Shadow Glories

OK. To be honest, I was expecting to go see a little independant film. The talkative once, you know...but I could not believe that Shadow Glories was really an independant film...the action is way too professional to be handled by low budget, but more important is the interesting mix of styles from documantary to deep reality. Film noir to action. It reminded me so much of something that would come from Maxim Gorky. One thing I have to admit: I Was Very Impressed.

The most intense part of this great independent film is when the Referee with the weird, almost overdubbed voice instructs the fighters to fight fair. It's bittersweet, like the performance turned in by Brando in "Waterfront". He looks like a Scotch Charlie Sheen, and is so into his performance that it transitions the scene with an almost Van-Damme-like smoothness. Unlike other 'fight' films, this one seems to have been made with every scene played with fullest heart (maximum return on the indie-budget investment, no doubt). Some films feature such background characters that seem to glow forth from the rest of the picture, as does this referee character. It's hard to overlook such amazing talent, especially when he's given such a pivotal role. His counterpart (another Ref, played by the former mayor of Lewiston, Maine, where this movie was filmed) seems over-the-top in comparison. This films beauty is in how the McLean referee internalizes--keeping his acting to a level of realism very similar to Hopkins' "Lambs" role in 1991. If only this piece of genuine cinema been offered to wider audiences, we might have seen the beginning of a new era of such fight-genre films. Perhaps it will re-emerge. Ten stars.

Truly unique vision. Uncompromising in its look at the world of kick-boxing. Many great new and fresh execution of style. This is an original film worth looking into. Astounding action. Brilliant symbolic images that build to seamless whole. Go for it. I think this one will surly become a great study in near future.

A very interesting look at kick boxing world. The film follows a broken hearted old boxer journey to reunite with his true love that he once sacrificed foolishly. On his road he encounters and befriends a female kick-boxer with high ambitions to become the world champion. Again, he follows the wrong path when he accepts her invitation to become her trainer.

A very well made film. Some the images are first class. The fighting scenes are brilliant. The one thing I would have revised were some long scenes that seemed to go on a little longer than necessary but otherwise this is a very mature film don with passion and intelligence.

All I have to say is that this film has balls of steel. Remarkable timing, and essential ideas make this film very special. In an unusual style, the film was able to make a brilliant impact on me and my friends. Most appropriate for teen-agers.