There is definitely no doubt about what was great about this movie. The boxing sequences were not only action packed but also mostly realistic (There was some defense, there were jabs and not only heavy power punches). The final fight (which is I think no spoiler since every boxing movie ends with a big match) was thrilling, you wouldn't know until the end who was actually going to win (which is rather unrealistic but also inevitable for a movie that considers itself as "action" and also wants to entertain the audience. My big problem with the movie were the characters. Not only are they one-dimensional, we don't even learn too much about them. It is like (and that might be the movie's intention) life only takes place in prison, everything what the human individuals have been before they were sent to jail now doesn't count anymore. That's actually a nice concept but not if the only solution to achieve this aim was to avoid giving the characters any background. The protagonists remain without soul, we never get to know whether they are good or bad, whether they committed their crimes and whether we are supposed to feel for the one or the other. Who is the antagonist in the movie? Is it the one who is supported from all the prison inmates and guards, who is undisputed in the prison-fight-system or is it the one who should-if the outside world ever should learn about the fight and maybe even not if- have the public's support, who is undisputed in the "normal" boxing world. both have their pros and cons and only the outcome of the fight made me know who I could have thought of as the good guy, since he won. My problem was, I liked the other one better. But that was just me and is up to anybody else since this movie really lets you make your choice on your own. And again: A good idea: A boxing movie where both fighters are illuminated, the audience learns to know them both and both have the same screen time. (Imagine, we would have learned about Drago's degradation by the military of becoming a boxing slave for them). But both characters remain flat and really likable is none of them. That was a pity since you could notice that this was no rushed movie, there was a good concept and a good (though rather short-an action)plot and great names : Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes-It's worth watching the movie just to see them on screen together. But all in all: there is something missing what could have made this movie great. Part II has that something but that one is dumb-but it's more violent and the action sequences are (also due to that) maybe even better(though it's no boxing anymore what I found stupid since the first was nothing but a boxing movie.
Review of Undisputed
