4/5 My inspiration!
  by Ricardo Marquez
Ok so there are a few ways to judge this movie. Is it a masterpiece. No. Not even close. However, if you grew up watching king fu theater and understand the mindset you must be in to watch this type of movie, it is great fun! The acting was horrible as was the writing itself. On several occasions the Villain kept switching from a spanish accent to a brazilian one or worse yet, pronouncing a word incorrectly in either language. The editing in this movie was below amateur as well. Too many mistakes to begin noting. The casting was probably the worse thing in the flick. To believe that any of the boys in the class were one of the 12 baddest kids in the school forces you to suspend all belief in reality and just get on bored for the ride. LOL!!!

Ok that said, this was the first U.S. movie made that used capoeira as the primarly artform, making it a pioneer. The movie was also a lot of fun. It was so bad that it was terrific to watch! This rare quality is similar to old kung fu flicks and most Jackie Chan movies. You aren't watching them for technical or acting or script quality.

This movie is what introduced me to capoeira. In fact it took me 3 years after seeing this to finally find a school to learn it. Over one hour away from home. Since then I have helped open a capoeira school in Philadelphia for a Brazilian Master and have helped bring this beautiful art to many people. All that started with this movie. So for that, the beautiful adventure that I found as a result of seeing this film, it is a masterpiece.

I have to say that I was highly disappointed that there were no special features on this DVD. That was just wrong!!!!

If you are a martial arts movie fan and in a non-serious mood, Check this movie out. Maybe it'll inspire you to living an adventure of your own!

Zoom Zoom Zoom capoeira mata um! haha!!!

4/5 Beautiful but Deadly...
  by Dennis Eason (Arkadelphia, AR USA)
'Gymkata' meets 'Breakin' meets 'Desperate Minds'....OK, maybe not that simple a pitch! This is a martial arts film with a real message for young people, that remarkably holds up to the test of time--my sons, who are eleven, thought the movie was 'TIGHT' & 'SWEET'(lingo that apparently has also stood the test of time). The Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira is featured, and Marc Dacascos does a respectable job of honoring the spirit of this beautiful but deadly art that was developed by slaves in Brasil.
Buy this DVD *Please, consult your physician before trying the martial arts techniques featured in this film.

4/5 Kind of like STAND AND DELIVER, but with a ginga...
  by H. Bala (Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA)
Why Mark Dacascos isn't a bigger name in movies confounds me a bit. To me, he's always had the qualities to be a star in action cinema. Guy looks good, is very fit, has an appealing screen presence, and can even act some. And he's definitely got the martial arts cred. I first saw him in ONLY THE STRONG back in 1993, and dude left an impression.

This film takes us back to the days when it was still hip to hoist a ghetto blaster on your shoulder. Louis Stevens (Dacascos), a former Green Beret and fresh off a military stint in Brazil, has just returned home to the seamier side of Miami. When visiting his former school teacher, Louis can't help but note the downhill progression of his old high school. Steel bars and security staff run rampant in school, but do little to stem the thuggery and drug deals going down. When Louis applies his capoeira techniques to fend off several goons on the school grounds, his teacher takes in the students' reactions and hits on the idea of hiring Louis to instruct the art of capoeira to twelve of the worst kids in school.

Predictably, Louis's experimental martial arts program doesn't win the kids over in a day, but, little by little, progress is made and the kids begin to pay attention. But one of his pupils turns out to be a relative of the local drug and chop shop kingpin, Silverio, who himself happens to be a capoeira master. As Louis begins to impact these messed-up kids, Silverio begins to feel threatened. Soon, he and Louis are engaged in a brutal contest to determine who runs these Miami streets.

While ONLY THE STRONG isn't my favorite Dacascos flick (that would be Crying Freeman and the awesomely awesome Drive (Special Collectors Edition)), it's still a very solid action film. The fight choreography is very good, with the film showcasing the Brazilian art of capoeira. Dacascos is a dynamic martial artist, slicing the air as he does with acrobatic strikes and kicks. Dacascos was already well-versed in judo and karate, but had to learn the discipline of capoeira for this movie. I'm no expert so it's not for me to say how convincing he is in demonstrating his capoeira skills, but I came away feeling good about this very rhythmic martial arts. I dig that capoeira exudes such a sense of fun and excitement in its free-wheeling, seemingly improvisational style. Even right now, I feel like busting a ginga (cue the song "Paranaue...").

There's a whiff of Stand and Deliver and Lean on Me in this film, but don't get it twisted, ONLY THE STRONG is, above all, a martial arts movie, so there's a fair amount of violence here. But, hopefully, viewers will come away with an awareness of just how much training, focus, and self-sacrifice it takes to master the martial arts, and also with an appreciation of the inherent beauty and serenity of the thing. The film's plot tends to run its generic course, with the school teacher premise serving more as a backdrop to the capoeira sequences. And, in these sequences, Mark Dacascos shines.

Really, why isn't this guy bigger in movies?

5/5 I love Mark Dacascos
  by leelee (Chicago, IL)
Sexy and talented martial arts actor Mark Dacascos gets to show off his fine body and skills in this average plot film. The star is martial arts style known as Brazilian Caporeira and Mark's really good at it. The style developed because slaves were forbidden to be taught the martial skills so it was disguised as dance. Pretty ingenious! If you are interested in seeing this fighting style and Mark Dacascos then I highly recommend this film.

1/5 Lame and unrealistic.
  by Joel D. Weber (Loveland, CO USA)
The plot line, acting and action sequences are all horrible - barely good enough for a "B" movie. This story has been used too many times and still glosses over the reality of fighting. Public fights never end like it is shown in movies - vengence and maiming and death are much more a realistic end to physical violence.
Further, although the martial art style is exotic and interesting - this is not a fighting system! Sure it may have some distant roots in a camouflaged martial routine - but was and is not a true or even practical fighting system (like Krav Maga or MMA). It takes very little understanding of physics to see that standing upside down on one hand while kicking, is not the most effecient use of balance, weight or speed - all of which are required for effective fighting. Watch something else...