Confessions of a Pit Fighter (2005)

Simply Perfect

Overrated

A Major Disappointment

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

the movie is very elementary, full of B-movie straight to the DVD rental market stuff. The screenplay is so grammar-school basic, supported with many B movie actors posted as back alley street fighters and small-time gangsters. Some known and familiar faces played the made wise guy, Catholic priest, parole officer, street fighting go-between. The dialog is so lame and the acting is so effectively impaired by the dead-beat dialog and storyline. The scenario and the plot are so predictable and so boring. The brother got 7 years jail time due to street fight manslaughter, his brother followed his path also became pit-bull fighter. Then the revenge, the mixed up with the mob's woman, and the brother's girl friend...yada, yada... It's so card-board boring but if you don't have anything to kill the time, then watch it, watch the phony fighting scenes(Wow, after so many hard hitting, punching, elbowing...all the knuckles still spotless) the never changed stupid sound effect when fists, feet, legs and knees hit the bodies, you got nothing to lose but time. On the other hand, if you like this genre, better watch "Blood and Bones", or Charles Browson's "Hard Time".

Ex-con who used to be a "pit fighter" finds he has to go back into the life to get revenge on the people responsible for killing his brother. Clichéd story told in an enjoyable way (ie. you'll watch it and not turn it off if it clicks with you) is undone by clearly staged fights. Forgive me boys and girls but a film about a fighter need s to have passable fights and this one has ones that are barely so. For me fights either have to be "realistic" or they have to be stylized so that we either believe what we are seeing or that we slip into the film's world. Here the film has battles that look like rehearsals where no one breaks a sweat, gets dirty or bleeds real blood. The action would be good if it was done to speed but it seems slowed down and I kept getting the sense that you could see the actors looking to the next move. Good but not great, better if you're forgiving, consider it a bumped up TV movie.

I thought the movie was really good. It's no Bloodsport but it was close enough. Most of the actors are not very well known but they did a pretty good job on playing out this film. I did recognize one of the guys from a smaller role in the Spiderman movies, as well as a guy from Night At The Roxbury. The story line was interesting, and had pretty decent choreography. A lot of fighting movies that come out today aren't that great anymore because I think they tend to try a little too hard with special effects. As for this film it was a lower budget movie which was what made the fighting scenes seem more realistic. Overall I give it an 8 out of 10 and recommend this movie if you are into fighting films.

Having seen a lot of Art Camacho's previous work it is to go without saying that they have been very subpar. These are due to low budgets, bad actors, and bad producing. Confessions of a Pit Fighter marks a high point in his career as I think a good showcase of his potential.Confessions is packed with some stylish editing, very decent cinematography, and some good acting here and there. Most notably is Armand Assante as the bad guy, and surprisingly Flava Flav did a good job. Hector Echavarria was not too impressive as the lead, although his brother David held his own. I think it's safe to say that there is a surprise in David's friend Aldo, who does a very good and convincing job in his role. Definitely someone to look out for I'd say.The biggest problem with Confessions is that some of the editing gets a little overdone and can be annoying, and that the fight scenes could have been a lot better. It's very hard when the fights have nothing to do with the environment, but they get a little boring and repetitive at times, regardless to say that some parts are very fun to watch. A kudos and job well done to Art Camacho, I think he is restoring faith in some viewers, and with some more touch ups in his directing skills I think he can really do something great in soon time. As well a thumbs up to R. Ellis Frazier for delivering a pretty good script, a first good attempt. Looking forward to seeing what these two can do in the future.