loading...
The Smashing Machine
No-holds-barred fighting is an extreme sport that combines elements of boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts and is so graphically violent that it was once banned in the U.S. Its premise is simple: one ring, two fighters, and no rules, resulting in one of the purest and most brutal forms of competition in all of sports. .. Read more
| Starring | Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr |
|---|---|
| Director | John Hyams |
| Genres | Documentary |
loading...
The Smashing Machine
No-holds-barred fighting is an extreme sport that combines elements of boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts and is so graphically violent that it was once banned in the U.S. Its premise is simple: one ring, two fighters, and no rules, resulting in one of the purest and most brutal forms of competition in all of sports. This graphic documentary takes an unflinching look at the world of no-holds-barred fighting and the modern-day gladiators who populate it through the eyes of Mark 'The Smashing Machine' Kerr and his friend Mark The Hammer Coleman, two of the sport's most fearsome fighters. Director John Hyams follows Kerr and Coleman on their road to a championship tournament in Japan, documenting Kerr's struggles with drug addiction and Coleman's efforts to mount a comeback after humiliating defeat. The result is a powerful, harrowing, and realistic portrait of the all-too-human participants of a very often dehumanising sport.
| Starring | Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr |
|---|---|
| Director | John Hyams |
| Studio | REVOLVER ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 33 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Documentary |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 28 Feb 2005 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (3)
View all -
...disturbing, morbidly fascinating and, strangely, unexpectedly affecting.
-
Makes 'Beyond The Mat' seem suitable for pre-schooler.
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
And you thought boxing was tough?
Sound docu-shock into the ruthless world of no holds barred fighting and the top fighter of the time Mark Kerr.
Kerr, a former amateur wrestler embodies the no holds barred scene in a stand offish mode until he realises he really is good at beating the crap out of fellow man (brazil vale tudo (Paul Varelans) pride fighting (Hugo Duarte) and the u.f.c (Greg Stott), then, there's no stopping 'the titan'.
From victory to defeat, drug addiction and a less than stable girl friend Kerr ploughs through the competition until his body gives up on him, quite literaly and.........
Rent it. Now!!!! -
Most recent members' review
View all -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Brutal but insightful
Make no mistake, this docu-film is not for the faint of heart. The sport portrayed is a tactical, skillful, yet an often extremely brutal, and almost no holds barred, form of combat between 2 men in a ring. These are the portions which may shock the uninitiated, or perhaps the naive, on watching this film.
However, if you know what it's about, this won't put you off, and behind it this is a fascinating, accessible, and often very affecting portrait of an all-too-human man, who is intelligent, articulate and sensitive, yet a man driven by his passion for competition fighting, and the need - as with most of us - to earn a living, and attempt to balance his personal life. Though as I mentioned, at times brutal, I found the film to be highly absorbing, a seemingly very honest insight into this mans life. -
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 12
Related user collection
proper violence (6)
60% from 5 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
-
The Smashing Machine
No-holds-barred fighting is an extreme sport that combines elements of boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts and is so graphically violent that it was once banned in the U.S. Its premise is simple: one ring, two fighters, and no rules, resulting in one of the purest and most brutal forms of ...
-