Shadow Glories (2001)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Ziad H. Hamzeh

Writer:

Marc Sandler (writer)

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (USA)

Plot:

A middle-aged, down-and-out kickboxer, once contender for the heavyweight title, struggles to rebuild...

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Marc Sandler	...	Simon Penn
Sarah Rachel Isenberg	...	CJ Keyes
Michael Denney	...	Eddie 'Killer' Kuzinski
Jason Moscartolo	...	Matty Shea
Linda Amendola	...	Jenny Penn
Vinny De Vingo	...	Lou, Kuzinski's Manager
Alex Wallace	...	Benny
Ed Peed	...	Detective Fraeter
Hira Ambrosino	...	Dr. Susan Willem
Dan Marois	...	Dr. Dan
Josh Norton	...	Tall Boy
Edwin W. Thurston	...	Joe
Norman Bunin	...	Mir
Steve Bortagis	...	Fat Greg
Bert Brown	...	Ring Announcer (CJ / Kuzinski)

Also Known As:

The Fight (USA) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence and language.

Runtime:

109 min | USA:107 min (video)

Country:

USA

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Lewiston, Maine, USA

Company:

Hamzeh Mystique Films

Half way film

This film is neither the best of the best, as other users have posted until now, nor the very poorly directed and acted film most external reviewers say. The script has a number of scenes that will make you remember similar scenes from Rambo films (as far as boxing and bloody action goes), and the 2005 Oscar winning Million Dollar Baby (as far as drama is concerned). Sure, the people here are amateurs, in comparison with the bigger names and bucks behind the other productions, but they do quite well. You can't reject a film like this just because it has faults. I had read so many put-down reviews that I risked watching the film, and I found it interesting, and active, and not as patronizing to women in martial arts as most of the other stuff - though even here there is a lady doctor in the end giving us the conservative viewpoint that boxing can severely hurt your brain, and the innuendo is... if you're female. I did not like the start of the film, but if you keep our attention after you think the film ends, you'll understand it. The director even managed a couple of surprises in the end! In this sort of story, it is not usual. Even they are not as poignant and effective as those in Million Dollar Baby, they help make this work worth seeing. Recommended to feminists, action fans, kick-boxing fans (these can't expect much realism, though).