Surprisingly Good

Rating: 7/10 (30 September 2008)

I would call this a good "B-grade" movie, but since I was expecting a total failure, this was a very good surprise.
The story is straightforwards, with lots of sparring, grappling, and other fighting-type interaction. Without getting into the plot, well, there's not much to spoil, anyways... it reminds me of what I imagine Rocky is about, but I never watched a full "Rocky " movie because I found them rather slow-paced.
Never Back Down isn't at all slow paced, but it isn't rushed, either. It carried the story well and never drags, and slowly manages to explain the back story, develop the plot, and then of course, there is the climax at the end...
Although they are a lot of fights, they focus on realism and using the fights as a plot device... so, not that they were bad, but, they weren't "stylistic" like most movies. They suit the movie, though, since the characters are into UFC (which focuses on realistic fights).
Anyhow, I'd recommend it as a good "popcorn movie" or rental, and from there it depends on taste if you'd want to own it, I probably wouldn't buy it but that's just me.