Only the Strong
Former Green Beret Louis Stevens returns to his hometown of Miami after completing military service in Brazil, only to learn that his old high school has become a haven for gangs and drug dealers. After Stevens uses his capoeira skills to kick several drug dealers off of the school property, Kerrigan, one of Stevens' old teachers, sees the impact that Stevens has on the students. Kerrigan gives him the task of teaching Capoeira to a handful of the worst at-risk students at the school.
Insights
Plot Summary
A former Special Forces soldier, wrongly imprisoned, returns to his old neighborhood to find his former mentor has been murdered. He decides to train a group of troubled youths in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, to help them defend themselves and find a better path in life. As he guides them, he uncovers a conspiracy involving drug dealers and corrupt officials who were responsible for his mentor's death and are terrorizing the community.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, 'Only the Strong' received mixed to negative reviews from critics, who often found its plot predictable and its action sequences somewhat derivative. However, it garnered a modest following among martial arts film enthusiasts for its unique focus on capoeira and the genuine athletic performances of its lead actors, particularly Mark Dacascos.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for introducing capoeira to a mainstream audience.
- Criticized for a formulaic plot and underdeveloped characters.
- Noted for its energetic fight choreography.
Google audience: Audience reviews suggest viewers appreciated the film's unique martial art, capoeira, and the action sequences. However, some found the story to be cliché and the dialogue uninspired.
Fun Fact
The film was one of the first mainstream Hollywood productions to prominently feature capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music.
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