Only the Strong (1993)

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Louis Stevens (Ex-Special Forces) returns to Miami to find his former high school overrun by drugs and violence. He pledges to straighten out a dozen of the school's worst students by teaching them Capoeira . The local drug lord vows to stop. Now Stevens must fight….The film was shot on a zero budget. The story and plot are weak and predictable. The fighting scenes from Dacascos are great and the only decent acting comes from him. The story is a bit too sentimental at times and the whole thing of Capoeira changing the lives of these street kids doesn't bode much credibility,however the fight sequences are great.

This is an awesome Martial Arts film, that really is quite the underrated gem, with excellent fight scenes and very good performances!. All the characters are awesome, and the story is really good as well, plus Mark Dacascos and Paco Christian Prieto are simply amazing in this. It's really emotional at times and the final fight between Dacascos and Paco Christian Prieto is intense and really exciting, plus the training scenes that he was teaching the students were really cool. It's very well made and written for this type of flick, and I'm still surprised that Dacascos hasn't gone onto stardom and become a top action star, because he should have, plus you are able to care and root for all the kids, and feel what there going through, and why there like that. Paco Prieto is so intense and frightening as the main villain/drug dealer, and the scene where the drug dealer gang set the school on fire is really intense and emotional, plus I loved the ending as it put a smile on my face. This is an awesome Martial Arts film, that really is quite the underrated gem, with excellent fight scenes and very good performances, and I say it's a must see!. The Direction is awesome!. Sheldon Lettich does an awesome! job here with great camera work, solid angles and keeping the film at a very fast pace. The Acting is very good!. Mark Dacascos is amazing here, he is extremely likable, very charismatic, surprisingly an excellent actor, one of the best martial artist's I have ever seen, kicked that ass, and had great chemistry with all of the kid's! (Dacascos Rules!!!!!!!). Stacey Travis is decent as the love interest and did what she had to do adequately. Geoffrey Lewis is very good as the the teacher Kerrigan I really liked him, he is an underrated actor. Paco Christian Prieto is frightening as the drug dealer/villain, he looked scary, talked scary and is one hell of a martial artists, he was perfect for this part. Richard Coca is great as Orlando, I felt sorry for him as he was always doing his cousin's dirty deeds, he did great. Roman Cardwell is very good as Shay I liked him. Ryan Bollman is good as Donovan as it was sad with what happened to him. Rest of the cast are fine. Overall a must see!. **** out of 5

I saw a preview of this movie nearly 10 years ago, so I went right out and rented it. I really loved it, but I could never remember the name. I hunted high and low for the cover which made a lasting impression on me, but to no avail. Today I was chanel surfing, as I normally do, and there it was, ON British TV!!! I was amazed. I had to sit and watch it. Now I will always remember that "Only the Strong" is the best motivational movie I have ever seen, though there was one noticeable inaccuracy. When Louis (Mark Dacascos) is in his BDU's, he has his sleeves rolled like a Marine, though he was is a former Green Barret. Other than that I was impressed with the movie.

Whilst the action scenes may not be the hottest around, Only The Strong succeeds in sending a healthy message to young people - there is more than one way to enjoy your youth and assert yourself; don't use violence except in self-defence. Marc Dacascos is convincing as Louis Stevens who used to be a rebelious teenager himself, but succeeded in learning from his mistakes and now wishes to make a difference in the lives of others.The unique fighting style combined with rythm and music produced lots of healthy entertainment and sent the message that persons capable of self defence could also be creative and sensitive.