Anyone watch the movie red belt?

I just saw the movie Red Belt. I was skeptical that it could be a good movie, but I found it very enjoyable. I was also happy that most of the fight scenes were well done and not over the top. They added to the story rather then just added action.

anyways, just wanted to recommend a good movie.

Actually it wasn't all that bad. While I thought the plot was downright silly, it was a pleasure to watch and see some of the big guys in BJJ in the cast and to see Inosanti Sensei in the role of the Carlos Gracie character. The producers shouldn't expect an award from the Academy, but it was fun to watch.

I liked it a lot. My Fiance was a little confused at parts, but I followed it pretty well, found it entertaining, and liked the overall message.

Best,
Ron

Well, I thought the movie was utter rubbish.

Could maybe have gotten away with releasing something like that in the 90s.

Jo Duncan wrote: Well, I thought the movie was utter rubbish.

Yeah. Me, too. WHAT was that ending?! A street fight and the guy gives up his emperor's belt without having even fought?! The Grand Poobah somehow intuits our hero's unyielding integrity, not to mention the story behind this street fight, and bows to him giving him THE RED BELT?

Geez. That was as bad as a Bruce Lee's movie.

Dan Insanto played the master. David Mamet usually writes good stuff but you could tell half way through the film he lost heart in the material. If anything it was his rant on the Hollywood Persona and film culture.

William Hazen

David Mamet is one of my favorite modern day playrights. I admire his "sleight of hand". I appreciate his appreciation of the "con man".

Here, in Red Belt, he attempts to employ his knowledge of "con men" to his "limited" understanding of the "ideals" of the martial artist to the "reality" of the martial artist.

He does not understand, that the "martial artist" is made of many models on the spectrum. Some are masters of the physical, others the intellectual and still others, seek the mastery of the spiritual.

The sensei, the star in this movie, was not a master. He was a failure in business, in his relationships and in his failure to see his situation.

Sincerely,
Joseph T. Oliva Arriola

Onegaishimasu. I watched the film after reading about it on this thread (there were only two posts then). My own take on the film is that it tried to be a serious film but the whole movie was watching a good beginning unravel and become nothing at all. The ending was the saddest thing; there was only the disgusted click of the "stop" button on my remote.

In gassho,

Mark

I never even wanted to give the movie a shot. To me, it just looked dumb all around.

I really liked it.

I'm a fan of David Mamet in any event, but still...

The sensei, the star in this movie, was not a master. He was a failure in business, in his relationships and in his failure to see his situation.

I would agree, but how do you tell a story about someone that's already perfect or invulnerable?

I liked the treatment of the community of the dojo, the relationship between teacher and student and the conflicts that arose from that.

I didn't mind the ending; I thought the way the last section of the film played out was certainly much less predictable than it would have been in many films.

I was glad I watched it.

Best,

Ed