Brilliant and touching

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

First thing this reviewer has to say is that in my other reviews I have been very clear that Jai White has taken a bum steer from Hollywood, he is a much better action figure than his CV would indicate.Therefore, when I notice that MJW has made the effort to turn the Beatdown franchise into a personal nestegg (this review written late in 2015, but I see there is a BEATDOWN 3 in the works) I cannot complain. Man's got to do what a man has got to do.The film itself is entertaining and that is no small compliment. What it lacks oddly is the sheer meanness that was visible in Beatdown 1. The original in the series was less about MMA than it was about the horror of being a kid having to deal with other kids. The MMA was secondary.Here the MMA takes center stage and if there was a template for this film it was NOT Beatdown 1 (name notwithstanding) but BEST OF THE BEST, which (if you review that film) had a bit of a Disney flavor to it.At the very end of this film, if you stick it out past the final fight (and many of you will not) there is a feel-good montage of the kind you usually see in afterschool specials.Again, the martial arts are not the only thing here that is "mixed." So are the themes.

I watched this movie after seeing its IMDb review and expected crap, the main reason I watched it because I enjoyed the first movie a lot. But anyhow after watching this movie I'm like, what??? This movie was awesome! It entertained me thoroughly! Obviously not an Oscar flick, but why would u watch this for? Entertainment! That's what it provides! probably there wasn't any buildup for any fights unlike the first one, it still impressed me. Everyone loves a good training session before fight scene. This is my first ever review and I felt it deserved a better rating. 5.5 is way too low, I don't understand why people think that sequels always suck, I think it did great as a sequel, added extra elements, extra fights and some drama as well. On the whole I would give it a 9/10 just to increase its ratings. Else an 8 probably.

The movie has more going for it than the previous one in 2008. The 'sensei', Case Walker, this time is none other than Michael Jai White, who also directed the movie. Sure, White is no Djimon Hounsou as acting goes, but he has much acting experience and far better credentials as martial artists than most who play such roles. He did quite well in his first time directing and I suspect will direct more movies in the future. These two factors coupled with the fact that he is well grounded, smart and a good role model in real life helps make the movie a good one, in the genre. His fighting scenes are excellent, his notably different character than that of Hounsou was a well calculated smart choice. By the way, he produced and starred in the 2009 Blood and Bone, a movie to watch if you like movies with good fight scenes.This sequel has not one star student of Case, but four, for all of who, the movie provides a background, sub-plot and fairly equal play time. That again was an improvement over the initial movie. It was probably a good idea not to bring back the Tom Cruise look alike Sean Faris because that aspect invites unwanted criticism ( bad rap for Faris whose as good as Cruise was at that age.) The only character to be featured in both movies, 2008 Never Back Down and this 2001 sequel, is Max Cooperman played by Evan Peters. He looks a little older but his character retained his unhealthy passion for mixed martial arts fights.There are annoying sub story lines repeated from the first movie; and that should have been avoided. Specifically, how the character of Mike is prone to fits of anger followed by fighting when any reference to his father is brought up. It was unnecessary and makes the movie appear to lack in originality. Other than that the viewers who like the occasional fight movie, will be satisfied.

I give this movie an 8 out of 10 because i love the story. It is a little like the last one one but hey, I loved the last one too. I think everybody is judging this movie on the fights and not the actually story. I think the actors did a great job getting you into the story, and Epstein did a good job at being the villain. If you filled out a pro's and con's list of this movie I think there would be far more pro's. The mixed martial arts is greatly displayed and the characters look like real fighters. I hope they make a Never Back Down 3 with possibly bringing back Jake Tyler to add some class into it but as far as this movie goes. I really enjoyed viewing it and if your an mixed martial arts guy or even a boxing guy.. I recommend this movie.