Nothing like the real thing

Rating: Null/10 (8 April 2004)

Its right to say that this film is underrated but there is a good reason for the disappointment many felt with it. This problem is that though Smith is excellent in the role, thoroughly deserving his Oscar nomination, there's nobody on Earth who can ever be as interesting as the real Ali.
For instance, the way in which the Rumble in the Jungle affair is recreated is highly impressive but watch "When We Were Kings" and you realise that the reality was so much better.
Overall then a good film hampered by the fact that it deals with living-legend subject matter.