I have seen an extraordinary number of films from all over the world. I can appreciate films in almost any genre. This is quite possibly, the greatest film ever made. The acting is beyond incredible - a film that speaks without dialogue. You don't have to be a sports fan because there is a statement about human nature in this film that will move anybody. I am generally fairly stoic - I almost never laugh or become emotional about films. I have seen this movie three times and each time I am drenched in tears. There is not another film that has ever managed to elicit much emotion from me. This film absolutely brutalized me to the core. There is something universal about the subtext that portrays loss, love, and redemption in a way that permeates the deepest irrational aspects of the human condition and reaches you in a way that is so profound, it is hard to describe. Hardy, Edgerton, and Nolte do something truly incredible that is never found in contemporary cinema. This is not a period piece or sociocultural commentary, it is about something far more innate and eternal. This film is a monumental achievement that will stay with you.

This film right here is the whole reason I watch movies, wading through tons of everything from decent, to mediocre, to downright crap, just for the chance to come across a film like this, which makes it all worth it. This is a film which obliterates any flaws it might have in a blinding admiration for what it does have: an engrossing story which challenges you on several levels; and acting from the 3 principals that I might have seen equaled (and that's a big "might"), but never bettered. A truly superb production.

I watch a lot of movies, I'd say roughly 12-15 a week. I'm a stay at home dad and I watch them while I cook, clean, and as I am settling down to sleep. I have been doing it for a loooong time. I like movies. So when it comes to rating them, I suppose it's only natural that I dole out a lot of 4 stars. However, because I have seen so many, each movie in itself must compete with a list of films which includes most of the greatest creations ever captured on camera. So the 5 stars are much more rare. To say a film has made my own private top 10 list means I have found it better than hundreds upon hundreds of films. This one makes it to my top 5.
Yes, the acting is amazing. The cinematography is outstanding. The balance of action and drama is frankly matched only by "Apocalypse Now" and that director had to steal off into the jungle with a blank check and blow up half the Philippines to accomplish what he did. However, this movie is, in my opinion, unique in way that is not capable of being described by a word or blurb. There is no award for the thing that made this film so great. I will try to describe its nature, though.
To me, it had elements of many eras and styles of film which I would have considered impossible to combine. I saw here the over the top symbolism of the 60's; think "To Kill a Mockingbird." I saw here the gritty but tightly focused individualism of the 70's; think "Mean Streets," or the more obvious "Rocky." I saw here the blatant emotionalism of the 80's, think "The Breakfast Club." I saw here the academic referential dalliance of the 90's; think "Miller's Crossing," I saw here the journalistic aloofness of the post millennial films; think "Hurt Locker." Each of these iconic films represents, to me, a stylistic tendency that might evoke either praise or criticism on the part of the viewer as the vagaries of personal taste and fashion of the moment dictate. Certainly, before I saw this film, I would have thought some of these styles not only incompatible but mutually exclusive. The plot weave is also very odd. The slow merging of storyline might bring to mind such films as "Traffic" or "Babel" but where those films slowly reveal a connection of the unexpected, this film slowly reveals a connection of the inevitable. By the time I finished my first run of this film, I was left with the feeling that I had watched at least three separate but fantastically emotional films in the space of a little more than 2 hours. I had only absently clicked on the title at bedtime guided by a vague disposition towards fight movies and an appreciation of the versatility of Ben Hardy. I stopped rewatching it after the light of morning was streaming through the bedroom windows.
In an attempt to find a critical appraisal that was less than shining as I groped for a way to more holistically define what I had just experienced, I did stumble across the word cliché. I would say that it was cliché like Homer.
It might be a man thing, too, possibly. Even for a fight movie there was a whole lot of time spent on action in the ring. But that was another thing. There is not just one climactic fight. There are like 4 or so. How is it possible to have more than one climax? It's difficult to describe. Maybe that's more of a woman thing. I have to say that when it was over I didn't want to roll over and go to sleep. Instead I wanted to sit around and talk about my feelings.

One of the best movies I've ever seen. Hardy and Edgarton are phenomenal. Nick Nolte's performance was astounding as well. I teared up a few times, and the juxtaposition of the the National songs was brilliant. Definitely recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of... movies.

I have watched a lot of movies in my days. Like music, I can appreciate films in almost any genre. This is quite possibly, the greatest film ever made. You don't have to be a sports fan because there is a statement about human nature in this film that will move almost anybody. I have seen this movie several times and each time I am fighting back the tears. There is not another film that has ever managed to elicit much emotion from me. This film absolutely brutalized me to the core. I am sure that this film hits more at home for me because I grew up in a household of 6 boys, no girls. Domination was always being questioned and proven. There is something universal about the subtext that portrays loss, love, and redemption in a way that permeates the deepest irrational aspects of the human condition and reaches you in a way that is so profound, it is hard to describe. Hardy, Edgerton, and Nolte do something truly incredible that is never found in contemporary cinema. The relationship with my brothers is very much like the relationship in the film. We are all adults now and have the utmost respect and love for each other but we were almost all wrestlers and so there's always a competition and we only play to win. This is not a period piece or sociocultural commentary, it is about something far more innate and eternal. This film is a monumental achievement that will stay with you.

Whoa that was intense! Great story and great acting! If you're thinking hmm do I know Tom Hardy's other work? You probably do. Because he absolutely transforms into whatever character he is portraying it sometimes it doesn't register that this is Tom Hardy. Well done to the whole cast. This is great movie even if you are not a fan of any sport or even sport movies.-- this is about people, family and navagating the trials of life. I would love to see a part II to continue the story. The story after the story.

Warrior was about two brothers Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton). Tommy was a former Marine that got into fighting. Brendan was a high school science teacher who was a former MMA fighter. When faced with debt and the possibility of losing his home he returned to the ring to earn extra money. You can guess that the two siblings will face off in the climax.

The second part of the movie is all about the major MMA tournament the two brothers enter. The two are complete opposites. Tommy was an Internet sensation who relied upon brute force. Brendan was a nobody who had to use wrestling technique. Of course that’s all build up until the two brothers have to fight each other, but it does not end as expected. It’s also very emotional.

There have been some great fight movies from the original Rocky to the re-imagining of that franchise with Creed to The Fighter. Warrior ranks right up there with them.
C

As I've probably mentioned before in the handful of reviews I've done for sports movies, I'm not the biggest fan of sports or sports movies in general. Still, I know a good film when I see one and WARRIOR is more than that: it's excellent. Befitting a film that deals with MMA and despite the PG-13 rating, it doesn't pull its punches physically or emotionally. This is probably one of the most intense movies I've seen from a visceral standpoint and on an emotional level. Without getting into too many specifics, the story is about two brothers who have been separated and on the outs for quite a long time. Due to personal circumstances, they both (inadvertently) enter the same MMA tournament and deal with relationship issues that have gone long unaddressed. The two leads, Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, both do an awesome job with the dramatic material while also bringing a believable physicality to their fight scenes. Although they are filmed and edited in a rather chaotic style, I thought that it worked here even if it came with the slight loss of comprehensibility. For the most part, however, you get to see all of the punches, throws and takedowns from a variety of perspectives. Also lending some dramatic heft to the film was veteran actor Nick Nolte, who plays the brothers' father, also on bad terms with his sons for a variety of reasons. He was as fleshed out as were the two siblings and even gets a couple moments that seemed Oscar-worthy. In general, this wasn't some mindless story with a bunch of fight scenes strung together. Every fight had a purpose for the overall story, and there was plenty of back story for each main character to get you fully invested. So much so, that by the time the end comes around you don't know who to root for because they both have such strong motivations. It's like the Sophie's Choice of fight films. My only complaint, which is minor at best, is that once it does come around to the conclusion it lays on the melodrama a bit thick, and the final moment in the ring which was backed by an acoustic song had me rolling my eyes a little bit. Still, this was a powerful drama with incredibly brutal fight scenes that actually meant something. Even if you don't normally go for sports movies, this is one of the few that transcends that genre's limitations and manages to be inspirational without pandering. Highly recommended.