A documentary of the 1974 heavyweight championship bout in Zaire between champion George Foreman and underdog challenger Muhammad AliReview: Decades ago documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 &Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast’s perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America’s cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you’re a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America’s sense of identity. –Tom Keogh
Buy “When We Were Kings” For Only $6.27
March 21, 2008
#1
If you like boxing, don’t waste your money. You see a glimpse of a few rounds, but this is not a boxing movie.
If you like left-wing political documentaries, you’ll love this one.
March 21, 2008
#2
For some reason, in the movie “Ali” people were complaining about the movie because it had to many “music videos” as they say. I thought the movie was fantastic myself. You can do what Michael Mann did in a movie. But it is very different with a documentary. What this film does is show alot of scenes that will put you to sleep. Your eyes are fixed on the opening scenes where Muhammad Ali one of the things he did best, building up the fight by calling George Foreman “The Mummy” and things like that. And your eyes are fixed on the film when the Rumble in the Jungle actually starts. But in between that, theres nothing. I was talking about music videos in “Ali” in this it does just that which does make the documentary seem extremely boring. But I also believe that this film makes it look like Ali was doing terrible.
The film reshows the same scenes over and over again. I think I remember seeing one scene where Ali got trapped on the corner being punched in the face by Foreman 6 times. It makes it look like Ali didn’t have a chance and at the end he just got extremely lucky. The reshowing of the same shots over and over again can be useful if well done, it was not so in theis documentary. If you want truly see the inginuity of Ali’s strategy in this fight buy the two disc set documentary of Muhammad Ali called “Muhammad Ali – The Whole Story.” Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the film the first time I watched it, but that was basically the only time i enjoyed it.
March 21, 2008
#3
released more than 20 years after it was filmed, this documentary follows the 1974 heavyweight championship bout between muhammad ali and george foreman. staged in a circus atmosphere in the nation of zaire, the fight took on all sorts of political implications. whats obvious now is that it was replete with hype, on the part of ali, on the part of the zaire government, and mostly on the part of promoter don king. and the oblivious sad sack is foreman, who learned all about hype himself. the movie is probably too long, but i liked it.
March 21, 2008
#4
‘When We Were Kings’ is a fantastic documentary about one of the most famous fights in boxing history; the epic battle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, nicknamed “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. Die-hard boxing fans may be disappointed though. The films studies the hype and preparation before the match. One big problem. It doesn’t examine the actual fight in that much detail. It should have studied each round with depth and really explained how Foreman lost so abruptly.
March 21, 2008
#5
An upbeat, feel-good documentary. Life-changingly inspiring actually.