Forced to Fight (2011) User Reviews

Gary Daniels steps into the cage in Forced to Fight

[rgblakey · 5/10 · 12 February 2013]

Martial arts films just don't come out all that often with the exception of the Asian market. Back in the 80's and 90's there was a new one hitting the video shelf all the time featuring an exclusive group of martial artists that had cornered the market. One of them included Gary Daniels who also recently showed up in the original Expendables film and now has an all-new martial arts film called Forced to fight.

Forced to Fight follows an ex-kick boxer, forced into the world of MMA when is brother refuses to throw a fight and left for dead. As if trying to fight to pay off his debt wasn't enough he has to content with the growing obsession of being back in the ring and the toll it takes on his family. This is one of those movies that you pretty much just watch for the fighting. The story is fine, but it is one that has been done a hundred times over, especially back in the 80'/90's action phase. This film fits right into that category and delivers the look and fill with the added addition of the MMA style fighting. The way they bring Daniels up to date with this sort of fighting is added to the story, but still manages to let him keep his style intact. There is plenty of martial arts action here, with most of it well choreographed, with just a few that don't offer all that much excitement. Daniels hasn't lost a step and continues to have a great screen presence. Robocop himself Peter Weller jumps in as the baddie for the film and does a good job cheesing it up a bit while not getting too over the top.

This is a film that will most likely only entertain the hardcore martial arts fans and is exactly who it is made for. While he never left, it's always great to see one of the old school guys back on the shelves with a new movie and Daniels delivers. If you love old school martial arts, then give Forced to Fight a try.

Pretty Awful Fighting Nonsense... Yet Fun

[gavin6942 · 4/10 · 14 December 2012]

Scotty owes money to Danny G (Peter Weller). He gets beat up, and his brother (Gary Daniels) steps up to fight and earn the money... but getting in is a lot easier than getting out.

There is not a whole lot about this film that makes sense. Why is the lead character (Daniels) clearly English, and yet his family is not? Why does he get so enraged as the film progresses? Why does his wife tolerate it? What the heck?

Daniels is a great fighter, even at age 49. He has appeared in scores of action films and is known as a kickboxing champion. You may have recently seen him in "The Expendables" as the villain, or appearing alongside Wesley Snipes or Steve Austin in recent years. This is not his best work... not by far.

Oddly Entertaining yet..a bad film

[TheBishop34 · 5/10 · 10 August 2013]

I am not sure what to say about this film. I liked both Gary Daniels and Peter Weller in it, I thought the fight scenes were very well done and I was pretty entertained by it. However the film is bad on so many levels, the plot pretty standard fare, probably something you would have seen a lot in the 80s, Daniels has to fight to pay the debt his brother owes to a underground fight promoter played by Weller.

The acting of Daniels' characters wife and child are largely cringe worthy especially the boy. The pacing is very off in the film, you know time has to be passing, but it doesn't feel that way. Daniels decent into his characters fighting addiction is almost so sudden as to be unbelievable as is his abusive way he handles his family after this occurs. Nothing about this part of the film feels genuine and is what really brings the film down.

The nail in the coffin comes with when Weller kills the brother needlessly. It doesn't really follow, he has Daniels fighting for him, even got him to take dives. He took Weller's threats seriously, so the murder of the brother does nothing except give Daniels a reason to screw Weller royally which he does.

There are other nitpicks here, the big bad fighter at the end isn't really set up well, you never really see him as much of threat and Daniels seems to have an easier time of finishing him then he did the previous fighter. The cop that is investigating the murder seems to have been pulled from the 70s, old style appearance, unkempt appearance, heavy NY accent and all. Then the low budget swat team seen at the end, all black ski mask wearing subjects with handcuffs visible to show they are cops.

However even with all the flaws, I was still entertained and in the end that is all a film has to do.

Fortunately, Forced to Fight is, if nothing else, evidence that Gary Daniels has still got it.

[tarbosh22000 · 15 August 2014]

Shane Slavin (Daniels) is a former Punchfighter but now shuns violence and works as a humble auto mechanic. When his brother Scotty (Reece) follows in his footsteps and begins underground fighting for ruthless fight promoter Danny G (Weller), he makes a terrible mistake. He begins borrowing against his fight winnings, and soon he owes Mr. G 64,000 dollars. But he can't earn it back because G's goons give him a severe beating. When G approaches Shane about earning the money in lieu of his brother in a "comeback" role, Shane of course says no. Seeing no other way to earn the money, he's then "Forced To Fight". The only problem is, the fight game has become even more brutal since Shane left, and, to compete with younger, stronger fighters, Shane has to train and train to remain in the game. But it begins to negatively affect his personality, and he becomes a jerk to his wife Connie (Weaver) and his son James (Thomas). What with Danny G forcing him to take dives, and even kidnapping his wife and son, the stakes have never been higher for Shane Slavin. But is he truly forced to fight...or does he enjoy it and now he's fighting for his honor and pride? Find out today...

It was great to see an older, wiser Gary Daniels. Especially when he can Punchfight with the best of them. But you also care about his character Shane, who goes from a nonviolent mechanic to the guy who gets "in too deep" and his whole demeanor becomes darker. Whether intentional or not, the theme of the film seems to be that the older fighters have more heart. The younger guys might have flashier moves, more bulk, and stupider tattoos, but Shane Slavin refuses to fight dirty and initially is resistant even to MMA-style floor grappling, insisting he's a "stand-up" fighter (in more ways than one). Peter Weller then makes a hilarious remark about how it looks gay anyway.

While it is, frankly, amazing that in 2011 Punchfighters of this type are still being made, and we are happy about that, it does kind of make you long for the old days. Probably much like Shane Slavin. Look at a movie like Shootfighter (1992), where fighters had colorful, individual personalities and fighting styles like Boa and Mongoose. Compare that with today where we have a bunch of heartless, soulless, characterless, humorless, merciless thugs as fighters. Screaming fans in the audience no longer hold cash in their hands. Now it's all done on a computer, and rather than clutching their cash, they now clutch their iPhones. Sure, Punchfighters are still being made, but at what cost? The presence of Gary Daniels not only keeps the movie afloat, it highlights and underlines this change of the world to a harsher, less fun reality.

If you watch a lot of Punchfighters (and we assume you do if you're reading this site) then plotwise, Forced to Fight is nothing you haven't seen before. It has every single cliché (not meant in a negative way) these movies tend to have. It would be pointless to list them all, because the movie itself is one big cliché. But movies like this are made for fans who want to see them - hence you can actually SEE the fights and there, mercifully, isn't a reliance on quick cuts and nu-metal. That's absolutely to the movie's credit, but you may get "punch fatigue" towards the end if your tolerance for shirtless, hulking men in small shorts wailing on each other isn't super high (i.e. if you are a normal human being).

Fortunately, Forced to Fight is, if nothing else, evidence that our beloved Gary Daniels has still got it. That alone makes the movie worth seeing, and the presence of Peter Weller only sweetens the deal. But if some of the things we mentioned earlier turn you off, thanks to the predictability of it all, at least you'll know what to expect going in.

You'd have to be 'Forced' to watch it, too

[Fluke_Skywalker · 3/10 · 13 March 2014]

There was a time when I could dial down my expectations and enjoy a direct-to-video action film for what it is. Perhaps those days are over, or maybe 'Forced to Fight' is simply a bad movie regardless of format.

You don't watch a film like this expecting Academy Award caliber acting, but the performances here make those in your average Sy-Fy 'Sharktapus vs. Hammer Head Chiuaua' flicks look like Masterpiece Theater. They're so bad in fact that they make villain Peter Weller look like Olivier by comparison. And the script... let's forget about the script. The producers apparently did.

Of course all of this could be forgiven if the most crucial element of a fight flick—the fighting—was even remotely exciting. Oh it's technically competent I suppose. These guys are all the real deal. But the choreography and staging is flat and repetitive. After about the fifth or sixth bout my eyes began glazing over and I seriously contemplated "tapping out" my self.

'Forced to Fight' is a bottom of the barrel waste of 100 minutes. Avoid at all costs.

Tired, but watchable with Daniels in fine form!

[Movie-Misfit · 5/10 · 22 October 2014]

Forced To Fight is another one of those underground fight flicks!

Another one of those, fighter forced to fight for a family member, flicks!

Another typically American MMA action drama!

This time, fan favourite Gary Daniels (who has had a few stand out moments in his career) is the lead guy. The fighter with a heart, in probably his best acted role to date.

Peter (Robocop) Wellar is the bad guy, and does so convincingly enough, but seems bored in his role.

The drama is heavy, the fights are just okay, but Forced To Fight is worth a watch, at least the once.

Lets just hope Gary gets back into the Hong Kong style of things before its too late...

THE GLOVES ARE OFF

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 30 April 2019]

Scotty (Arkie Reece) is a fighter for crime boss Danny G.(Peter Weller). When he refuses to take a dive, it cost Danny money. Scotty is punished for his actions and his brother, a retired fighter (Gary Daniels as Shane), is coerced back into the ring to pay off his brother's debt. Shane doesn't want to fight as he now is raising a family. Alexandra Weaver plays his wife Connie.

While his brother Scotty is at home recovering, Shane is fighting. He can fight Apollo Creed, Mr. T, and the big ugly Russian guy all in one night. The film consists of fighting and Shane's deteriorating home life as he uncharacteristically goes off the deep end against family and friend. This aspect was not well developed. In the beginning, the fighting seemed like choreographed kick boxing. It didn't look real. The characters overall needed better developing and the plot needed a better twist or at least a decent one. They also needed to develop the fight opponents better. Unless you're a fan of Gary Daniels or fight club movies, you might want to give this one a pass.

Parental Guide: F-bombs, no sex or nudity. Girls in string bikinis holding up signs.

Forced to watch

[torstensonjohn · 4/10 · 24 August 2018]

This will be a very simple and quaint review. The story, brother helps brother out of jam, been done to death before. It's a generic plot, poor lighting as in some scenes the lights literally blind you watching the movie. The editing is sluggish. The acting is mailed in. The highlight was Peter Weller playing a low down money hungry gangster. Fight sequences were ok, to me not great or well choreographed. I give it a 4 out of 10

surprisingly good

[AndreasHardcastle · 7/10 · 13 September 2013]

I'm not going to write anything about the story, other reviewers have already done so. Only so much: yes, it's pretty basic, has been done before a million times BUT... I think in this one it's done comparatively well. As another reviewer wrote, the time which passes between scenes has not been worked out well and you wonder about the jumps in behavior and emotion. But the acting is much better than you would expect from such a movie and the actors can't be blamed for inconsistencies in the script and what the directer/producer did with it.

Now, to those who wonder less about the story and more about the fighting: The choreography is done much better than in most 80s and 90s martial arts flicks. You also have a lot of grappling but not so much as to make it boring. I think it's a very entertaining mix of fancy moves and realistic MMA techniques with a stand up fighting to grappling ratio of roundabout 80/20%.

If you are a fan of Gary Daniels anyways you gonna LOVE this one :).

Nothing original but Highly Entertaining Gary Daniels Fight Flick

[realhiphop · 8/10 · 6 December 2012]

It has been a while since UK Martial Artist Action Star Gary Daniels has headlined a movie in a starring role, but it was worth the wait. After turning in great bad guy performances in Expendables 1 (having one of the most memorable deaths courtesy of a jet Li axe kick to the head), and arch nemesis to Wesley Snipes in Game of Death & Steve Austin in Hunt to Kill, it was time for Gary to return to where he is best. The kick ass action hero bent on revenge (this time for his brother). Set in similar scenario as many bloodsport type events, much of the film is stuff you have seen before and while this could dangerously lead the film to be boring...it isn't. From the start, it is clear all the actors can actually act and Gary turns in a good American accent, father and husband who is "Forced to Fight" to protect his brother. Robocop Peter Weller is a great addition as the main villain "Danny G" who orchestrates the fights and is holding Gary's character to ransom. The story never gets boring, the fights have some great moments (a couple of shots could have chosen better angles) but overall an enjoyable Gary Daniels actioneer for a Friday or Saturday night with the boys. Or in my case with my 3 year old martial arts enthusiast daughter. It isn't the best Gary Daniels film ever, but its great to see Gary Back where he belongs - front & centre of the DVD cover, in video shops as the main star. Out on Video on Demand, Blu Ray and DVD in the US now and other parts of the world to follow.

Excellent Jeff Daniels Movie

[Dark_Lord_Mark · 10/10 · 15 September 2014]

Maybe I am nuts here, maybe I expected very little, but this movie was better than expected.

It was better than good.

Dare I say almost great....yes it had some sub-par acting and the camera work was a little hazy during the fights but it was fun, fast paced, light drama, heavy action.

Maybe my score was due to my low expectations...but once you know what to expect, then when it surpasses those expectations, what more can be asked? Jeff Daniels did a GREAT performance, and Peter Weller can make any script decent. All in all at least try it and enjoy it for what it is; a solid action drama.

10 Stars from me....I am a fight movie fan and enjoyed the plot, nothing new but for a movie like this, it ain't a bad thing.