Champs (2015)

I originally rented this movie because I'm a big boxing fan and I like to watch whatever Mike Tyson is in. I have to say that I was really surprised by how deep this film was and how the topics spanned far beyond a typical sports documentary. Of course, there are great fights and exciting historical moments for the sport, but I also learned a lot about the personal stories of these guys and how they correspond and relate to larger social issues. I would definitely recommend this to someone who was looking for something that is sports related, but that isn't only about sports. I felt good when I finished this one.

I've always been fascinated by the sport of boxing. My father was an enormous fan of the sport and introduced me to it, and even though I grew up in an era when the sport was practically non- existent, I remember as a young child being fascinated by the exploits of pugilists. I think it's because boxing is as much about the stories behind the fighters as it is the fights. "Champs" does a remarkable job of capturing that essence, telling the story of three boxers through the prism of their life experiences.The three fighters this documentary primarily focuses on are Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins. Director Bert Marcus is fantastic at telling each individual story within the context of the over-arching theme, which is that boxers primarily come from "broken" environments, rise to fame astronomically, and then usually flare out just as quickly. A version of that story happened to each of the three subjects...Tyson's troubles are well-known, Hopkins spent many years behind bars, and Holyfield was at one point nearly penniless. It is quite interesting to see how three individuals can take different routes to boxing stardom, yet all be pretty much motivated by the same themes: violence, money, and "getting out of the old neighborhood".Besides the stories of those three fighters, this film spends a good deal of time looking at the socio-economic aspects of boxing. Promoters and trainers are interviewed in order to get their opinion on where the sport was, where it is, and where it might be headed. Again, the common theme here is that "rich people don't box", but rather it is "tough/gangster kids" who are drawn to the sport for the cathartic release of energy and the sense of structure, family, and discipline it can provide.Perhaps the most moving parts of the documentary, however, come in seeing how these three fighters have gained wisdom over the years. Especially touching is the incredible transformation of Mike Tyson. As a young boxer, he was like a caged animal. When mentor Cus D'Amato died, the animal was let out of the rage and he became a street thug in rich man's clothing...terribly profane and hardly even able to utter a coherent thought. Nowadays, though, Tyson really seems to have taken control of his life. He can speak intelligibly, shows outright intelligence when it comes to matters of boxing, and is self-aware enough to have strong emotions about his past and his family. The transformation is truly staggering from where he was to where he is.So, if you are at all a fan of the "sweet science", you should give this one a watch. Or, even if you just like stories of loss, hope, and redemption. It truly will give you a lot to think about, and will more than likely stir some emotions along the way.

Champs is a wonderful documentary that any boxing fan should watch. It concentrates on the side of the sport that we don't get to see. It tells us the struggle and the reasons why boxers become boxers. The lives of the Holyfields, Tysons, and other sporting legends who found in boxing a door to a better life. And how from the top, they fell down, to find themselves again on the wrong side of life, with barely the means to survive. Boxing is dying little by little. It has lost his soul. Champs is probably the last great documentary we will get to see about boxers that became icons; boxers that paralyzed the world with their punches. A must see, if you care about the noble art.

As a female who is not super into sports, I wasn't sure if this documentary was going to be my cup of tea. I went with friends anyways to the opening night in NYC. I don't usually write reviews (this is actually my first), but I thought this movie deserved special attention. In a few words, I was totally mesmerized and loved it. I cannot watch boxing, but watching the stories of these incredible men was totally captivating and moving. I found their stories compelling and powerful and the message that I was left with at the end was incredibly inspiring. Thereafter, I was feeling incredibly introspective and started thinking a lot more about various issues we face, as well as issues that I face myself. I would highly recommend.