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That was an excellent one.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

I love documentary films like this. It felt a lot more "real" than most documentary films these days that use all kinds of recreated footage and fictional-style effects to try and sell you some social message.This one just came straight from the heart of the people it was about. I thought from the trailer that it was going to be all about kids being raised to fight but there was a lot more to it. The film centers on two gyms in the same Los Angeles neighborhood but it constantly shifts among the lives of numerous boxers/trainers/parents to tell the larger story of working class immigrants struggling to make it on both a physical and spiritual level. As it unfolds, it also breakdowns the "making" of a young boxer as he goes from childhood bouts with other kids around the country to Olympic competition to the televised professional ranks.There is a kind of ritualistic feel to the whole film as the narrator and various commentators provide a rich background of the culture of the sport and the psychological path that a boxer must take to emerge victorious. The story inspired me more on a larger level of understanding how the human mind works when it is pushed to the limit in a very real way. Overall, this is just a really original film. If you liked Hoop Dreams and When We Were Kings, you'll like this.

Really cool film. I thought the subject matter was going to be really interesting, and it was, but there were a lot of narrative layers to this documentary. Most sports docs just kind of play to the stereotypes but this one really went in its own direction. It's more about a lot of different individuals trying to use boxing to create a life for themselves, both inside and outside the sport. Especially enjoyed the clips of Teddy Atlas philosophizing about boxing as a metaphor for life. They were a nice balance to the sub-culture of Mexican-American kids as it was difficult to tell how they fit into the sport as a whole.Reminded me a bit of Hoop Dreams (except not so freaking long) and other documentaries that show the back-stories behind the big show.

I checked this film after all the publicity came out on it and because I love boxing, but this film really dug deep into my soul. Most of the movies out there about Mexican-Americans are kind of corny and make you feel like you're just supposed to watch them. With this movie, I felt some serious hardcore pride. Not only to be an American but to be the son of really hard working parents who have sacrificed their lives and instilled in me the strength to give everything I have in every fiber of my being. I know that the lives of these kids really don't mean much to a lot of people in this country, but I understand what they are going through. It's great that films like this get made. I'd like to see more and I'll definitely support them. I like how it showed all the different sides of the culture- the fighters, the gangsters, the working guys out in the streets, the religious women and the regular guys just trying to make it with their families. It reminds me why the good decisions I made were good and the bad decisions I made were bad. Never give up on your real heartfelt dreams.

Really well-made documentary. I'm amazed that I had never heard about it until I saw a link on FB and checked it out. Seems like it should have won some awards or been on prime time cable.Anyways, it's a great story and put together in a very creative way. It not only gives a cool look inside boxers as they start out as little kids, it gives the full panorama of Latinos in this country: hustlers, gangsters, humble families, religious types and, of course, the fighters.I really enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone who likes smart documentaries or just inspiration films about not giving up no matter what people tell you!