Never Back Down
Never Back Down
PG-13 | 04 March 2008 (USA)
Never Back Down Trailers

Jake, full of anger after his father's death, is just starting to find a place for himself at his new Orlando high school - until Ryan, head of an underground MMA fight club, picks Jake out as a prime opponent. After being trounced by Ryan in front of the entire school, Jake begins training under the firm, moral guidance of a MMA master, where he learns how to fight... and how to avoid a fight. But it becomes obvious that a rematch will be inevitable if Jake wants to stop Ryan and his bullying, once and for all.

Reviews
Vashirdfel

Simply A Masterpiece

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Chirphymium

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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Mandeep Tyson

The acting in this movie is really good.

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Billy Ollie

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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undeaddt

This one was one my favourite movies in my teenage years. It completely resembles the thoughts that go through a teenager's head, jealousy, anger, self doubt, hate. I would like to label this movie as the modern Karate Kid because it really works that way, only with Martial Arts instead of Karate, plus the violence is way more intense. It really deservers more fame and respect that in got in it's prime, but at least we got a sequel, so that is enough to be happy about it's succes. The actors are all well chosen, especially the main guy and the antagonist who has the most negative face you could see in a negative role. All in all, at least 7/10

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nims-1975

This film is an In Between Good and Very Good film with some great acting by Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters and Djimon Hounsou. Never Back Down is a film which does have some pretty good fighting, but the film is to over Glamorized. The film does have some great things about it such as Jake Tylers rebellious teen character, Max Coopermans friendly, confident, passionate and keen character, Baja Millers friendly, loving and caring character and Ryan McCarthys violent and malicious character. The acting by Sean Faris as Jake Tyler, Amber Heard as Baja Miller, Cam Gigandet as Ryan McCarthy, Evan Peters as Max Cooperman and Djimon Hounsou as Jean Roqua was very good. This film did lack things in quite a few ways though and one of the main things was that the violent and malicious martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy had a big ego and was a complete dickhead, thinking he's the most powerful person ever, but Jake Tyler proved him wrong and knocked the living daylights out of him. Compared to Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown, this film was no way as good as that film and Never Back Down 2 was a hell of a lot better than this film. Never Back Down 2 was a lot more tense than this film, the fighters were a lot better than these fighters, the extremely powerful and absolutely brilliant martial arts film actor Michael Jai White was in the film not Djimon Hounsou and the fighting was a lot more tense, powerful and amazing compared to Never Back Down. None of the fighters in Never Back Down 2 had a big ego or were dickheads like Ryan McCarthy. Todd Duffee who acted as Tim Tim Newhouse is a MMA Champion in real life, is much more powerful than Cam Gigandet and would slaughter Ryan McCarthys arse to death. I'm not saying that this is a crap film, because it definitely isn't a crap film, it's quite a good one, it just has a few weak things to it that's all.

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Mihai Toma

Jack Taylor, a guy with a really bad temper who picks up fights very easily moves with his family to Orlando to start a new life. After making sensation on the internet and of course at his school with his latest fight, Jack gets invited to a party where he gets provoked to a fight by local champion Ryan. Unable to resist temptation he accepts but unfortunately for him, a great humiliation is about to begin. Eager to redeem himself in front of everybody and especially Baja (his wannabe girlfriend), he seeks help from a mixed martial arts veteran (trainer at a local gym), hoping to defeat his opponent in an important competition called Beatdown.It's all about never backing down (as the title suggests), struggling to reach your goal, learning to control your temper, your nerves and your thirst for revenge in critical situations, which can represent the difference between life and death. The story isn't as put together as I hoped, even predictable most of the time, the producers being more concentrated on the fights rather than on the actual plot. It leaves you with the feeling that it could have been better if all the aspects of the movie had received equal attention. It's quite a good movie but it hasn't got anything that can make it stand up from the crowd.

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Prismark10

Get some The Karate Kid, add some Bloodsport, mix with Fight Club with a dash of Rocky and you have Never Back Down.Not the most original film but amiable, predictable and silly enough as hotheaded and rebellious Jake Tyler (Sean Farris) who beat up everyone on a football pitch because of a rude comment about his father moves to a new town to help his younger brother play competitive tennis.However in his first day at High School he is lured into a fight by Ryan (Cam Gigandet) who is aware of his exploits in his previous school as they run a not so underground fight club.Jake gets badly beaten up by Ryan and befriends Max (Evan Peters), who introduces him to the world of Mixed Martial Arts run by Jean (Djimon Hounsou) a tough trainer who has a golden rule. No fighting outside of the club. However Ryan keeps on taunting him especially as Jake is going out with ex girlfriend (Amber Heard.)In the climax there is a showdown as both enter a MMA competition. Its a hokey film, Farris looks a lot like a young Tom Cruise without the charisma. Hounsou is the tough trainer with a tender heart (a cross between Mickey from Rocky and Mr Miyagi.) You know that his no fighting rule is going to get breached. The film has a Fast & Furious type beat with the music and is aimed at a younger crowd. The kind that heal quickly from a good beating.

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