I am a tremendous John Leguizamo fan and avidly support him and his films. I must preface my assessment with that so you can see my biases. I was afforded the outstanding opportunity of watching an advanced screening of this film last night to which Kathy DeMarco (Exec. Prod.) attended. She informed us that this was the culmination of 5 years of work. This was a particularly exciting experience for me because it was Leguizamo's directorial debut. From the opening moment the film was interesting and enjoyable. It represented a fairly accurate presentation of the street and a particular lifestyle. Knowing how much time when into the preparation for this film I was slightly discouraged because I really felt he was rehashing some old material here. He plays a young street guy trying to make his way up the ladder, he makes, forgets his friends, and then realizes he needs them again. Sounds a lot like "Empire" to me! I had to ask where the risks or challenges were in this role for him. As far as the directing I was really impressed and look forward to seeing more. The music was phenomenal and the boxing scenes were very realistic. There were no cheesy, obviously fake punches or choreography. This was a terrific movie and had he not just done "Empire" I think I would feel even more strongly about it. Finally, the ending stirred up some strong responses from the crowd - so be prepared...A good movie with great directing, great performances, great music, and an ok script. You decide for yourself...
13 Reviews
Disappointingly second rate
=G=27 July 2003
"Undefeated" is a shabby and hackneyed rags to riches story about a poor Latino boxer from Jackson Heights, NY who wins the a welterweight championship and finds the challenges in the ring are small compared to the challenges in his personal life. An unfortunate directorial debut for Leguizamo, this film shows us nothing new, is ill-focused, uneven, and full of cliches and two dimensional characters. As a human drama, "Undefeated" is a mediocre B-flick. As a fight film, it falls on its face and does nothing to give insights into the real, fascinating, and corrupt world of professional boxing. (C)
A good movie that has its share of problems
theclarkone685 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This is John Leguizamo's directorial debut (he also stars), and it's only a little bit better than decent.
*SPOILERS*
Leguizamo stars as Lex Vargas, an amateur boxer from Jackson Heights, NY, who is looking to make it big. After seeing his brother get shot by a young kid trying to rob his brother's store, Lex takes his brother's words to heart - "I want you to be the best. Never lose," (something like that), and rises to the top of the Welterweight division going undefeated along the way. His friends are along for the ride, but they grow distant as Vargas climbs the ladder, and moves away from the neighborhood they all grew up in. He soon falls in love with his local promoter's girlfriend. After reaching the top, he's presented with a conflicting proposition - throw the fight to the up-and-coming hotshot boxer to generate interest and more money for the rematches. What does he do?
The problems I saw with the movie is that the pacing seems off - it goes from regular time to fast forward to slow motion, back to regular to fast forward again, etc... This causes some parts of the story to be rushed, and some parts to be a little more drawn out than they should be. Some of the story doesn't quite click as well, probably because of the pacing. It's not quite as cliched as some make it out to be, but there is a little bit. Most of the characters are rushed and not properly developed. Some of the acting isn't great, and parts of the dialogue could have used work, but overall it's not bad. Leguizamo is good in his role, and shows that he does have talent for directing, but shows that he needs to work on pacing and storytelling. It's kind of liked Leguizamo focused mainly on his character, and then spent only a little bit of time on the others.
*SPOILERS*
Leguizamo stars as Lex Vargas, an amateur boxer from Jackson Heights, NY, who is looking to make it big. After seeing his brother get shot by a young kid trying to rob his brother's store, Lex takes his brother's words to heart - "I want you to be the best. Never lose," (something like that), and rises to the top of the Welterweight division going undefeated along the way. His friends are along for the ride, but they grow distant as Vargas climbs the ladder, and moves away from the neighborhood they all grew up in. He soon falls in love with his local promoter's girlfriend. After reaching the top, he's presented with a conflicting proposition - throw the fight to the up-and-coming hotshot boxer to generate interest and more money for the rematches. What does he do?
The problems I saw with the movie is that the pacing seems off - it goes from regular time to fast forward to slow motion, back to regular to fast forward again, etc... This causes some parts of the story to be rushed, and some parts to be a little more drawn out than they should be. Some of the story doesn't quite click as well, probably because of the pacing. It's not quite as cliched as some make it out to be, but there is a little bit. Most of the characters are rushed and not properly developed. Some of the acting isn't great, and parts of the dialogue could have used work, but overall it's not bad. Leguizamo is good in his role, and shows that he does have talent for directing, but shows that he needs to work on pacing and storytelling. It's kind of liked Leguizamo focused mainly on his character, and then spent only a little bit of time on the others.
a stereotypical boxing movie with an abrupt ending
MLDinTN28 July 2003
This movie was OK, but nothing too exciting. In the story, a young boxer moves up from the ameteurer ranks to turn pro. Then, he hooks up with a shady manager and eventually becomes a title holder while losing friends along the way. He hooks up with a girl that they call a give-me girl because she just hangs around rich guys. And we have many stereotypical scenes of the boxer's old friends coming around asking for money and the boxer moves into a huge house.
I have two complaints. One is John Leguizamo is too old to play the boxer. In the beginning, an ameteur boxer would probably be 18. Well, he already looks like he's in his 30's. The second is the abrupt ending. It just sort of stops, with no conclusion or anything. The boxer is just walking to the ring for another match.
FINAL VERDICT: If you like boxing, then you may like it. Otherwise, I wouldn't see it.
I have two complaints. One is John Leguizamo is too old to play the boxer. In the beginning, an ameteur boxer would probably be 18. Well, he already looks like he's in his 30's. The second is the abrupt ending. It just sort of stops, with no conclusion or anything. The boxer is just walking to the ring for another match.
FINAL VERDICT: If you like boxing, then you may like it. Otherwise, I wouldn't see it.
Awful.
thisisadarkride26 July 2003
Awful, awful film. The direction (Leguizamo) was choppy, the storyline jumped ALL over the joint, the acting (with the exception of Leguizamo himself) was absolutley horrible, and the fight scenes looked as if they were filmed in slow motion. I think Lequizamo is a fine actor and performer, but this was an absolute disgrace of the film.
Great Movie for real boxing fans
alrightguy17283 February 2006
I never really liked John L. I hadn't seen him in many serious roles at the time. I didn't expect much but was very surprised.
If you have ever done any boxing yourself or honestly know the sport I think you'll enjoy this film. It was a little different from the average "ROCKY" boxing films we've gown to love. Much more raw and the fight scenes are REALISTIC which you won't find in the ROCKY films. The Rocky film's had heart but this film seem's to have testicles. Possibley John's best performance to date. It was just a boxer's story up to a point. He won't steal your heart but you will get an inside look at the sport. The best sport in the world get's over looked too often but John seemed to get it. Maybe you can too?
Check this one out!
If you have ever done any boxing yourself or honestly know the sport I think you'll enjoy this film. It was a little different from the average "ROCKY" boxing films we've gown to love. Much more raw and the fight scenes are REALISTIC which you won't find in the ROCKY films. The Rocky film's had heart but this film seem's to have testicles. Possibley John's best performance to date. It was just a boxer's story up to a point. He won't steal your heart but you will get an inside look at the sport. The best sport in the world get's over looked too often but John seemed to get it. Maybe you can too?
Check this one out!
Horrible, horrible, horrible
pqshindelus16 June 2004
I don't know if this movie could have been any worse if it tried. My two roommates and I were totally pumped up to see this film, we set a timer on the TV and all ran into the living room when the timer went off and sat attentively on the couch like dogs about to be fed.
When it was over, we slowly got up and walked out of the room without saying a word to each other. The movie was so bad it left us speechless. This farce of a film was nothing more than a way for John Leguizamo to live out his boxing fantasies. I recommend avoiding it at all costs.
When it was over, we slowly got up and walked out of the room without saying a word to each other. The movie was so bad it left us speechless. This farce of a film was nothing more than a way for John Leguizamo to live out his boxing fantasies. I recommend avoiding it at all costs.
Another Boxing Movie. Better Than Most.
kevjohn27 July 2003
Warning: Spoilers
It's not TV, it's HBO. That's as good an explanation as any as to what makes UNDEFEATED a step above most boxing-themed movies. It has a great cast of little known actors, decent visuals and fight choreography, and the appropriate level of sex, drugs, and in-the-ring rock & roll. The storyline and character development is the film's only real weakness. But what a weakness to have.
*** SOILERS ***
John Leguizamo, in his directorial debut, stars as a welterweight boxer named Lex Vargas who goes from nothingness to world champ through the course of the film. Along the way he loses touch with what should have been truly important to him, his close-knit support group of friends who were there with him from the beginning. They get cast aside in favor of a high-powered management team composed primarily of a crooked record executive and a crooked promoter. Hmmm, have you ever heard of a record executive or promoter who WASN'T crooked?!? Bad choice Lex. He finds that out for himself when his new team plots for him to throw his upcoming title defense fight in order to secure massive paydays for the rematches. Feeling lost in the world and remembering the "good old days", he returns to the old neighborhood (the Bronx, I think) seeking his discarded friends. After a few touching moments with two of them, he learns another has died and another is wasting his life away in a drunken stupor. He realizes he is facing the true fight of his life in having to decide whether to go along with his old team or the new one.....
*** END SPOILER ***
All that story, but none of it new. What a shame. This would be a good time to say that I think Leguizamo is far too good of an actor (and he's made a rather impressive directorial debut as well) for this material. The only problem is that he's responsible for the material, having co-wrote the story. Actor, director, writer. Well, two out of three ain't that bad.
Note: The ending may be somewhat controversial, but I thought it was great! ANY other ending would have been anti-climactic.
Rating: gets a solid 7/10 for being a solid production of a (sub)standard story.
*** SOILERS ***
John Leguizamo, in his directorial debut, stars as a welterweight boxer named Lex Vargas who goes from nothingness to world champ through the course of the film. Along the way he loses touch with what should have been truly important to him, his close-knit support group of friends who were there with him from the beginning. They get cast aside in favor of a high-powered management team composed primarily of a crooked record executive and a crooked promoter. Hmmm, have you ever heard of a record executive or promoter who WASN'T crooked?!? Bad choice Lex. He finds that out for himself when his new team plots for him to throw his upcoming title defense fight in order to secure massive paydays for the rematches. Feeling lost in the world and remembering the "good old days", he returns to the old neighborhood (the Bronx, I think) seeking his discarded friends. After a few touching moments with two of them, he learns another has died and another is wasting his life away in a drunken stupor. He realizes he is facing the true fight of his life in having to decide whether to go along with his old team or the new one.....
*** END SPOILER ***
All that story, but none of it new. What a shame. This would be a good time to say that I think Leguizamo is far too good of an actor (and he's made a rather impressive directorial debut as well) for this material. The only problem is that he's responsible for the material, having co-wrote the story. Actor, director, writer. Well, two out of three ain't that bad.
Note: The ending may be somewhat controversial, but I thought it was great! ANY other ending would have been anti-climactic.
Rating: gets a solid 7/10 for being a solid production of a (sub)standard story.
Stereotypical fight film
rgreen736031 July 2003
Immediately after this movie was finished, I wanted to find out how I could get back the hour-and-a-half of my life that I wasted watching this stereotypical, unimaginative, poorly written, poorly directed mess. In addition it boasts one of the worst endings ever in the history of movies. Please don't waste a fraction of your life watching this film. Like me, you will not be able to get that time back.
Awful.
MorganRand26 July 2003
moving pursuit of a dream
zenitramprods21 August 2003
UNDEFEATED explores the boxing genre in a real, raw, and at times funny way. The boxing sequences are some of the best I've ever seen; people are actually fighting, there's no bull.
The film has a noir quality to it: dark and moody, filled with the complexities that follow us when we pursue our dreams.
Terrific performances from John Leguizamo, newcomer Adrian Martinez as "Chewey," and Nester Serrano as John's trainer. The rest of the cast is rock-solid too.
If you expect this film to be a laughfest like Leguizamo's one man shows, you will be disappointed. Instead, UNDEFEATED reveals the dramatic, complex Leguizamo; and an authentic look at the friends we may have to leave behind when life forces us to make some hard choices.
The film has a noir quality to it: dark and moody, filled with the complexities that follow us when we pursue our dreams.
Terrific performances from John Leguizamo, newcomer Adrian Martinez as "Chewey," and Nester Serrano as John's trainer. The rest of the cast is rock-solid too.
If you expect this film to be a laughfest like Leguizamo's one man shows, you will be disappointed. Instead, UNDEFEATED reveals the dramatic, complex Leguizamo; and an authentic look at the friends we may have to leave behind when life forces us to make some hard choices.
Undeflated
glgioia6 November 2003
Leguizamos ego that is. This guy has been handed carte blance by HBO for some reason, to do whatever he wants. He's really bad, his comedy is unfunny and his drama comedic. This movie is the Latino version of about 22 fight pictures all nonsensically quilted together. The scenes and dialogue are about as fresh as bread crumbs. Just all unimaginative cliche, but a few real hotties, I must admit. Watch it for the nudity if you must. Otherwise, NEXT!!!
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