Review of Ali (2012) by Brandan W — 20 Jan 2011

'Ali' is an interesting film about the early career of "Cassius Clay" who of course would eventually become 'Mohammed Ali'.

Unfortunately this film is more of a documentary than a blockbuster. While the fights themselves are well filmed and exciting, they are not and could not be as live up to the actual real life events and herein lies this films downfall. Will Smith does his best to play Mohammed Ali but its difficult to add anything to a character that was so outspoken and animated anyway, let alone the fact that he is probably more well known than Will Smith. The finale to this film is the Rumble in the Jungle, a fight between the then World Champion George Foreman and the underdog, an aging Ali. This fight attempts to build suspence for a shock finale but anyone who knows boxing (and lets face it, if you are watching a boxing film you probably do) alraedy knows the outcome.

Well filmed with good acting but ultimately this film was too long, too slow and could never surpass the events of real life for entertainment value.

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. ".