Fantastic!

Excellent but underrated film

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This movie proves that you don't need at huge budget, lots of well-known actors and all that to make a great movie. Even though it looks like this is made on a shoestring budget, they really managed to pull off a great martial arts movie here. They kept it easy and simple and focused on the fight scenes, and what fight scenes! They are very good, Marc Dacascos is great in it, and overall it was a very enjoyable experience from start to finish. The mix between martial art scenes and scenes progressing the feel-good story is perfect. Other action movies should take note of how this is done. Simple, standard, great action, you got it.

ONLY THE STRONG Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: Dolby Stereo SRA former Green Beret (Mark Dacascos) is employed by his local high school to rehabilitate some of its worst students by teaching them the art of capoeira (a form of martial arts from Brazil, using dance-like moves). But his work brings him into conflict with a local drug lord (Paco Christian Prieto), whose operations are threatened by Dacascos' interference...Predictable B-movie, elevated above the routine by virtue of its slick presentation and interesting cast (including Geoffrey Lewis), under the assured direction of Sheldon Lettich (DOUBLE IMPACT). The capoeira sequences are exotic and colorful, which blunts the impact of some pretty heavy fight scenes, and the script is alternately naive and obvious. However, the virtues are considerable: Ultra-buff Dacascos flaunts his pumped-up torso through a variety of tight-fitting vests (drool! slobber!), while ultra-cute Stacey Travis (the romantic interest) hovers around the periphery just long enough to temper the film's relentless macho swagger. Good, catchy music score, too.

This movie is great. Personally I like it for the fighting more than the story but the story was good too. Perhaps its not as good as matrix but it's the best for its kind, realism wise that is. So go out there and watch it.

This movie was my introduction to Capoeira. The scenes where the capoeristas are in the mandinga facing off were really fun to watch. It's a good way to kill a Saturday afternoon, this was a fun onenot too bad