Never Back Down
Set against the action-packed world of Mixed Martial Arts, Never Back Down is the story of Jake Tyler (Sean Faris), a tough kid who leads with his fists, and, often, with his heart. Jake Tyler is the new kid in town with a troubled past. He has recently moved to Orlando, Florida with his family who has relocated to support his younger brother's shot at a professional tennis career. Jake was a star athlete on the football team at home, but in this new city he is an outsider with a reputation for being a quick tempered brawler.
Making an attempt to fit in, at the invitation of a flirtatious classmate, Baja (Amber Heard), Jake goes to a party where he is unwittingly pulled into a fight with a bully named Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet). While he is defeated and humiliated in the fight, a classmate introduces himself to Jake and tells him about the sport known as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He sees a star in Jake and asks that he meet with his mentor, Jean Roqua (Djimon Hounsou).
It is immediately apparent to Jake that MMA is not street fighting, but rather an art form he wants to master. Roqua will take Jake under his wing, but it is up to Jake to find the patience, discipline, willingness and reason within him to succeed. For Jake, there is much more at stake than mere victory. His decision will not just settle a score; it will define who he is.
Member Reviews
Never Back Down - Much Better than expected!!! - A1Critic
Apart from the predictability of the plot and the representation of the Rich Kid lifestyles, I actually thought that the film was pretty damn good.
The choreography of the fighting in it was expertly done. Also I thought that the message the film was trying to convey was good, it shows that family and education is important and worth fighting for, and is put across in an easy to understand way.
Also it sort of shows that violence is a bad route, believe it or not! But basically I think that the film is just an easy to enjoy Action movie, that doesn't require any thought. And I would recommend it to anybody that has ever enjoyed any action or martial arts movie.No Heart Whatsoever - kav2001c
Very dissapointing. Basically take a plot you have seen a hundred times before and then cut out its heart. Like an emotionless Karate Kid.
Even worse, some semi-interesting subplots are just swept under the carpet as the film degenerates into a teenage UFC wet dream.
Troubled teen who was a fighter in his small town moves to Florida where he quickly learns he is outclassed by the local talent. He joins a gym, trains, and enters an underground tournament to beat the alpha male.
Subplots introduced about his fathers death, his trainers past, his friends attempts to fit in, his girls issues are all just window dressing to the fight scenes.I think I saw this already... - Cayo
...about 700 different times in the 80s. I think one of them was called Karate Kid? With all the remakes, tv shows into movies, etc., has hollywood run out of ideas? How about a movie about an island with a giant monkey that gets brought back to a major eastern US city, escapes, goes ape on the town, and has to be shot down by planes? Has that been done yet?
Member Reviews
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Never Back Down - Much Better than expected!!! - A1Critic
Apart from the predictability of the plot and the representation of the Rich Kid lifestyles, I actually thought that the film was pretty damn good.
The choreography of the fighting in it was expertly done. Also I thought that the message the film was ...No Heart Whatsoever - kav2001c
Very dissapointing. Basically take a plot you have seen a hundred times before and then cut out its heart. Like an emotionless Karate Kid.
Even worse, some semi-interesting subplots are just swept under the carpet as the film degenerates into a teenage ...I think I saw this already... - Cayo
...about 700 different times in the 80s. I think one of them was called Karate Kid? With all the remakes, tv shows into movies, etc., has hollywood run out of ideas? How about a movie about an island with a giant monkey that gets brought back to a major ...