Review of Redbelt (2008) by Frances H — 17 Jul 2016

An interesting movie, but the plot was too far-fetched for me, too convoluted. And to think that there is anything honorable about the professional fighting business (and that's all that it is, and a dirty business, too) is also a bit of a stretch.

Ejiofor is a pleasure to watch as usual, and one of the only reasons I watched this film. And in the movies is the only way I watch violent sports, because otherwise the violence men are doing to their bodies for money is real, as is the damage they do to their bodies, especially concussion-wise, and it is only for money.

if people didn't watch, and they weren't paid, they wouldn't do it. What joy and audience can get from watching this sort of thing, which is fixed anyway, because it is a dirty business and the major money is made from gambling on it, another vice that destroys people, I can't understand.

It plays to all that is destructive in human nature, something we should try to curb in ourselves, not revel in. In the animal world, fighting is to survive--for food or mates, and their are not onlookers getting a vicarious thrill from it.

Therefore, the animal world is more "honorable" than human beings, in my eyes. As human beings, we have not progressed much from the Romans--their fighters were fighting for their lives, not money, but like the Roman civilization, the real money is made by gambling and those who set up the fights, and do not suffer the pain.