Warrior

YES.

I have been waiting for this one and I was not disappointed at all.

With the exception of Redbelt, any MMA movie or MMA treatment in a movie has been very stupid.

Warrior is awesome.

First, we have an eccentric retired hedge fund manager who decides to become the Mark Cuban of UFC.  He sponsors what amounts to a King of Iron Fist tournament in Atlantic City, looking for the baddest man on the planet.

Next, we have a reclusive Russian badass who’s never come close to losing, finally tempted into fighting in the states by the large purse of the tournament (Tournament is named Spartan).

Third, we have a Afghan war vet who has come into huge popularity because he beat the living piss out of a top contender in a sparring session and a iphone vid of the whuppin ended up on youtube.  Both the vet and the whupped contender are in the tourney.

And last, we have a former UFC fighter/High school physics teacher who has been suspended from teaching because he was moonlighting as a pitfighter to keep his home out of foreclosure.

All these characters come smashing together at Spartan.  And it’s great.

Tom Hardy is ridiculous as the war vet.  And if anyone ever doubted he has the physicality to play Bane in the next batman film; they will not if they see this film.

Joel Edgerton is great as the physics teacher.  The two actually share a father who is played by Nick Nolte, who is also brilliant.

Gavin O’Connor is emerging as one of my favorite directors.  His previous efforts include Pride and Glory, and Miracle.  He’s accomplished something here.  Filming MMA action is difficult.  Grappling doesn’t translate particularly well on film to the average fan.  But it’s an integral (and arguably the most important) aspect of MMA.  So if you’re accurate with your action you run the risk of boring the average movie goer, and if you shy away from accuracy it’ll come off looking like WWE bullshit to someone who knows MMA.  O’Connor did an excellent job of filming accurate action that was also exciting as all hell.  This film is a real achievement for him.

Go see this movie.  If you’re disappointed you probably ought to see Shark Night 3D.  That’s probably more your speed.