Warrior (3 Stars - 4 Stars)

            Boxing movies are the greatest sports sub genre of all time. Nothing matches the raw and gritty performances of two characters pounding each other into submission. However, therein lies a problem where boxing movies tend to repeat its formulas over and over again. I will give exceptions to these movies, as long as it has a touching story and if it focuses more on the character and his internal crisis. So much that it voids those certain clichés.

            Warrior has a unique premise and it's character driven in a way where all of this leads to a big ending that I will not reveal. It's a well done boxing movie; however, I must still point out that it's still a boxing movie, with all of its Rocky moments and the whole character arc. There are moments where the two characters are struggling, whether it's about the past, or it's about making ends meet. There is a training montage that's arguably done pretty well, and there is a climactic battle in the end where the arc goes full circle.

            Tommy was a former marine from Iraq who saved a tank full of soldiers and is considered a war hero. He also has a haunting past during the war and decides to redeem himself by training with his dad, Paddy, played by the wonderful Nick Nolte. Paddy was a former trainer who became a drunk and a horrible father figure. Tommy plays aggressively and simply walks away from his opponents when he wins the match. Because of his fast wins, Tommy wins the crowd and the marines.

            Brendan was a former MMA wrestler and is now a family man, as well as a Physics teacher. He chooses to remain independent from his dad because of his past life as a drinker, and lives a separate life away from his blood family. Because he can barely live off of ends meet, Brendan decides to train for boxing, and because he's a former wrestler, he typically takes his time in the ring and wrestle the opponents until they tap out. Because Brendan was a high school teacher, his students, and even the principal who fired him roots for him.

            The movie cuts back and forth to establish these two separate characters who don't even meet up until we get to the near end of the movie. They both seemed to be in opposites of each other and actually hate each other. Their fight together was more of a personal brawl rather than a clean match for a title. This was a real boxing movie about family ties and the importance of where you come from. Basically, it has the same idea with The Fighter but excels in its concept more.

            I will point out that there is a threatening boxer in the movie named Koba, from Russia. Because we already know about the premise of the brothers fighting each other, through logic, we know that Koba is going to lose. Therefore, I really see no point in blowing up his characters in a situation when the real situation was about the two brothers.

            The movie introduces us the world of mixed martial arts. It's basically boxing, kicking, and wrestling fusion. Because of this, there are more opportunities to do things other than punching. There are moments where the fighters can be in serious damage because of its brutal nature. Cinematography wise, it's a bit shaky and it works during certain moments, and there are some where a fluid camera move would've sufficed. I love the fact that some of the shots were behind the fence where we see the fence out of focus, showing the fight through the audience's perspectives.

            This movie's ending was perhaps the most gripping ending since Rocky where it all comes down to the last battle to end all battles. The two brothers, whom we've come to love and respect, are now fighting each other. Only one of them is going to win, and this notion of who's going to win got me at the edge of my seat. It's an ending that's different where victory and getting the title doesn't mean anything. In the first Rocky, Rocky loses the first battle, but we still end up feeling satisfied. When Adrian runs up to Rocky and exclaims how proud she is, that's the genuine winning moment. In this movie, when one of the brothers win while the other loses, there is no winning moment, there is a moment that shows how the brothers leave their past behind and how they start their relations anew.

            I see this as a battle between a Democratic vs. another Democratic. Or a Republican vs. another Republican. If I see this as a Democratic vs. a Republican, then I would obviously root for only one of them. In this movie, I want both of them to win. The two journeys of these characters and the arc that we've seen for more than two hours all lead up to the ending that is both sad and satisfying.

            This movie was decent in execution. It accomplishes a bold move by having two main characters rather than one underdog. Because of this, I feel that the movie should be changed to Warriors rather than a singular Warrior, because I don't want to choose between which of the two is the warrior implied. I want to say both of them are.