Carman - The Champion

Description

It's been ten years since his last fight, but fate is calling him back. Against his doctor's orders former Champion Boxer Orlando Leone (Carman) agrees to go back into the ring for a championship grudge match. With everything on the line, Leone's counting on faith to give him the strength to fight for his dreams. 90 Minutes.

Customer Reviews:

We are the Champions! \o/.......2006-11-25

For getting such a high-quality flick out of a Christian production company -- woo hoo! \o/

Because, even though this movie came highly recommended, I was still very reluctant to watch it (I bought it online & then let it collect dust on the shelf for a few years), so I was pleasantly surprised when I finally sat down to watch it tonight ...

And yet another of my preconceived-notion bubbles was burst in the opening scenes, because I kept thinking, "Okay, maybe the story & the acting are going to be passable, but surely the boxing scenes are going to be hokey & fake looking ... "

NOT.

I was a big fan of the "Rocky" series (yes, it's true; I admit it) & so I thought there was no way that this movie could live up to my high expectations for a boxing film, but it was actually very realistic (& when you watch the behind-the-scenes footage that comes with the DVD, you will discover WHY the fight scenes are so real-looking ... )

So, overall, it's a fun, heart-warming movie to watch by yourself, or with the family; the acting & production values are decent & the music is top-notch (OF COURSE it is, considering who did the score! ;)

The Saint vs. The Sinner.......2006-10-09

Carman is excellent as Orlando Leone, a security guard and former boxing champ, who has dreams of helping his community, the troubled kids in it, and leading his small church, which is why everyone calls him "The Preacher." He tangles with the current champion in the hotel where he is employed, and it leads to a "The Saint vs. The Sinner" match. There are numerous sub-plots that surround the match-up, including Orlando meeting his love interest, the mother of a delinquent child who breaks into his car.

The boxing footage is the best part of "The Champion." It's fast and gritty, and well choreographed and filmed, and overall, the direction by Lee Stanley and the acting by the entire cast is above average for a low-budget B movie. Jeremy Williams is impressive as the street thug turned champion Keshon Banks, Patricia Manterola beautiful as Orlando's love Allia, and Michael Nouri as his brother Freddie, whose motives are dark and crooked, and Jay Allen Jones as Orlando's friend Johnny are very good.

This TBN production is only peripherally a Christian film, and if you blinked a few times, you might miss the "religious content." It is nevertheless fairly wholesome fare, with the themes of integrity and giving to others, and worth seeing if you like boxing films without having your ears assaulted with foul language (also not to be missed in this category, and a superb film, is "Cinderella Man"). Carman has used many of his talents in this film, in the writing, and the film score, which uses some of his songs, and though "The Champion" may be occasionally a little cheesy and rough around the edges, it's very entertaining, and fine viewing for the entire family.

Good, Not Great........2004-04-05

This movie was good. But in saying that, there were a couple of places that I feel were compromised and it lacked integrity, but other than that, wow! But the reason above is my reason for only 4 stars.

Like some Christian movies, I really didn't know what to expect. This was just as good as any boxing movie I've ever seen. It was a great message and I'd recommend it to anybody, including a non-believer. I was inspired by Orlando's faith and dare to stand up to the heat when the odds were against him.

Dissappionting all the way.......2003-12-05

At first I liked it, but after watching it over and over, I got very dissapointed in Carman. The story was dragging it's way to the end, and the it just seemed so terriable. I think Carman should just stick to singing instead of acting. The acting was a total loose, and I just couldn't watch any more of it. I respect Carman's way of praising God, but I wish he could have made this movie more exciting than it already is. There was so many secnes I didn't care to watch and so many things I just couldn't get. I just couldn't take it anymore. Next time, if there is one I pray that he will do a better job at making a good story, and doing some serious acting. This one to me was a major flop.

Dissappionted from Fisrt to Last.......2003-12-05

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