RedbeltMovie Reviews

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• So-so Based on 775 reviews
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• Must Go!
  Written June 5, 2008

  Bad review? Then you haven't a clue what this film is about.

  by ElDroop

  Ok, so, i keep reading bad reviews about this film. People who claim the script was bad and the acting and actor selection was bad. First off, if you believe these things, than you were expecting some epic martial arts film that belongs on the shelf with bruce lee. This film has nothing to do with martial arts, and everything to do with life. A man, struggling himself, puts his life on the line at times, and sets aside his family for the advancement of others. Thus is the life of many martial arts instructors. However, most instructors go on through life never being recognized even though they are the teachers to many that are thankful. This film recognizes the turmoil of one simple, hard working, ethical man. While you say it is a bad film, I say it is a great story. If you haven't seen this film, i recommend it. The fighting isn't brutal, and the story is full of meaning. The ending? He gets exactly what he has strived for his whole life. His mentors recognition.

  • 11 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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• Oh No!
  Written May 14, 2008

  Pretentiously Tried & Failed rather than Prevailed. Movie disappoints on a Non-MMA level as much as an MMA level.

  by jcattt

  I would have NEVER known Mamet practiced BJJ, until he himself proclaimed he did. He Amazingly manages to insult BJJ w/ unintelligent Hollywoodish JJ choreography while hypocritically glorifying honor in JJ by villanizing a corrupt farce of MMA via melodrama from a "Last Samurai"-esc outsider Director view---complete with japanese drum music!! This movie has no integrity.
  
  The attention seeking Mamet dialogue script is easily defined as "neither conjunctions nor Ritalin." This "style" is like writing a book with a crayon & saying "Look at me! Im different & unconventional!"
  
  All the actors except Ejiofor and Mortimer were terrible; Casting Brazilians for authenticity, foregoing acting ability. Pretentious Portugese inserts a many.
  
  Story is a convoluted "multi-situations that build a climax" story, but in a way thats illogical, unrealistic & absurdly melodramatic. Im not allowed to write a review long enough to fully describe in detail how nonsensical & amateurish this movie is.

  • 13 out of 19 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 12, 2008

  Redbelt is well done.

  by frankstelt

  This film was well done, not a surprise since it was written and directed by the great Chicago playwright David Mamet. So many films have loose ends that are not tied up, and flaws in structure that doom most films. Not so here. This film, about the martial art Jiu Jitsiu, is all about honor. There's the cop whose gun falls into the wrong hands. The cop covers up to preserve the honor of a friend's martial arts business, and he pays the price. Later, this friend, the owner of the martial arts studio, needs to fight for money. He finds out the martial arts fights are fixed. He wants to expose a respected fighter as a cheat, and opts out of a fight and also the prize money. Out of the ring, however, he fights this guy. TV cameras capture it all. His honor stays intact.
  
  This film got applause after it ended. Can't remember the last time that happened.

  • 10 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 12, 2008

  One of Mamet's best films

  by chriscuster

  Based on the trailers, I had been expecting a lot more fighting. If you are expecting a sort of generic VanDamm kick butt kind of film, you wont find it here. What you have instead is a great drama about UFC-style fighting with good characterization and storyline. The film was quite engrossing, consistently kept to its themes, and is of Director/Writer Mamet's most successful accomplishments. Some performances were underwhelming and unplausible, but the lead actors were all great.

  • 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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• No
  Written May 5, 2008

  Redbelt

  by chernobylusa

  Although this film is getting some acclaim i have to disagree strongly. this is easily one of mamet's worst films by far. the plot is convoluted, the ending absolutely ridiculous. although the cast is great and most of the fight scenes at least realistic, the film trods along awkwardly. there are predictable moments too but that characteristic crackle that mamet has for dialogue and plot is missing in this one altogether. ricky jay's character, in particular, seems to have been written in solely to deliver a few mamet-isms. I can't recommend it.

  • 14 out of 25 found this review helpful.
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• Oh No!
  Written May 15, 2008

  stupid people like stupid movies

  by bigovidio

  this move was horrible. the story was not written well, the actors sucked but the main actor. the story was dumb. then ending is dumb. i cant believe hollywood would play this movie in theaters. Hollywood passes up on alot of great stories, and because people got money they get to put there pease of $hit movies in theaters. Dumb movie, Dumb director.

  • 17 out of 31 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 10, 2008

  I Saw "Redbelt"

  by ISPY_007

  Being in Martial Arts for 54 years, I really appreciated the basic honesty and realism of this movie. I should hope to see a sequal to this very soon. The plot was excellent, the characters/actors were well chosen for their parts, the movie carried my attention, my focus, my sense of realism throughout the movie. I actually saw it twice the same day (back-to-back... once by myself and once with my son).
  
  If you've had a bad taste in your mouth about martial arts movies in the past, this movie will definitely change that to a positive taste. There were no theatrics or wild acts that could not be done in the real world of martial arts. The fighting was realistic and authentic. The plot was believeable and touching.
  
  I highly recomment this movie...
  

  • 9 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 12, 2008

  Redbelt

  by GTCPA

  What a pleasant surprise. I was involved in the story and I was sorry to see the movie end. the Actors and Story was excellent. GTCPA

  • 10 out of 18 found this review helpful.
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• Oh No!
  Written May 14, 2008

  Redbelt

  by sandstone

  Terrible movie!!
  Tim Allen is awful!

  • 7 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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• So-so
  Written May 21, 2008

  Redbelt entices but dissapoints

  by mhksfk

  David Mamets movie deals with fight between morality and it;s opposite. The character of Mike Terry is very well acted. His unshakeable ethics are a little over the top. I don't think people realize that the film is an homage to "On the Waterfront". Brando's tragic but ultimately champion character is named Terry O'Malley. Coming out of the film I thought that I've seen it's issues in many films before. If the plot did not have such gaping holes I would have rated it higher. The bad guys are all carictatures.

  • 15 out of 28 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 9, 2008

  Mamet Meets Martial Arts - Both Win!

  by HarrisA735

  I enjoyed Redbelth from beginning to end. Conplex story, excellent acting, real depiction of martial arts.
  
  A winner. Cannot recommend this movie strongly enough!
  
  

  • 8 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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• No
  Written May 12, 2008

  RedBelt - Big dissappointment!

  by chrisjames88

  I will make this quick... This movie was weird. It had some poor acting with one glaringly strange aspect... everyone repeated their lines at least twice! If you don't know what I mean, you will if you see this movie. Odd, very odd. I wanted it to be an o.k. movie to see without the girlfriend, but it was just lame. Sorry, but save your money.

  • 9 out of 16 found this review helpful.
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• Oh No!
  Written May 15, 2008

  Nothing like the trailer

  by Wolfman

  Do not see this movie if your are a martial arts fan. Rent Karate Kid instead. I was very disappointed with this movie. The trailer made the movie look promising, but the movie did not meet my expectations. The mixed martial art sequences were weak at best. The key part of the story regarding the marbles would not get past the state athletic commission. The ending made no sense. It had the chance to be good but it went Hollywood and it was all downhill. Take your ten bucks and go see Iron Man again.

  • 6 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written May 6, 2008

  Fantastic!!!

  by journeyman67

  One o the best movies I've seen this year.Mamet has outdone himself. Great story, great action, great fight scene.

  • 9 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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• No
  Written May 13, 2008

  Not what you expect

  by rparsons98

  I hesitate to classify the movie as a "martial arts" movie like most people.
  
  Knowing that the movie was a Sony Classics Pictures release, I knew there would be very little action in the movie and a lot of drama. If you're expecting a movie about MMA, you WILL be disappointed. Not Mamet's best work at all.
  
  I understand what Mamet was going for, but it reminded me of mosaics -- a bunch of little pieces being put together hoping to make a picture. There's no clear-cut premise in the movie, other than honor/dishonor. The plot was poorly linked throughout.
  
  The first scene, though, was brilliant in helping the common viewer understand the principles/mindset of JJ practitioners. The ending was... baffling to me. Somehow, the movie wraps up in the final 15 minutes without a word spoken. Apparently, there's a lot of mind-reading between the characters.
  
  The lone shining part of the movie was the lead role, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
  
  Overall, not worth the $.

  • 11 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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