When We Were Kings details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Don King, Muhammad Ali, George Plimpton |
| Director: | Leon Gast |
| Genres: | Documentary - History, Sport - General |
| Studio: | UCA |
| Collections: | Boxing Movies |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
When We Were Kings |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 24 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 14 May 2001 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
Truly great stuff
By GusM (5 reviews) from London , 23 Sep 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
The story of the 'rumble in the jungle' in which Muhammad Ali, who had been imprisoned for refusing to go to Vietnam, travelled to Zaire to fight World heavyweight champion George Foreman. Make no bones about it Muhammd Ali is the main attraction in this documentary as he trains and travels around the African country displaying a charisma and wit not seen since by a sportsman. The documentary intercuts original foootage with retorspective soundbites from journalists and commentators such as Spike Lee and Norman Mailer. Add to that a soundtrack that includes amongst other James Brown and BB King and you have one of the most entertaining and revealing documentaries ever made.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(47)five star value
By a customer , 18 Oct 2011Great film documentary really brings home the atmosphere. You dont have to be a boxing fan or know much about the fight. Interesting background on zaire at the time mixes well.- Was this review helpful to you?
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BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
By a customer from TUNBRIDGE WELLS, ENGLAND , 20 Jan 2011Insightful documentary about the Black experience in America as regards the unwillingness of Blacks to play the White man's game.
Muhammad ALI was a political athlete who refused to serve in the US military in Vietnam because the Vietcong never called him a 'Nigger'. Also, of course, Blacks are largely denied a share of the American Dream - despite paying taxes - so have less reason to be patriotic. This stance made ALI a hero for Blacks and somewhat less popular with Whites.
The irony of this movie is that it focused positive attention on Africa - and the achievements of Blacks - in a way that the White media rarely shows, yet Zaire was a dictatorship that does not make Africa look good - especially in terms of human rights. This issue is largely unexplored here.
This film is also about the positive mental attitude necessary to overcome apparently insuperable odds. ALI was a beautiful fighter because he was intelligent and used that brain to beat a boxer (George FOREMAN) who should have beaten him - at least on paper. Yet loving boxing as much as ALI did is tempting the fates to destroy him if he stays in the ring beyond his sell-by date.- Was this review helpful to you?
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You think you know someone.....
By Kinobick (30 reviews) from Enfield , 13 Jan 2010Considering that I have been on this planet for 27 years, I was made aware quite quickly at the start of this film that I knew very little about Muhammad Ali. I have always seen him the same way everybody else does, as one of the most important Icons and sporting figures of all time but it wasn't until I watched this film that you realise exactly why that is.
He is a remarkable individual and in this film, when you hear him speak, you become transfixed. It's a fascinating portrait of a man who is so inspiring it makes you immediately want to be a better person.
The films documentary style is tight, focused and centers around Ali, Foreman and Don King on the run up to the fight in Zaire, the 'Rumble in the Jungle.' The build up before the fight is well crafted and in a lot of ways is more important than the actual fight itself.
I can't reccomend this film enough, even if you have no interest in boxing as a sport you can't help but admire the dedication and training that these people go through. Ali is a surprisingly eloquent force of nature who was and still is an incredible role model, he puts most of todays sportsman to shame.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Ali!
By a customer from Norwich , 01 Feb 2009Other than “Ali”, I haven’t seen a film that has truly done The Great Fighter justice, until now. Although more a documentary than a film, per se, it is nonetheless a gripping glance at the life of a truly marvellous character that applied his soul to every fight, and poured his heart into the causes he believed in. He wasn’t afraid to be the man he envisaged himself being, and demonstrated this every time he addressed people. This documentary has affirmed my admiration for a man I would love to have met. The fact that this documentary provides some thought-provoking points is an appetising side dish to the meat and veg. of a well-spent 84 minutes.- Was this review helpful to you?
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The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle
By LaurenceScotford (48 reviews) from Hove, England , 23 Jan 2009Whether or not you are a fan of boxing, if you have any interest at all in sports history and the story behind this fight, there are two experiences you should not miss: one is to read Norman Mailer's classic account 'The Fight'; the other is to watch this film. The event is presented in the context of Ali and Foreman's boxing careers and the political situation at the time. There are insights from Mailer, Plimpton and local fight followers. Inevitably, this documentary is dominated by the force of Ali's personality. Nevertheless, it is a sensitive and honest portrayal of both men and one of the most significant sporting events of the 20th Century,- Was this review helpful to you?
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