Action With eMOTION....!!!

Rating: 9/10 (26 June 2012)

The film follows two fighters and their families as they enter the fast big money martial arts (MMA) competition, Sparta. Brendan doing it for the family (Joel Edgerton) and a seemingly brutal Tommy who is looking for a payday (the suddenly ubiquitous Tom Hardy)with Nick Nolte as Paddy , a sad, reformed drunk of a father and we have the basic elements of another run of the mill sporting movie. Or at least that's how it starts. It examines family relationships and regret and faces the terrible truths when some wounds just cannot be healed by forgiveness once it is too late.
It's not all family drama though and unsurprisingly it does have a lot of fighting in so even though I think it is enjoyable for most if you can't stomach the violence then don't bother with it. However the fighting is well balanced within the narrative, excellently shot and excitingly edited so we do not get the cliché slow-mo or the epic hour long battle even for the big finale. Some of the fights are brutally quick and even those that go the distance are edited down very well indeed while maintaining that punishing feeling - they certainly had the audience cheering and wincing along with every slam and punch. There will be blood along with some horrible curdling crunches too.
My final verdict is that... this is an awesome film which pulls you with its intense action and great emotions..... story of a fighter.. a father.. son and a family..!!!!! must watch...!!