Only the Strong 1993

Steve Rhodes, Chicago Tribune: The cinematography is jarring and dizzying at times; the acting mediocre. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: A movie that exists solely for its fight sequences and to show off its star's muscles and gymnastic grace. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: I expected it to be an obligatory late-summer, mindless, plotless action film. I was wrong. It's a late-summer, mindless, plotless action film with a message. I think I prefer this sorts of film when it doesn't try to preach. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: I have a sinking feeling that the makers of this film feel it is in some way exemplary and even useful. Read more

Brian Case, Time Out: A paean to the Brazilian martial art of capoeira harks back to those break-dancing quickies. Read more

Brian Lowry, Variety: Only the simple-minded will find much to cheer in this martial arts actioner, which has the queasy feel of a movie slapped together by the marketing department. Read more

Joe Brown, Washington Post: The film is clumsily assembled and edited, heavy on the slow-mo, and its simplistic story plays like The Kids From Fame armed with very sharp knives. Read more

Richard Harrington, Washington Post: If only the plot were a little less obvious, the confrontations a little less cliched. Read more