Choke (1999)

Admirable film.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I just finished watching the fight with Funaki, who was the better fighter among the fighters Rickson fought. Funaki's performance was very disappointing. While Rickson was getting up from the mat, Funaki did not take the opportunity to get on top of Rickson. Instead, Funaki was focusing on trying to kick Rickson's leg. Why?! Funaki has made repeated attempts to kick Rickson's leg to no avail, and got himself into this mechanical repetitive habitual motions that he just couldn't get himself out of. Seconds later, after Rickson got up from the mat, Funaki stumbled forward onto the mat like an old man, virtually screaming: MOUNT ME! So Rickson obliged, and choked Funaki out. I have yet to see a worthy opponent that Rickson defeated. 400 wins in this case means very little.

The user who posted before sounds extremely biased. I have been into NHB/MMA fighting for a number of years. Rickson Gracie is now in his 40s. One cannot expect him to come out and fight the best fighters who are in their 20s. During his time, Rickson Gracie was the greatest fighter on the planet.The movie is an awesome look at the life an NHB fighter during the early years of the sport. Rickson is one of the nicest people one could ever meet. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who is a fight fan. His style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is something that leaves everyone in awe. One thing I especially liked about this movie is the way they show Rickson training. He definitely has some very unorthodox training techniques to prepare for his fights.A side note: His son who is shown in the movie with him, Rockson, died in a motorcycle accident a few years ago. Many believe this to be the nail in the coffin for Rickson's retirement from the sport.

This crap Rickson shovels out in this movie is laughable, all that aura and spirit BS. If you don't know Rickson, he is a washed up..wait, never was fighter who talks about how great he is, then ducks all the top fighters who challenge him. He only fights pro wrestlers with no fighting expirience, or just fighters more washed up then him. This movie is only for Brazilian JJ students who still think the Gracies are undefeated...anyone else better steer clear.

Combining the behind-the-scenes footage of a sports documentary and the structure of a Hollywood dramatic feature, CHOKE is a completely original and provocative film. Alternating the stories of 3 of the 8 fighters of the Vale Tudo--a no-holds-barred fighting tournament held in Tokyo--during the months leading up to the event, Goodman is able to capture what so many Van Damme movies have failed to do: put you in the mind set of a fighter: the adrenaline, the fear, the pain, the shame, the glory. Goodman resists making overt judgments about whether these violent events are good or bad, but he does so deliberately; by avoiding investigating or answering the question head-on, he allows the characters to develop and express HIS feelings simply through THEIR action. His voice is heard, but not identified as his. This is nimble and talented directing. But the Director's steady hand does not resist exposing the personal hypocricies of the fighters, nor does he shy away from the occasional cynical moment. The 3 fighters CHOKE follows are so different from each other that one might think they were cast. But I don't think you could cast so realistically. No one would believe it. RICKSON GRACIE is the handsome, unbelievable talented, undefeated World Champion ju-jitsu wrestler from Brazil who puts his family's heritage on the line every time he fights. He risks losing everything he stands for if he will be defeated. (The training footage of him in unbelievable!). TODD HAYES is the huge pro-football player who figths in order to pay for a bobsled so he can compete with the US Olympic bobsledding team. KOICHURO KIMURA is the overgrown man-child who fights because his wrestling coach wants him to, it seems. (the only slowish parts of CHOKE are those that follow Kimura's plight--and even these become exciting at the end...). I looked for other documentaries or features from the Director but could not find any. If CHOKE is his first film, I can't wait to see his second. Bravo.