Must Watch: Only The Strong

Yesterday was a good day. While waiting for a ride I was sitting outside a Blockbuster in the Texas heat (105 degrees already) and decided to go inside for some water. Trying to keep cool I decided to walk around looking at the movies for sell, oh how I love movies. Then I saw..."Only The Strong" and couldn't believe my eyes. I have this movie in VHS but have no VCR, so It was on my list to eventually buy this movie. The movie just appeared, sitting on the shelf, priced at $7.99 and it was just one of those mindless acts that I grabbed it and almost immediately walked to the register to purchase the DVD. I browsed a tiny bit more just in case I found another gem in the stack. I almost giggled like a little school girl walking to the register. I'm a complete nerd when it comes to martial art movies, spawning from my brothers fascination with Bruce Lee. I am also a fan of Mark Decascos, who is also in "Brotherhood of the Wolf" which happens to be another must-see.

This is a movie that has a "Stand And Deliver" type plot where a former high school student turned Ex-Special Forces comes back to his drug and violence ridden school to try and help students like him through teaching them Capoeira, a Brazilian Martial Art. With the help of his former teacher, he takes the "bottom of the barrel" kids and shows them discipline and teaches them that there is more to life than gangs, drugs, and violence. Like in most movies, you have the "bad guy" which happens to be a drug lord who he crosses path with who just so happens to know Capoeira as well.

One of the reasons I really was attracted to this movie is because I've always been a fan of Capoeira and even once tried to learn it from a friend. The music, the heartfelt story, and the bits of humor and sheer determination also make this a movie to watch. But mostly, its the fighting though it is highly choreographed. Then again, what martial arts movie isn't choreographed? In a real world sense, beating a drug lord through martial arts would never happen because you would end up being shot in the end, but it is nice to think about.

Here is the trailer: