Champion

Danny Trejo used drugs for the first time at 8 years old. Spent a number of years in prison for crimes including assault and armed robbery. Probably one of the toughest, meanest looking men you'll ever see.

Since then, Danny has helped countless people as a drug counselor and has stared in scores of movies. He has one of the best attitudes on life a person can have.

Danny Trejo is an incredible example of how one can turn their life around and make the world a better place. I saw the film at the Phoenix Film Festival and had the pleasure of a Q and A session with Danny and the director. Later, I ran into Danny at the festival, got to shake his hand, and had a few seconds of conversation with him.

Champion is a Great motivational film for anyone, trouble past or otherwise. Danny is a man that loves life, and lives to help people.

Don't miss this film.

Don't get me wrong. I respect Danny Trejo more than with the rest of the world along with the girl who interviewed him, however not only did this film physically damage my eyes (though don't get me wrong; I love Mr. Trejo's physique as much as any human should), but the obscure cutaways to people who are strikingly NOT Danny Trejo nearly put me in tears.

Additionally, the editor often switched the movie from colour to black and white. I felt this was a terrible decision, on account of black and white film being incapable of capturing Trejo's full beauty.

I do give credit to Trejo himself who knows how to hold the screen. He truly draws the viewer in--his expressions and phrases and tales of woe captivated me in ways I'd never thought imaginable. Storytelling has never been more fun, and I encourage Mr. Trejo to provide his services to young preschool children.

As far as the film-making goes, the documentarians clearly had little interest in Trejo. First and foremost, the interviewer sounded more bored than I was. Secondly, the movie was sent to me WITHOUT a proper birthdate for Danny Trejo. This date is incredibly important to people all over the world. Every November 11th, people everywhere have a moment of silence to remember and reflect on the tougher moments in Trejo's life. This should NOT have been left out.

Last and the polar opposite of least (aka "most") importantly, I expected at least ONE shower scene. Seriously. WTF. Just one. I mean, c'mon--I took my kids to see THIS? Well, I guess it's back to photoshopping for me.

All in all, Trejo's as awesome as ever but this movie fails to live up to the hype created by my friends and I.

A life-turned-metaphor, Danny Trejo's story is The Hero's Journey. Your life may not look like his life, but his life is all our lives.

Danny's young adult life was defined by violent crime and drug addiction. He spent 11 years in California prisons. He'll be the first to tell you he got what he deserved. But in prison, in isolation, he stumbled across a wisdom worthy of parable: Only by helping others can you help yourself. Danny abandoned selfish for selfless and separateness for community, and in return his sadness turned to joy and darkness turned to light. Danny walked out of his spiritual and physical prison to serve others. And after prison, Danny's road to a better life came not at anyone's expense, but at everyone's increase: in love, in values, and in faith.

"Champion" is a documentary of one man's journey, limited by its subject, and vulnerable to boredom. But it's subject defies gravity, holding its audience up and lifting them from their seats. Danny Trejo proves the adage: Comedy equals tragedy plus time. Danny is an abundance of all three. Danny Trejo reminds us that redemption is beautiful. Reaching out to God saved his life. Faith in God changed his life. Listening to Danny Trejo just might change your life.

Good Luck to the film's Producers. The film deserves it. Danny Trejo doesn't look for luck, he has faith. And, he earned it.

I noticed that one reviewer really, really, really hated this film. While some of their concerns about the quality of the production were fair, how could the film earn such a low score when Danny Trejo's life story is so exciting and engaging?! Even if it had been shot using an iPhone, it couldn't help but be worth your time.

Danny Trejo is probably the busiest guy in Hollywood. In 2014, he appeared in about 20 different films--now that is clearly busy! The film is Danny and a few friends and family discussing his life. As a teen, he was a crazy punk with an apparent death wish. Then, after spending more than a decade in prison, he made a huge change--kicking drugs and alcohol, finding God and becoming a role model...not to mention a movie star! It's a really amazing story about redemption and I liked the simplicity of the story as it was told. Well worth seeing.

All I can say is that I wanted to enjoy this documentary, but found it really does the actor a disservice. Very poor directing. Seemed at times an exercise in showing all the different things an editing program can do, very cool, if you are nine years old, but really painful to watch when not needed. Now I ran out of things to say because there is not much left to say, but in the hands of a more skilled filmmaker, this could have been interesting, instead it just seemed very amateur. But if you are a fan you may like it, I was disappointed that he did not have better talent to cover his story. Nice try but a big fat pass here.