Strength and Honour

I just came from 'Strength and Honour' and was completely blown away. It was shot beautiful, the performances were amazing especially from Madsen, Jones, Rawley and Fitzpatrick (Mammy) and the score was fantastic.

I remember reading once that the definition of art is something that provokes two opposing views. The director has certainly achieved this as people seem to love or hate, with no middle ground.

The script covers lots of ground at the start, but I believe that this is fine. When you go to the cinema, we have to use our imagination a little bit too. On that note though, this is a fictional piece, not a documentary.

Well worth an hour and a half of your time!

If you have not seen Strength and Honor, you are missing a great movie. You do not have to enjoy boxing or action movies to enjoy this one. There is something for everyone... it is a must see!

If you aren't used to them, the accents can take a little while into the movie to get used to. However, once you understand them, you get a better feel for the characters and pick up the common words thrown around throughout the movie and what they mean.

There is a lot of drama, suspense and action in this movie. If you do no have a tear or two after viewing, it would be a shock to me. EXCELLENT movie, that's all I have to say.

There are so many negative reviews surrounding this film but overall, I myself actually enjoyed it. That being said, however, this film is clearly not without its flaws and the storyline & general pace lacks consistency. Other major problems I had with this film include the most obvious; appalling Irish accents displayed by Michael Madsen & Richard Chamberlain, Madsen's melodramatic overly brooding portrayal of his character who I feel is undeserving of any best actor award based on this performance, Chamberlain's unbelievable performance as an Irish boxing trainer (way too much enthusiasm displayed here). Other flaws included incorrect & mixed itinerant accents displayed by most of the travelers (Rawley could have done without mentioning the cliché term "boss" in every other sentence), a very inaccurate and clichéd outlook on travelers in general (which I felt the writer/director could have researched a bit more) & a lack of build up or explanation to any major event in this film (it all felt a bit too much thrown into my lap).

However, all this being said I do consider this a very passionate and vast attempt by a first time writer/director and do respect that he managed to get Madsen, Chamberlain, Bergin & Jones on board for this. Vinnie Jones also delivers a much needed energetic villainous performance displaying a more than adequate accent, although maybe a bit too reminiscent of Brad Pitt's Mickey character in Guy Ritichie's "Snatch". Rawley was also great and more believable in his role than a lot others, a definite newcomer to watch out for. Maybe I'm a bit too critical of this film because I'm a Corkonian, have a boxing background or am of traveler origin myself so it may be a lot easier to nit pick instead of judging this film from an entertainment value alone perspective. But I'm sure they'll really enjoy this one in the States!

Well, I didnt expect much and I didnt get much. This movie is so bad that its watchable, if you know what I mean, and I know that you do. Enjoy lads.

This film is rubbish. Lazy, join the dots 'storytelling'. It purports to be about Ireland but unless you believe that Darby O'Gill lives with the little people there is no credibility whatsoever; could have been made 50 years ago and even then would have been crap.

There is no attempt to address Ireland in the noughties, the Celtic Tiger, the boom, the me culture, immigration or whatever. Just another Oirish pastiche for some gullible Americans - who must be sick of this rubbish as well.

How this film got made mystifies me but perhaps therein lies a more interesting story.

I'm from Cork so no 'anti Cork' bias stuff please..This movie is the worst tripe I've seen in years and makes me embarrassed to be Irish and a Corkonian.

Avoid, avoid, avoid.