can we get past all the cliché stuff

Rating: 6/10 (10 August 2008)

we've reached a point where everything is a cliché... so it just drives me nuts when detractors harp on cliché this cliché that, the movie was horrible. The fact is, Never Back Down is FAR FROM a horrible movie.
You won't be blown away by the lead... You won't be surprised with an unbelievable plot twist... but still, there are many redeeming qualities here. The direction and the music are quite sharp. A well defined climax, and some help from some fine acting in the supporting roles... Djimon is good and the mother is also quite good. I also liked how they postponed the fact that the lead had felt a sense of responsibility for his fathers death and the circumstances behind it.
This film looks good...sounds good... it's entertaining, and despite some VERY familiar moments, Never Back Down delivers. You could do a lot worse with the whole teeny bopper OC genre. I was stuck between 6 and 7 but the undeserved rating here pushed me to the latter.
65/100 I might even wanna check it out again before I return it.... and take a peak at the name of the director.