Description

AKA: Cassius Clay presents a fascinating look at the life and incredible achievements of one of the most courageous, outspoken and charismatic figures of boxing: Muhammed Ali. AKA: Cassius Clay charts the voyage of a man who grabbed Olympic gold at the age of 18, captured the World Heavyweight title at 21, and ultimately came to power as one of the most forceful leaders of the American civil rights movement. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Documentary about the first half of Ali's career
AKA Cassius Clay was made toward the latter part of the Exile.

It starts out with an explanation of Ali's financial situation, then goes into the debate over who was better; Muhammad Ali or Joe Louis. Cus D'amato, the trainer of Floyd Patterson and Mike Tyson, is in the documentary, and the exchanges and debates between Ali and D'amato are very fun to watch.

As the documentary goes along, it starts to get a little slow. It goes on about Ali's amateur career, some of Ali's bigger fights before Liston, then finally the Liston fight.

Then it gives a brief and interesting glimpse at the impact of Ali's conversion to Islam. Talk's a little about Malcolm X and show's some of his interesting speeches. It then goes into the "Phantom Punch" controversy and Ali explains the punch that KO'd Liston.

Then D'amato and Ali go at it over Ali's fight with Floyd Patterson. D'amato was Patterson's trainer and was trying to defend Floyd, whom Ali had totally humiliated and brutalized in the ring.

They kind of start to mix things around, they go into the Cleveland Williams fight first, then later the George Chuvallo fight (the Chuvallo fight came first.) Then it goes into the draft situation, the stripping of Ali's title, then lead's to clips of Ali's college lecture tours, then gives some interesting possibilities for Ali's future. Predictions about how he might get back into boxing, predictions about his political future, etc.

One interesting point is that during the Ali-Louis debate D'amato feel's that Ali would lose to Joe Louis since he apparently believed that Ali didn't have a great chin, when in actuality Ali regained the title because even though his speed was gone his chin was so good that the big sluggers like Frazier and Foreman couldn't put him out. And it's amazing that after watching the documentary you feel that the future look's hopeless for Ali, when what comes after is the regaining of his license, his victory in the Supreme Court and the over turning of his conviction, and his regaining of the Heavy Weight Championship.

If you want to get a glimpse at how amazing Ali's comeback was, get this documentary along with the Rumble in the Jungle, watch AKA Cassius Clay and then watch the Rumble in the Jungle, and you'll see what a monumental achievement it was for Ali to regain the title. Great documentary, and well worth ordering, and though the ending might be a little depressing, just the thought that 4 years after the documentary was made Ali had actually regained his title is just something amazing and very special to consider. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Dead Sea Scrolls of Jazz?
Here it is-Clint Eastwood's *other* jazz film. The core of this biographical documentary about the innovative pianist and co-founder of bebop Thelonious Monk is footage of a recording date and tour from 1968, plus priceless scenes of Monk offstage. Filmmaker Bruce Ricker lets the 1968 film, shot by Michael and Christian Blackwood, speak for itself, interspersing stills, interviews, and some equally priceless early Fifties television footage. The 1968 film is shot in gorgeous black and white; the dark smoky club is especially impressive, visually.

Monk himself is imposing in black and white, with his greatcoat, pointy beard, and assorted headwear. In one scene he rolls into the recording studio wearing a lensless eyeglass frame and a Polish cavalry officer's cap. He shambles through the film, all sweat and bulk and cigarettes and raspy voice. There are a couple of great shots of his distinctive, spinning dancing, full of little surprises.

The recording studio scene is fascinating on a couple of levels. We get to see Monk and sax sideman Charlie Rouse go over the score of a song together. But we are also reminded that this is the late Sixties, when jazz isn't selling, and Monk is not a legend yet. The clueless producer and recording engineer, while friendly, keep telling him to play something to warm up, and then neglecting to record it. Monk finally loses patience and stomps off to a corner to angrily suck down a cigarette.

The film also records a European tour, which also has its problems. The octet that is supplied to him for the tour is oversized and under-rehearsed. They learn their parts on the plane to London, and can't get it together onstage the first night there. Much to the band's embarrassment, Monk has to stop songs to get everyone back on track. But in a day or two they shine, and receive rapturous applause.

The tour has its lighter moments. Perhaps the funniest moment is Monk lying in his bed in a Copenhagen hotel, trying to get his familiar down home cooking from room service. "Say, man; you got any chicken livers?" "Umm...Ve haff chicken sahlad." "You got any regular liver?" "Regular..." "Beef liver?" "Umm...Ja, ve haff beef liffer."

Here and there we meet a surprise guest. Some late Fifties/early Sixties New York club concert footage shows a room full of heavy-lidded white hipsters enjoying music by Monk and none other than John Coltrane. In a club kitchen, Monk clowns with Baroness Nica, who befriended many jazz musicians and in whose apartment Charlie Parker died. There's a montage of his records, including _Underground_, which boasts the single coolest album cover in the history of recorded music. The interview segments, with T. S. Monk, Jr. and Monk's manager are touching, giving insight as to how Monk struggled with the black dog, depression. And a couple of greybeards play some of Monk's music arranged for two pianos. It's lovely, fitting for the tribute it is. Just like this film.

The Dead Sea Scrolls of Jazz?
Here it is-Clint Eastwood's *other* jazz film. The core of this biographical documentary about the innovative pianist and co-founder of bebop Thelonious Monk is footage of a recording date and tour from 1968, plus priceless scenes of Monk offstage. Filmmaker Bruce Ricker lets the 1968 film, shot by Michael and Christian Blackwood, speak for itself, interspersing stills, interviews, and some equally priceless early Fifties television footage. The 1968 film is shot in gorgeous black and white; the dark smoky club is especially impressive, visually.

Monk himself is imposing in black and white, with his greatcoat, pointy beard, and assorted headwear. In one scene he rolls into the recording studio wearing a lensless eyeglass frame and a Polish cavalry officer's cap. He shambles through the film, all sweat and bulk and cigarettes and raspy voice. There are a couple of great shots of his distinctive, spinning dancing, full of little surprises.

The recording studio scene is fascinating on a couple of levels. We get to see Monk and sax sideman Charlie Rouse go over the score of a song together. But we are also reminded that this is the late Sixties, when jazz isn't selling, and Monk is not a legend yet. The clueless producer and recording engineer, while friendly, keep telling him to play something to warm up, and then neglecting to record it. Monk finally loses patience and stomps off to a corner to angrily suck down a cigarette.

The film also records a European tour, which also has its problems. The octet that is supplied to him for the tour is oversized and under-rehearsed. They learn their parts on the plane to London, and can't get it together onstage the first night there. Much to the band's embarrassment, Monk has to stop songs to get everyone back on track. But in a day or two they shine, and receive rapturous applause.

The tour has its lighter moments. Perhaps the funniest moment is Monk lying in his bed in a Copenhagen hotel, trying to get his familiar down home cooking from room service. "Say, man; you got any chicken livers?" "Umm...Ve haff chicken sahlad." "You got any regular liver?" "Regular..." "Beef liver?" "Umm...Ja, ve haff beef liffer."

Here and there we meet a surprise guest. Some late Fifties/early Sixties New York club concert footage shows a room full of heavy-lidded white hipsters enjoying music by Monk and none other than John Coltrane. In a club kitchen, Monk clowns with Baroness Nica, who befriended many jazz musicians and in whose apartment Charlie Parker died. There's a montage of his records, including _Underground_, which boasts the single coolest album cover in the history of recorded music. The interview segments, with T. S. Monk, Jr. and Monk's manager are touching, giving insight as to how Monk struggled with the black dog, depression. And a couple of greybeards play some of Monk's music arranged for two pianos. It's lovely, fitting for the tribute it is. Just like this film.

A Butterfly they tried to catch
"Straight No Chaser" offers an abundance of wonderful footage of Thelonious Monk in concert, in transit, at home, in rehearsal, eating, sleeping, spinning in circles, in the studio, signing autographs and of course creating magic at the keyboard. Watching this film is like watching the weather on any given day. At one moment it's cloudy and grey, the next sunny and blue and in between anything could happen, and does. Monk clearly had serious and long term mental health problems, but the music the man created is his real legacy and there is plenty of it here. Towards the end of the film Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris try to work out the chord progression to one on Monk's songs and as things get more and more complex Milt Jackson (who played with Monk) simply smiles to himself with a combination of perplexity and amusement at the sheer genius of the music.

The excitement and sense of discovery one feels in witnessing this precious footage does become tempered by the lack of insight into the nature of his music and the full impact of it upon other musicians. The interviews are revealing, especially Harry Colomby (Monk's manager) and a visibly emotional TS Monk Jr. who with understandable difficulty recalls his father's mental problems. Ultimately though, the uniqueness of Thelonious Monk's music shines through. His television performance of "Just A Gigolo" about half way through is inspiringly honest, utterly sincere (even in it's sardonic humour) and completely absorbing.

Monk's most lasting musical legacy was probably his honesty as a musician and as a man, the rarest quality of all.

THE Monk documentary
Whenever we see jazz-history programs on TV, we see very little of Thelonious Monk; there's always that short footage of him wearing slim sunglasses, sitting on a fold-out chair playing the piano, and stomping his foot. I had never even heard Monk talk prior to this presentation of him ...it's a good thing there are subtitles ;)
Watching this highly informative and well presented 90-minute documentary about him and his music got me so excited that I had to throw on the old "Straight No Chaser" record when it was over - I guess I actually needed a chaser.
A common mistake in presentations of musical documentaries is that there isn't enough music; people usually talk over it, but that is NOT the case here; footage from recording sessions and concerts are distinctly kept apart from interviews, which is a big plus. Something that isn't much discussed here, though, are the highlights of Monk's career, i.e. when he had success with certain compositions or recordings,--or even which recordings that were successful--he's more presented "on the whole", even though the documentary basically is chronological. There is, however, a "Monk Career Highlights" feature in text, but it's very short; the career-highlight feature of executive producer Clint Eastwood is twice as long.
"Straight No Chaser" is probably the most informative documentary made of Monk so far. There's a short theatrical trailer, and subtitles in four different languages, plus this DVD has no problems with either audio or picture, which is nice and unusual. Highly recommended! 4.5 stars!

"Why nobody just wanna do what I ask 'em to do?!"
So exclaims a frustrated Monk during a late 1960s Columbia recording session, after finishing a haunting run-through of "Ugly Beauty" and learning that producer Teo Macero neglected to record it. The movie is filled with wonderful private moments like these, though I can't say how much interest it will hold for those not familiar with Monk. For me, however, and for many others who are infatuated with him and his music, the footage in this documentary is gold. The character of Monk is rounded out for us, and we find that he was just as unique and strange in his life as he was in his music. He was truly in his own world, and though for 90 minutes we see him up close, with his musicians, with his wife Nellie, with the Baroness Nica, see his bizarre behavior backstage, at the airport, in the hotel, we are no closer to getting inside his head. For that, one simply needs to hear the music.
And the music collected in the movie is astonishing--An early television appearance where Monk is miffed by Count Basie staring at him across the piano during a performance...several shows with a quartet including Charlie Rouse...great footage of the big band sessions of the mid 60s, with Rouse, Johnny Griffin, and Phil Woods scrambling to learn the arrangements...and the great Columbia session, where Monk becomes visibly annoyed, but still has time for a wonderfully tender moment with pal Teo. There are interviews with Monk's managers, his son, Charlie Rouse, and a fine piano duet of "Well You Needn't" by Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris, reminding one and all that not only was Monk one of the most distinctive piano players in jazz, but that, along with Ellington and Charles Mingus, he was one of the most brilliant composers as well. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Saba Tay on the Tippie Ti.
This movie came and went in theaters so fast I didn't get a chance to see it, but I rented it because Pootie Tang was always funny on the Chris Rock show, and I consider Chris Rock one of the funniest men in America. Pootie Tang is a rapper who speaks some sort of very extreme rap lingo, to the point where you cannot understand a word he says. Meanwhile, everyone else always understands him (kind of like Chewbacca, somehow the other characters can interpret what he says perfectly) though once in a while they'll say, "What the hell you talkin about?"

The plot isn't complex, Pootie fights bad guys (like drug dealers) with his magic belt, sings songs that somehow people can understand, and the ladies love him. Chris Rock plays his father, one of his friends, a DJ, and probably some other character I'm forgetting. Meanwhile The Man wants to brainwash Pootie into endorsing their horrible product, and (surprise surprise) he loses his magic belt, and goes on a mission to get it back. Wanda Sykes is great as...uh...I forget her name, but she narrates the story and helps Pootie, plus she wears a different cool-... wig in every scene. I wasn't rolling on the floor laughing, but the movie was funny and entertaining It starts out with Bob Costas interviewing him and saying he's gonna show a clip from his movie, 80 minutes go by, maybe even less (the end credits seemed to go on for 10 minutes) . The opening, with him fighting Dolemite-type bad guys, is hilarious. I also was impressed that the movie didn't rely on gross-out humor and wasn't violent-I don't think anyone got killed- and has a positive message that makes it a good family movie. I think it was "Do right, fight what's wrong, but the important thing is to love the world while you're doing it ." And what's wrong with that?

Comedic Genius, Pure Comedic Genius
Pootie Tang is like modern art. You either get it, or you don't. People have different senses of humor, and this movie will expose that like none other. I laughed until it hurt, my best friend didn't crack a smile. The movie centers around Pootie himself, a crimefighter who uses a belt to whip his opponents into submission. He also doesn't speak English, but this hilarious pseudo-ebonics language. Pootie is dedicated to helping the children, who I believe he calls the "Tippie Tai." Now, before you make up your mind about this movie, I will give a brief test. Read the following list of characters: Pootie Tang, Dirty Dee, Trucky, Bad Bitty, Biggie Shorty, and Froggy. If you didn't find these names humorous, this movie probably isn't for you. The humor centers around nonsense. Words, names, and events that make so little sense, that they are hilarious. Example: Pootie's father is mauled by a gorilla at a factory. That's funny stuff, but not to everyone. If you're looking for subtle humor, search elsewhere. But if you're looking for a movie with an off-the-wall brand of humor, buy Pootie Tang. I will admit however, that towards the end of the movie all of the nonsense words lost their humor value slightly. That is the only thing that prevented this movie from getting 5 Stars. Sa Da Te!

Absurd, Hilarious Comedy--one day A Classic
Yeah, you heard it first.
Pootie Tang will one day be a classic.

Based on the character on HBO's Chris Rock Show.
Pootie is a superstar/crimefighter, who beats down criminals with a magical belt (from Piggly Wiggly) and speaks an un-understandable type of slang.

The story is:
Pootie loses his magical belt to an evil vixen (played by Jennifer Coolidge), who was sent by the business mogul Dick Lecter (played by Robert Vaughn).
Lecter wants the belt so he can control Pootie and get him to endorse his products such as cigarettes, malt liquor, and razor blades to the children.
Pootie, after losing his belt, must retreat to the farm to regain his confidence and strength he will need to defeat the evil Dick Lecter.

The film also has tons of other stars like: comic Chris Rock (as Pootie's friend, his father, and a radio DJ), comic Wanda Sykes (as Biggie Shorty), comic Dave Attell (as Frank), J.B. Smoove (as the annoying Trucky), Laura Kightlinger, J.D. Williams (as Froggie), and Bob Costas (as himself).

This is movie is great but you have to give it a chance and realize that it is purposely ridiculous.

Stupid with some funny moments
Corny, but with funny moments. I didn't particularly care for the girl drinking the cat-milk scene which I thought wa s bit much, but hilarious at the same time. I did like the scene with pootie Tangs hit "silent" album. Silly but funny.

Other than that...just a dumb comedy.

Funniest Movie I've EVER Seen in My Life
I'm a hardcore critic, particularly when it comes to the dozens of all-black movies, year after year, perpetuating horrible stereo-types. Your first clues that Pootie Tang is different are Chris Rock & Wanda Sykes. Within the first minutes, this movie had me crying & holding my middle, I laughed so hard. I laughed this hard right up to moment it ended. Next day I invited four friends over to watch, same reactions. I laughed harder than before! Some reviews dubbed it "stupid". That's a moronic over-simplification. It's actually a very intellegent spoof on ridiculous subjects. The comedy is brilliant! And, not ONE curse word uttered in this entire film. (Sah-Dah-Tay!!) ... Read more

Amazon.com

All these decades after his assassination at the age of 39, Malcolm X remains one of the most controversial figures in modern American history, and this segment from the A&E Biography series amply demonstrates how he came to be the subject of so much debate.Born to a family that followed the black separatist beliefs of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm Little grew up distrustful of whites, and his father's untimely death, which Malcolm thought was a murder committed by the Ku Klux Klan, solidified his attitudes.Interviews with contemporaries demonstrate how Malcolm drifted into a life of crime, and vowed, during a prison stretch, to devote himself to his newly found religion, the brand of Islam preached by Nation of Islam founder Elijah Mohammed.The rift in the Nation of Islam, in which Malcolm X was pitted against Louis Farrakhan, is capably explained by noted journalist and Malcolm X biographer Peter Goldman, who also describes vividly the assassination of the charismatic leader.Finishing with a bizarre coda, in which a grown daughter of Malcolm was charged with plotting to assassinate Louis Farrakhan in the 1990s, this video does an admirable job of presenting a balanced and coherent view of a controversial man.--Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for an introduction
I was disappointed that you rarely heard from Malcom X. I was disappointed that I heard more from James Cone. I appreciate his thoughts, but I could read his book for his thoughts. I thought the video should have captured more comments from various people such as Ossie Davis who did his eulogy. I did enjoy the comments by Peter Goldman. It is an excellent video to be introduced to Malcolm X. If you are familiar with Malcolm X then I think you will be disappointed as I was. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (61)

An insight into late 20th century culture and racial issues
In WHEN WE WERE KINGS, Leon Gast portrays 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle" as a cultural milestone in American history. This is more than a film on boxing -- it sheds light on the entire sport of boxing and, more importantly, on issues of race in America and rest of the world in the late 20th century. Intellectuals such as Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, and Spike Lee add comentary, and ask questions such as: Who was the "good" black boxer? Who should we root for, the draft-dodging but personable and funny Ali, aged and probably past his prime, or the super-talented, but also aloof and arrogant, Foreman. The contrast between the ways in which each boxer relates to the black Africans in Zaire is interesting and touching, and the fans' pre- and mid-fight chants trying to rally the losing Ali stay with you long after the film has faded to black. The film sets off at a lightnign quick pace and never slows down, and the last twenty minutes is among the most triumphant filmmaking, documentary or fictional, that I have ever seen. This film is a must see for sport fans, cultural historians, and anybody who loves good movies.

great background on Rumble in the Jungle 1974 event
The thing that leaped out at me:
1) BB King's singing and playing guitar in 1974 in Africa was at the top of his game.
2) Norman Mailer's analysis and insight when interviewed 1974 is like a sample from his book, "Fight", which is now featured, in part, on Muhammad Ali's web site now.
3) Ali seemed like a smartalec to me in 1974, but now in 2004 looking at the old footage of him talking, he seems charismatic and funny .If you want lots of Rumble in the Jungle fight footage, this is not the DVD for you, but if you want insight in to the event and what contributed to Ali's upset of Foreman, this is a must have.

Not quite the whole truth
My DVD, bought in England, contains as extras the full-length footage, round by round, of both the Rumble and the Thrilla, with English commentary by David Frost among others. I have to agree with those reviewers who have pointed out that WWWK badly misrepresents the fight. The simple truth is that Ali won every round of the Rumble. He was right on top of Foreman from the outset, and the clever editing and dramatic spin put on the match by Norman Mailer is just so much fiction. Foreman looked like he'd swallowed some substance which was the opposite of speed: as Joe Frazier said in the live commentary, he was missing with empty air-swings and "boxing foolish". After two rounds, which was about as far as he'd needed to go in previous fights, he ran out of wind. He still tried to use Ali's body as a punch-bag, more and more feebly, while Ali was picking off blow after blow to Foreman's head as if it was a standing punch-ball. Ali certainly threw a head-punch with shattering speed. He rolled around on the ropes a lot of the time, but for the rest he ducked away and danced around grinning fit to bust, mocking Foreman with his mouth and winking to the crowd. He was in much better physical shape, superbly fit, and he boxed an extremely smart strategy in the local conditions. WWWK is still a great film, however, full of interesting comment on the politics and hoop-la of the event: but it's marred by its fake telling of the fight. Ali is presented in all his glorious charismatic uppity persona, a magnificent physical presence, funny and clever, the epitome of boxing skill. I could have done without a lot of the music etc, but it seems this was part of the original reason for making the film. Four stars for WWWK, five stars for this DVD because it has the real thing as an extra feature.

One of the Best Documentaries Ever
This fight was one of the first distinct memories of my childhood. The damn thing took forever to come on TV (my father and his friends had gotten it on closed circuit in Germany) and I fell asleep at least once waiting for the fighters to finally make it into the ring. I was too young to understand everything that went on in the leadup to the "event" (and that's what it was) and I was absolutely delighted to learn that this film was going to be released so I could catch up.

And it is a truly great film. It is a great film because it documents a great time in American and African history and because the things it documents are inherently dramatic and exciting. That said, this is also a terrific film from a filmmaking point of view; wonderful camera work, in your face documenting, and intelligent editing. It's not as "artsy" as Leni Riefenstahl's classic documentation of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but that event had a totally different cultural and historical context.

As a sport film, this movie is also important because it documents one of the greatest fights of all time; Ali correctly noted after the fight that his rope-a-dope strategy would go down in the annals of boxing.

All in all a wonderfully entertaining, informative, and inspiring way to spend about 90 minutes of your time.

Ali Boom Bay Yea
As a piece of archival footage this film can't be beat, as it captures the chaos and pageantry that surrounded the Ali-Foreman fight in 1974. Ali never looked so great as he did in the build up to this fight. He was in prime form, even if a heavy underdog to the massive George Foreman. Leon Gast captures Ali in all his crazy kinetic glory, boasting proudly of how he would dance, and Foreman wouldn't lay a glove on him. Gast also focuses on Don King who in typical fashion played both ends of the stick, promoting both fighters and coming up with a $10 million purse thanks to Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire's ruthless dictator, who saw a potential windfall for the country in the international attention this fight would generate. As Ali noted, some nations go to war to get attention and this fight will cost a lot less than a war. What we got was the famous "Rumble in the Jungle."

Unfortunately, this film doesn't go very deep in analyzing the fight, and gives the fight itself surprisingly short shrift. All we get are a handful of truncated rounds and the final blow delivered by Ali. But, what this film does provide is the pageant that surrounded the fight along with engaging commentary by Norman Mailler, who evocatively captured the spectacle in "The Fight," George Plimpton, Thomas Hauser, who has written the definitive biography on Ali, and Spike Lee. Mailler is the most fun to listen to, as he lived and breathed the fight and gives some of the most trenchant comments on it, but he too seemed mystified at how Ali pulled it off, chalking it up to the "trembling woman" who supposedly sucked the life out of Foreman.

George Foreman seemed invincible, having torn apart Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, but he simply wasn't prepared to deal with someone of Ali's caliber, or the massive publicity this fight generated. Foreman was also shocked to be so poorly received in Africa, where Ali was King. Foreman seemed out of place in Kinshasha, never able to find his footing or able to deal with a crafty fighter like Ali, who came up with his famous "rope-a-dope" that evening. Foreman simply punched himself out and had nothing left after seven rounds. It was then that Ali worked his magic and proved to the world that he was indeed the greatest, staging one of the most astonishing comebacks in sports history.

"Ali Boom Bay Yea" the crowd chanted as Ali fought himself off the ropes and pummeled Foreman with an array of blows that had him tumbling to the mat. Ali never had another moment like this, although he would successfully defend his title 10 times before his ignominous defeat to Leon Spinks in 1978, only to regain it for the third time that year. This film does more than any other at capturing Ali in top form, with all his remarkable charisma and incredible talent. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

What is not to like about this movie
This movie was fun. Black and Blue get ahold of a bunch of cell phones and start their own business of hotwiring the phones to work on their service. This movie had that Friday feel. No big production, just a neighborhood that you will swear is only a few blocks from where you live. I almost didn't watch this movie, because at the time I figured it would be a waste of time. I happened to catch it on HBO and after a few minutes I relized that there was definately something fun about this movie. Well worth purchasing if you like movies like Friday or Don't be a menace to South Central while drinking your juice in the hood. It's just plain fun. Oh yeah, incase you haven't noticed, Ice Cube and Master P both are actually very talented actors. I threw Ice Cube in because he makes a cameo appearance in this one.

Money aint a thang
I really liked I got da hook up because Master P is very talented, fine and smart. He has mega loot so it really doesn't matter what he do with his money cause its' his. I gave the movie 4 stars because the ending part wasn't so funny as the beginning. I wish one day I could see him and meet the whole No Limit Soliders because they really blown up all over the world. I'm really sorry about his brother Kevin Miller pasting away. Now Master P has to do the best for him cause Kevin looking down on P and making sure he's accomplishing the best.

Thank you Eulanda A.K.A. Mookie

FUNNY MOVIE
this movie is the funnyiest stuff i have ever seen in my life, and it is a bonus for me that bone thugs n harmony sing on the soundtrack, i own it, anywayays, yea this movie has master p-black, and A.J. Johnson, blue, i liked it because it was gansta, i liek gangsta movies, so go out and get this DVD.

This is almost as bad as Manos: the Hands of Fate
There are bad movies and then there are really bad movies. This is one of the latter. I'm not picky when it comes to movies. No plot; fine they just get in the way. Horrible acting; great, I could die happy if I never saw another big name actor deliver an Oscar worthy performance.

The plot to "I Got the Hook Up" is actually quiet simple. Two hustlers who run a fencing operation go into the cell phreaking business, only to piss off all the wrong people in the process. Despite the simple premise however, the movie quickly turns into an incoherent series of scenes, which present a story only in theory. I actually wonder if the idea was to film a bunch of random scenes, glue them together, and hope for the best. This is supposed to be a comedy, but there are only a few scenes that are even remotely humerous. There isn't much unintentional humor either.

Whoever pronounced Ed Wood Jr. the worst director ever, has obviously never heard of Michael Martin. Seriously, I've seen Asian films without any dubbing, or subtitles that make more sense than this. Hell, even the Italians circa 1975, made horror movies that were more coherent than this pile of garbage. Do yourself a favor and find some nice paint to watch dry, and stay away from this one.

Watch Senseless, Don't Be a menace to..., Friday instead
This is not a funny movie... Now I've seen thousands of comedies and is a big fan of africanamerican flicks and I Know what I'm bout...

This is nuthin like "Friday" or the next, "Dont be a menace to South Central", "High School" High or even "Trippin".

AJ Johnson is a really annoying guy, but he's simply a Chris Tucker,Chris Rock wannabe who's not funny at all.
And Master P has got to be the worst rapper to turn actor, yes people even Coolio has shown better acting skills.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, IF U WANNA WATCH "THE NO LIMIT FAMILY" BUY "THE HOT BOYZ" INSTEAD ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Very Funny, Bitter, Sad--Worth Seeing In Any Case
One could easily predict that Richard Pryor was going to end up a very sad, embittered figure in his older age, if he was even still alive, after seeing this stand-up performance when it first came out. That is when I first saw it. Which is not to say that this is not a howlingly funny stand-up act most of the time. It is that too. Like most comics though, Pryor was not fueled by much good that had happened in his life, but rather by the things which had enraged him or enabled him to see the world with an all too cynical eye. I liked him much better as this stand-up comedy performer than I ever did as an actor though. He made so many lame comic films with Gene Wilder that I lost count of them. If that is the only way you have seen him perform, in movies with Wilder, you really missed seeing his true talent. I think Pryor would have served himself better as a performer had he stayed in this medium instead of becoming an actor. Some people may find Pryor offensive in stand-up but I think that is generally true of most stand-up comedy acts. Stand-up tends to use a lot of profanity and vulgarity because they are time proven audience pleasers.

A butchered performance
The producers of this film, evidently thinking people weren't going to recognize what was funny in a Richard Pryor stand-up act, all but butchered a good performance by *overdubbing* conspicuous applause and crowd noises at odd moments and frequently cutting to shots of the audience, obviously shot at different times, and inserted at random. When listening to an amazing stand-up comedian as Pryor, the last thing you want is for the camera to stray off the stage...

The Real King of Comedy!
Richard Pryor is the king, no question. He inspired most top comics today, and this stand up shows why. Alot of people forget that most comedy is recycled, and mostly from this man here. It's definitely worth buying, and you'll want his other stand-ups before you know it!

A great movie!
This is definitely one of the funniest stand up performances I have ever seen.Richard Pryor is one of the greatest comedians of all time.It is so sad that he can't talk anymore.He was definitely the most talented storyteller I have ever seen.His stories are SOO funny.He is also a great imitator.His imitations only make his act funnier.A lot of today's comedians can't compare to Richard.He was one of a kind.His routine about Africa is hilarious.Jamie Foxx's terrible routine about Africa can't compare to Richard's.This is definitely the most vulgar stand up routine I have ever seen.So if you have young children,DO NOT let them come CLOSE to ANY of Richard's movies.Otherwise,sit back and enjoy one of the greatst stand up performances ever recorded!

Not my favorite...
This to me at least can't compare to Richard Pryor live. It's funny...Richard Pryor is a comic genius...but, the jokes didn't keep me rolling as much as Live in Concert. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Awful Sequel
This movie is so bad that is not fun. Boring, awful direction, amateurish acting, the plot doesn't make sense. If you thought that SUPERFLY T.N.T. was bad this is worst ( Priest working for the cops to capture the big drug dealers? Give me a break!). Go back and watch the original SUPERFLY which is the one,I am sure, that the guy that gave this one five stars was thinking of. Avoid this one, you have been warned!

Don't even Bother
This is a Waste of Film.it almost's tarnishes the Original.After the First one the Producers&What not should have let well enough be instead of trying too milk another one out.Very Boring&Directionless.Avoid it.

Wonderful Blaxploitation film!!!
What a great film from the era of Blaxploitation. Tye Pierson give a tremendous short presentation! His best yet! ... Read more

Description

The highs and the lows in the extraordinary life and explosive career of legendary boxing champion Joe Louis—from his turbulent experiences during World War II, to his problems with racism, drugs and the IRS.Also includes commentary from Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and others. 89 minutes. ... Read more

Description

After serving prison time, Malcolm X became a spokesman for the Nation of Islam and drastically increased its membership.He promoted complete segregation of whites and African-Americans and he was the founding symbol of the Black Militant Movement.Learn what events in his life changed his view on segregation and his religion. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Michael Jordan is The Ultimate Man.
This video is ultimate. Ultimate in the fact that it's ultimate comedy, and ultimate in the fact that it features The Ultimate Man, Michael Jordan. So put two and two together--or in this case, put ultimate and ultimate together, and what do you get? The answer's very simple--ultimate. Order this video now. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Ghetto Surrealism
This film is THE most deranged, horrific, nasty, disturbing, idiotic mess I have EVER seen pass itself off as a comedy. It's awesome.

At first, I thought this was the most inept movie ever made, but now I see that Rudy Ray and his partner in crime Cliff Roqumore made the first piece of Ghetto Surrealism to stink up the screen (This movie does actually bring to mind certain unpleasant odors). This accomplishment should not be denegrated simply because it was undoubtedly unintentional. Technical flaws aside(and they are plenty ample), there are images and scenarios in this film which play out in mind like a reoccuring nightmare(none of which I can recount without being censored). It is one of the most scatalogically obsessed films outside of Pink Flamingos or Salo, but I think it is more successful than either in its attempts to outrage.

The performances are all variations on racial stereotypes and ghetto caricatures. This film plays like some evil cartoon. Which is to say there is a devilish imagination at work, one with utter disregard for logic and restraint. And one, seemingly without any good intentions.

If you are looking for a twisted cinematic experience look no further.

Not Even Dolemite Can Save This Mess
Rudy Ray Moore was a comic ahead of his time--rapping',rhymin', jivin', conniving --but evenhis classic delivery can't save this low-budget, idiotic mess. You never see the mike hanging down like you did in Dolemite (a better movie), but it still reeks of amateur moviemaking, from the shabby script, to the bad performances, to the hokey martial arts sequences, and, worst of all, a Devil about as evil as your Aunt Bertha. Moore plays Petey Wheatstraw, a foul-mouthed, karate-kicking comic. He gets machine-gunned with a crowd of other people outside a church after a funeral. A couple of fatso, rival comics want Petey out of the way so he won't take away customers from their upcoming show. Dead, Petey makes a deal with the Devil, promising to marry his ugly daughter (whom we never see) to get his life back. He also gets a magical cane from the Devil which gives Petey special powers, even powers over the Devil himself! (That doesn't make sense, but neither does the movie.) The talented Moore offers some fine, raunchy moments. But so much of '70s blaxploitation was BAD, REALLY BAD, baby, and junk like Petey Wheatstraw undoubtedly hastened the cycle's demise. Still, you have to wonder the kind of hilarious movie Moore could have delivered with the backing of a major studio. Unfortunately, he was a little bit too much out there at the time.

Great Old-Fashioned Comedy!
While sitting on the couch trying to recover from an extremely painful tooth extraction, I looked around for a diversion. My eyes lighted on this video, which I had purchased previously but not yet viewed. I was not disappointed; this turned out to be one of the funniest movies I have seen in years! Every character and situation was taken to the extreme, the plot was ludicrous but oh so funny, and Petey's poetic jokes were hilarious. It looked like everyone was enjoying playing his/her role to the hilt. Petey's attempt to beat Lucifer at his own game was bound to fail, as we all knew it would, but it was sure fun watching him try to get out of marrying the ugliest woman ever seen. A few splashes of wisdom are thrown in for good measure. Leroy and Skillet were a comedy team who should have gone straight to the top of the comedic ladder of fame; they were funny enough to build a TV series around their shenanigans. It looked like everyone was having a great time making this film. I laughed from beginning to end and it sure helped take my mind off my throbbing jaw. This movie is offensive only if you are the type of person who takes life way too seriously and cannot laugh at his/her own human foibles. Though raunchy at times, it is a relief to view a comedy that doesn't rely on a continuous stream of sexual jokes to succeed, but creates a nice balance which results in a comedy all adults can enjoy. It has certainly gained a place among my top 10 most favorite comedy films. If you are willing to suspend any semblance of reality and just want to have a good time, get this movie. It is just the thing to brighten your day. Thank you, Mr. Wheatstraw and company, for reminding us that life does have its lighter moments.

Petey Wheatstraw...a Blaxploitation classic!
For anyone looking for a serious movie about Blacks in the 70's you probably don't want to watch this. But if you grew up in the ghetto and you're looking for something GHETTO FABULOUS then this is your movie. If you're looking for a movie that is absolutely HILARIOUS this is your movie. This is truly a classic and I saw it for the first time when I was in the 9th grade about 18 years ago. Up until now, I had not been able to find it, and when I would mention it to people, only the "real" people I met had seen it. Everything about the movie was wrong, the lighting, the acting, the costumes, and especially the karate (I know Bruce Lee was (mad)!), but it was so wrong that it was funny as HELL. Even the people who say they hate it know they had to laugh when he tried to use that fake Jamaican accent to get into Leroy & Skillet's show. Or when Philadelphia Nell (OK..HELLO...the movie was shot in LA) kept answering the phone with that GHETTO "Hello". There are 2 movies that every Black person should own. ROOTS and this movie.

Helped Seal the lid on Blaxploitation's coffin
I saw this junk at a ghetto theater in Charleston, SC in 1978. Even then, people were walking out on this trash and calling it ignorant! PEE-OOOH! The ever unfunny low-grade ghetto juke joint comic who deservedly never made the big time "Wild Man" Steve Gallon appears, telling bad defecation jokes. Skillet and Leroy (who were better at making comedy albums) come across as Amos and Andy on food stamps. Hold on to your stomachs, folks. This makes "Wild Man" Steve's "Super Soul Brother" look like "Gone With The Wind!" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Aunt's review
In black and white throughout and this turned off my nephew from the beginning - "It's for grown-ups." (Although I realized the older sports clips might be in black and white, and had told him so, I was surprised that parts of the video did not change to color - the box was in high color and does not state that the video is B and W.) Overall content is good with a motivational story line and a marvelous collection of the high spots that show the range of Jordan's immense talent. A great item to add to or to start a collection. Just not a good video to grab a child's interest.

The way basketball was meant to be played
A ballet on the basketball court. It motivates you to do your best. The art of dunking reaches a new level.

Exciting action, thought-provoking message!
I use this video as a basis for instructing motivation, values, and goal setting. And the action shots are phenomenol! MJ turns basketball into a ballet... ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

With Mo' Better Blues, the story of a young trumpeter's rise to jazz-world stardom, Spike Lee set out to counter Clint Eastwood's cliché-ridden biopic of Charlie Parker in Bird. But the final product, a slick, glossy drama (with hip-hop jazz provided by Gangstarr no less), is just as superficial as the numerous Alger-esque stories of music stardom to which movie audiences are accustomed.

Denzel Washington gives a typically charismatic performance as the trumpeter in question, as does Wesley Snipes as his sax-playing rival. And as with most Spike Lee films, there are numerous solid performers in small roles such as Bill Nunn, Latin-music star Rubén Blades, and comedian Robin Harris. One character, however, attracted unwanted attention: John Turturro's role as an unscrupulous music-industry exec. Critics called the Turturro character, who is at once money hungry, swarthy, and perpetually shrouded in darkness, a classic anti-Semitic caricature. But the charge seems almost irrelevant in Spike Lee's cartoonish, overstylized world of impossibly hunky jazzmen, curvaceous hangers-on, and incessant bebop. --Ethan Brown ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Not perfect but far from a dud
The music clearly is the star of this film. Mixing avant garde jazz with more standard fare and doing it successfully. You love music, you love this film. The film itself is worth watching too. The usual expert and hardworking performance from the very photogenic Denzel Washington. Cynda Williams is so sexy I wouldn't care if she couldn't act (but she is a competent actress). Spike Lee (properly speaking, his long-time cinematographer Ernest Dickerson) is an artist and the way he photographs his scenes is always a pleasure. This is a better story than some of his other films. Don't see how a real lover of cinema could hate this movie.

A genius musician battles his inner demons.
This is a masterpeice. Bleek Gilliam is a talented musician and the leader of the Bleek Gilliam quartet, a famed jazz band in New York. Bleek has a problem. He has three loves in his life. He is forced to choose between his two worshipful lovers - Indigo and Clarke, and his true baby - his music. Further complicating his life are his lifelong freind and mooch - Giant, and his bandmate, Shadow. Giant is in and out of trouble, and Shadow longs to move out of Bleeks shadow to form his own band.

This is a visually stimulating film. Spike Lee's uses of colors and lighting creates a mood that is essentially Jazz. The ambiente atmosphere of the film is highlighted by outstanding music composed by Branford Marsalis.

Mo-Better blues is an urban tale that will strike at the heart of all. Those who are new to Spike Lee's brand of photography are in for a treat. Also be sure to check out other Lee classics Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Crooklyn, and He Got Game.

Beautiful
This is one of the most visually beautiful film with African-American actors I've ever seen (another that comes to mind is Devil in a Blue Dress, also starring Denzel Washington). The opening credits are a masterful combination of music and shadows.
Overall, an enjoyable contemporary story of young, single African-Americans filmed in Brooklyn and Manhattan, a rarity for its time. They're making more of this type of film today . . . but the actors are getting younger and younger!

Nice...
I saw this film when it was released (summer of 1990). I didn't appreciate it because I was 21 (a kid who wouldn't get the major theme). I recently purchased the DVD, and I watched it for the first time in 13 years.

I really enjoyed this film. Everyone has (or has had) a Bleek in his life: someone who is so self-centered on his/her desires that he/she doesn't show respect or regard for anything else. However, we always lose the love of our life for various reasons. Then, what do you do when the love of your life is suddenly taken from you? That is this film's theme. Bleek's true love was music - jazz music. Bleek's love of music was the most important thing to him. Music overrode everything: an incompetent manager (who just happened to be his best friend), his lovers, and the contentment of his bandmates (the money issue which is related to having an incompetent manager).

I enjoyed the score and the jazz pieces included in this film (after all, Bleek played the trumpet). I really liked the cinematography in this film because the film showed the beauty of New York City - the brownstones, the Manhattan skyline (a brief glimpse), the Brooklyn Bridge, etc.

All in all, a good film. Rated 4 stars (not 5 stars because I thought the ending of the film was too rushed).

Under rated gem.
Ok Denzel is in it playing a bit of a cad. But the real news here is that this is one of Spike's better movies, unlike the forgetable Girl 6 or Bamboozled, both nice efforts but far off the mark. Wesley Snipes, who to me is always better when he plays an evil character, is wonderful in this. Denzel is a little on the flat side in this one, this isn't a Malcolm X or Training Day performance for him. Wesley is wonderful. No action hero [stuff], just a great acting job. Spike is in it as expected and does his usual in his role. Joi Lee is credable and the soundtrack is good if not spectacular. If you are a Spike or a Wesley fan, add it to your collection. If not rent it and give it a look, its worth the price of a rental for sure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who's the baddest motherf****r to blow onto blaxploitation screens?Forget Shaft and just ask X-rated comic and "godfather of rap" RudyRay Moore. He'll give you the gospel of Dolemite. Street hustler,pimp, and all-around ghetto superhero Dolemite began life as a character in Moore's nightclub act and was a natural character for his self-financedfilm debut, a revenge tale set on the corrupt streets of L.A.

Dolemite issprung from prison by an impossibly understanding warden so he can find the drug-dealing, gun-smuggling crooks who framed him. With the help of hisall-girl army of kung fu killers and the most flamboyant wardrobe this side of Cher, he lays waste to dozens of bad guys while spouting his funky raps. Thick, slow and sleepy, Moore is neither a natural actor not a convincingmartial arts action hero, but his lazy line deliveries are great,lyrical cascades of four-letter words and "ghetto expressions," and heperforms two of his most famous stand-up raps, "Shine and the GreatTitanic" and "The Signifying Monkey."

Dolemite is not a particularly competent movie--the direction (by costar D'Urville Martin) is clumsy, the performances flat, and microphones peek in from time to time (get thatvideo letterboxed, Xenon!)--but the outrageous mix of nightclub rap,kung-fu action, and Moore's four-letter dialogue turned it into an instanturban hit and has kept it alive as a cult classic. Dolemite returns inThe Human Tornado. The DVD also features clips from the documentaryThe Legend of Dolemite and the complete lyrics to his raps.--Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Simply the funniest movie of all time..........period!!!!
I've seen nearly every Rudy Ray Moore movie made and they're all hilarious, but this one takes the cake! When you see Queen Bee and her emotions when she helps bail out Dolemite, you'll probably shed a tear or two.....or ya could get a bucket of water and dump it over your head like she did. The woman deserved an Academy Award! And Creeper.....simply amazing...for crying out loud he had to have actually been high while making this movie. I recommend this video to everyone, I've shown it to just about everyone I know and they all think it's hilarious. I also recommend Dolemite 2: The Human Tornado...it's even funnier.

Dolemite is a super bad ...in a super good movie!
On the surface Dolemite is a bad movie. Bad acting, bad production values and a bad script. So why does it work so well? Heart. Rudy Ray Moore and Company put up such a great effort that this movie that it overcomes all the obstacles it faces. Rudy Ray Moore's, Jerry Jones and D'urville Martin made this film with a $100,000 budget and did a better job than some filmmakers with $100 million budgets. The one thing I love this bout this film is that everyone does their best in spite of the low budget and poor production values. You want to see Rudy Ray Moore get even with Willie Green and those insecure, no business born, junkyard rat soup eating ... And you howl laughing every time he goes into one of his classic "toasts" or shoots off a one liner.
Sure the movie is awful. But the blaring errors only make it better. The boom mikes in shots, shadows of production crew in frames and horribly choreographed fights are so hilarious they only make the comedy funnier. If you want a great movie buy citizen Kane. If you want a fun movie get Dolemite. It's so bad it'll kick your DVD's ...twice a day.

Don't Buy It For Quality, But for Laughs!
As an avid fan of the Blaxploitation Genre, you find that quite often, people shoot down these classics. The reasons ranging from Bad acting to terrible DVD Quality. However, if you don't try and dissect these films, but just watch them, then you will be greatly entertained. "Dolemite" is no doubt a prime example. I own the Box Set of "Dolemite" films, and it is very much worth watching. I see hanging mics, and various other mistakes in filmmaking (including poor editing of a love scene), but I found myself laughing until I cried. In addition to that, I have borrowed some very memorable lines for conversations at work!!!

CLASSIC!!!!!!
This flick is classic!!!!! It's not only funny as hell, it has some interesting characters!! Like Queen Bee, and Dolemite's Kung Fu girls, the Hamburger Pimp, Blakeley the cop, Joe Blow...the lover man...."you should be paying me!!", Willie Green and Dolemite himself!!! The styles, with the clothes, the talk, and all that. The direction is horrible, so is the acting, but that some of the things that makes it funny!! But I still love it. Look out for all....Look the scene where they show the band playing at The Total Experience. For about a few seconds (good enough to see the singer's face....(I think is is on the piano, can't see what he is actually playing) You will see a very, very young...James Ingram....(for all those R&B kats that know who he is) That is him...Still looks the same, but with a perm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rudy Ray Moore: Blaxploitation God
So there's really not anything that's actually "good" about this movie. The boom mike has a starring role, the acting is completely atrocious, and I can't remember what the story was 5 minutes after watching the film.

Even so, this movie is totally and wonderfully great. It posesses in spades what many hugh blockbuster do not have: soul and inspiration. Rudy Ray Moore is a middle aged, pretty flabby dude. By looking at him, I'm simply not going to buy into him being a kung fu master and Don Juan to all the ladies. But he seems to believe that he is, and this giddy fun manages to translate to the film.

Don't pop in this DVD if you want a well-made, conventional film; "Dolemite" sits firmly in cult territory. For the cult film lover though, it's hard to disparage bad kung fu, kung fu prostitutes, a hero that commits some pretty serious crimes (which the movie wonderfully fails to adress) and strange and bewildering proto-rapping from Moore himself. This movie is endlessly rewatchable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Atlanta's Morehouse College has long been revered as a leading academic institution, and as an all-male, historically African American institution, it has been viewed as a shaper of American black leaders, including perhaps its most notable graduate, Martin Luther King Jr.In this video, Morehouse is viewed through the eyes of its students during the 1993-94 academic year, and their year at Morehouse is seen to be an experience in character and spiritual development as much as an exercise in academic endeavor.Footage shot during a fall "spirit night," a late-night ritual to promote bonding among the student body, sets the tone for the video, which features interviews with Morehouse professors as well as notable grads filmmaker Spike Lee and Olympic gold medallist Edwin Moses.Profiles of specific students show their development through the course of the school year, and the mystique of being a "Morehouse Man," as opposed to merely a Morehouse graduate, is explored in this intelligent examination of the character of this incredible educational institution. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great insight into a great institution.
As a current student at Morehouse College, I can tell you that this video is a much needed resourse into the everyday workings of Morehouse College. As you may know Morehouse is the only all male, Black, four year institution in the world. You have heard stories for years about Morehouse and her sons-- get this video and understand it for yourself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Skill, Brains & Guts begins with boxing legend MuhammadAli's emergence as a great amateur fighter, then chronicles his careerthrough the glory days of the 1960s, his exile from the ring followinghis refusal to join the military during the height of the Vietnam war,and his eventual comeback and landmark fights against Joe Frazier andGeorge Foreman. The 1975 film is worth watching for all the fightfootage of Ali in his prime, when he captivated the world with both hispugilistic skill and his entertaining arrogance. --Robert J.McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very good documentary of Ali's life up to 1975.
Ali was one of the best fighters of all time. And this 90 minute documentary captures some of his greatest moments - the title winning victory over Liston, his captivating interviews with the press, and still photographs of his 1974 win over George Foreman.

This video has been eclipsed by more recent documentaries such as the the 6 video set "Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story," "The Fights and Times of Muhammad Ali," the ESPN Sports Century one hour documentary, and a number of others. If you have those, you don't need this. But if all you want is one 90 minute video, this will do fine. ... Read more