Movie Review: Never Back Down
http://www.thejournalofstudentministries.com/articles/116/1/Movie-Review-Never-Back-Down/Page1.html
Dave Urbanski
Dave Urbanski is author of The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash (Relevant Books), senior developmental editor for Youth Specialties, and writes about music, film, and culture for several publications. By Dave Urbanski
Published on 04/11/2008
What’s most unfortunate about this souped-up remake of The Karate Kid is that it’s such undeniable eye and ear candy for postmillennial teenagers. Slick. Sassy. Sweaty. Sexy. Whatever turns kids on, Never Back Down delivers via adrenalized, rapid-cut celluloid with a big cyberpunk soundtrack to boot. And all of that’s unfortunate because it also shamelessly glorifies the raw, brutal violence of mixed martial arts—namely the unsanctioned kind.
PG-13, 110 min.
What’s most unfortunate about this souped-up remake of The Karate Kid is that it’s such undeniable eye and ear candy for postmillennial teenagers. Slick. Sassy. Sweaty. Sexy. Whatever turns kids on, Never Back Down delivers via adrenalized, rapid-cut celluloid with a big cyberpunk soundtrack to boot. And all of that’s unfortunate because it also shamelessly glorifies the raw, brutal violence of mixed martial arts—namely the unsanctioned kind.
If any slice of media will lead the way toward a dramatic spike in the number of backyard brawls and after-school scraps already happening among angry adolescent guys (and girls) who’ll go to any extreme to just feel something—even if it’s getting their butts kicked by cyborgs with serious cases of ADHD—this movie will do the trick. It’s a perfect storm of tanned, ripped bods partying, brawling, and yucking it up as they watch the results en masse on YouTube via their brand-new iPhones. And like the sadistic school bully, Never Back Down sweeps you up and pins you down. Double tap—you’re out.
I could dictate to you an inordinate number of words giving you the plot, but unless you’ve been asleep since Ralph Macchio kicked the bucket after the fire in The Outsiders, you already know how Pat Morita raised him from the ashes and dubbed him The Karate Kid—which means you already know this flick’s plot, too. And sorry, but even “meaningful” dialogue here overflows with high-fructose corn syrup, so don’t bother with illustration possibilities.
But do keep an eye out for what Never Back Down reaps: To wit, it opened in third place at the box office last weekend (the theater I frequent was full at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night). Hopefully its negative influence won’t also reap suspensions, arrests, or trips to the hospital (or worse) among starry-eyed students enamored by its parade of six-pack abs and jacked-up dudes. Get ready to rumble.
If any slice of media will lead the way toward a dramatic spike in the number of backyard brawls and after-school scraps already happening among angry adolescent guys (and girls) who’ll go to any extreme to just feel something—even if it’s getting their butts kicked by cyborgs with serious cases of ADHD—this movie will do the trick. It’s a perfect storm of tanned, ripped bods partying, brawling, and yucking it up as they watch the results en masse on YouTube via their brand-new iPhones. And like the sadistic school bully, Never Back Down sweeps you up and pins you down. Double tap—you’re out.
I could dictate to you an inordinate number of words giving you the plot, but unless you’ve been asleep since Ralph Macchio kicked the bucket after the fire in The Outsiders, you already know how Pat Morita raised him from the ashes and dubbed him The Karate Kid—which means you already know this flick’s plot, too. And sorry, but even “meaningful” dialogue here overflows with high-fructose corn syrup, so don’t bother with illustration possibilities.
But do keep an eye out for what Never Back Down reaps: To wit, it opened in third place at the box office last weekend (the theater I frequent was full at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night). Hopefully its negative influence won’t also reap suspensions, arrests, or trips to the hospital (or worse) among starry-eyed students enamored by its parade of six-pack abs and jacked-up dudes. Get ready to rumble.