal of time looking at the socio-economic aspects of boxing. Promoters and trainers are interviewed in order to get their opinion on where the sport was, where it is, and where it might be headed. Again, the common theme here is that "rich people don't box", but rather it is "tough/gangster kids" who are drawn to the sport for the cathartic release of energy and the sense of structure, family, and discipline it can provide.Perhaps the most moving parts of the documentary, however, come in seeing how these three fighters have gained wisdom over the years. Especially touching is the incredible transformation of Mike Tyson. As a young boxer, he was like a caged animal. When mentor Cus D'Amato died, the animal was let out of the rage and he became a street thug in rich man's clothing...terribly profane and hardly even able to utter a coherent thought. Nowadays, though, Tyson really seems to have taken control of his life. He can speak intelligibly, shows outright intelligence when it comes to matters of boxing, and is self-aware enough to have strong emotions about his past and his family. The transformation is truly staggering from where he was to where he is.So, if you are at all a fan of the "sweet science", you should give this one a watch. Or, even if you just like stories of loss, hope, and redemption. It truly will give you a lot to think about, and will more than likely stir some emotions along the way.

I'm not a sports fan, but for some reason I usually enjoy sports-related dramatic films and documentaries. I just saw this great documentary on boxing greats Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins- which examines their lives in and out of the ring. The film goes into the mentality that generally leads people in oppressed/impoverished groups to fight. As someone points out in the film- rich kids don't have to fight.I've seen multiple shows/movies/docs about Tyson, and this one explores his insecurities in a way I've not seen in the others so far. The film also interviews dozens of people involved in the sport in one way or another, including Ron Howard (who directed the boxing film "Cinderella Man"), Denzel Washington (who starred in the boxing biopic "The Hurricane"), and Will Smith (who played Cassius Clay AKA Muhammed in "Ali"), etc... First-rate boxing doc!- forgive me, but this film is a "knockout"! o.O O.o

This is a stand out film. I saw the film because a friend invited me to a special screening and knew nothing about it before watching. Afterwards I was totally floored and so happy to have spent 90 minutes that way. Documentaries can often drag, especially in a theater, but this felt so much like a gorgeously shot narrative film that I had to remind myself afterward that this was entirely real and authentic, not a scripted film. The themes, messages and characters were so full of impact. I especially loved Bernard Hopkins' story because I didn't know a lot about him and he is a truly remarkable person. The celebrity voices were also really fun to watch and totally impressive. Definitely see this one in theaters or on the computer - works so well either way.

I had the pleasure of seeing CHAMPS at an advanced special screening followed by a Q+A with director Bert Marcus and Evander Holyfield. In so few words, the film was phenomenal. I know of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and knew very little about Bernard Hopkins, but after this film I was a truly passionate fan and admirer of all three men. The film brilliantly weaves stories of their uprbringings and career trajectories with meaningful and powerful socially conscious information. I was engaged for the full span of the film and left asking myself questions about various facets of our society and even of myself. This is a very special work that needs to be seen. The Q+A with the two men afterward was even more impressive. Evander's candid stories and point of view mixed with Bert Marcus' thorough explanations of why certain things were done and how they were accomplished were incredibly entertaining and powerful. I will definitely be telling people about this film.