Never Surrender (2009)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Diego Carter (Echavarria) is a world-famous MMA fighter who is enticed by a mannish woman named Sandra (Koys) to join an underground Punchfighting circuit. It is run by the ruthless Seifer (Kilpatrick) - ruthless in the sense that what he's really running is a prostitution ring. He calls them "consorts", and if you win a match, you get a consort, or your opponent's consort, or something like that. It's all just a tawdry excuse to have Skinemax-style softcore porn scenes with plenty of unwanted, un-asked for Hector Echavarria nudity. Ew. All this nonsense leads up to "The Tournament", presumably the ultimate battle for the ultimate consort. Also, Carter falls in love with Sandra. What's REALLY going on? This movie is like a 90-minute training video for Hector Echavarria. Somehow he was allowed to direct this thing, and it has all the inept editing and strange cuts you might expect. You never see blows connect because there's an unnecessary cut right before the blow lands.Undue emphasis is put on the fact that he uses the late night-advertised product the Perfect Pushup in his training rituals. Echavarria invited all his fighter buddies to be in the movie, whether they belong there or not, and they even go by some of their real names.In the beginning of the film, two burly men in shorts are grappling, grunting and sweating while a song with the lyrics "45 minutes of Loooove" plays. Then they grab each other's legs for the takedown. Wags who would decry these movies as homoerotic...may have a point here.Also it should be noted that Diego's "...punches carry the dream of a small child who grew up off the coast of La Plata." Naturally, The Tournament has "no rules and no referees", and Seifer notes, "is tax free". Is this a comment on today's political landscape? I know I go to modern-day Punchfighters for top-shelf punditry.Patrick Kilpatrick looks like Howie Mandel now, and screams and yells just like Nick Mancuso in Death Warrior. However, this movie makes Death Warrior look like a masterpiece. James Russo is barely in it, which was a disappointment.On the bright side, Crusher's involved.Overall, this movie is beyond dumb. Its structure resembles a brainless video game, but with more grunting.for more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Hector Echavarria please for the love of the movie going public never make a movie ever again! You make everyone sound like a Mexican, GSP's voice might be the funniest thing ever! Also, if you watch late night HBO porn, this movie actually has worse actors! BJ Penn and Rampage have a sweet 1 minute cameo, and I actually gave up on the movie before I ever saw Anderon Slyva. This movie consists of round house kicks, sex, huge haymakers, sex, jumping back fists, sex, terrible lead acting, sex and Hector Echavarria attempts to be an MMA god and fails miserbly. So, in closing, Hector Echavarria please attempt another career because movie making is not in your future. I heard Billy Mays job is open, you might have a good shot at that!

I thought that it was an OK movie, not too bad, as it's been rated. I think the rating of 3 is too harsh; 6/7 would do. The storyline could have been a lot better, adding more spices and a touch of elegance to it, but i can say that; this movie is a lot better than other movies which have been rated a lot more than this movie. The girls were amazing and very sexy, and add a touch of love in the movie, which you wouldn't expect in MMA movies. The fighting was OK, but could have been better.Overall, i thought this movie was an satisfactory movie. Tweaking it and making it better could for some viewers, find it enjoying and fun to watch. If you like MMA with a touch of 'sexy', you'll like this movie.

I was pleasantly surprised by this film as its something you can enjoy even if you're not that into UFC. Having said that it is ESSENTIAL for fans of UFC with appearances from Rampage, GSP and BJ Penn. Films starring sports figures have generally been hit and miss (Space Jam anybody?) but Never Surrender is definitely a hit. Rampage is particularly convincing and shows signs of what might be a looming crossover into Hollywood (The Rock anybody?)This movie doesn't require many brain cells and that's the joy of it - you won't get lost following the story and it never descends into anything even slightly mundane.Hector Echavarria does a great job as Diego Carter, a world champion who risks his life and his reputation in the illegal underworld or MMA. It's got women, weapons and wheels - so is satisfying on all fronts.The only disappointment is that it ends after 90 mins. I could have watched about 3 hours of it.Its out on DVD in the UK on 22nd June for all British fans of this fine sport... and for girls who want 90 mins of peace and quiet while their boyfriends sit glued to the screen.