Rocky for the new generation?

Rating: 8/10 (28 March 2010)

Y'all remember Rocky right? Well, this is the Rocky new generation. For American teens in XXI Century. Is it bad, you can ask,? Well, depends what do you mean by that.
Never Back Down continues the stereotype of American teens driving Ferrari-s and other cool sport cars, organizing huge pool parties with half-naked girls including open lesbians in their parents' houses and not doing anything else in their free time but that and maybe fighting.
The story is predictable from the very beginning to the very end, using every possible theme already used somewhere before. The teen that's poorer, bad relationship with his mother, falls in love with a girl, a girl uses him asked by her boyfriend. Her boyfriend beats him up... blah, blah, blah. I don't want to spoiler for anyone so that's it's it about the story from me.
So,... why the hell did I give this movie an 8 out of 10, you may ask?
Well, I did gave this movie an 8 out of 10, for a few reasons actually.
First, for a great role, as always, by Djimon Hounsou. Secondly, the movie enters a new era, by showing the world MMA. Finally. I admit, I am writing this as not only a fan, but a fighter, myself, but the movie shows MMA at its finest. Of course, it is pg-13, of course some things are made to look more effective than useful, but it shows a great difference between a fight and... a fight.
The scenes of training are very well edited, shot and feature great music (not the score, but a perfect choice of popular rock/rap and other songs are the best thing in this soundtrack). The same with actual fight scenes.
The movie tells a predictable but e very enjoyable story, it is another American-teen movie and not really at the same time. It tells a lesson, it may show some people that Mixed Martial Arts is not Human CockFighting and as a sport movie should be - the training and actual fight scenes indeed ARE very inspirational and powerful!