Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest boxers that ever lived. Not only in the ring, but also outside it he made an impression. Of course that impression wasn’t alway positive and he sometimes was the focus of controversy. Whether it was his choice to join the Nation of Islam and changing his name or his refusal to join the army to fight in Vietnam, which resulted in not being able to fight and almost ending up in jail.
He was one of the first rappers, even before rap existed. He had wit, charm and could be ferocious and was extremely popular. In this documentary a lot of people were interviewed to talk about this boxing legend.
It’s interesting to see that not only other boxers and journalists were interviewed. Actors like Billy Crystal, James Earl Jones, Rod Steiger and Billy Connolly and his ex-wives and daughter also talk about him. They all talk about different aspects of Ali’s life, inside the ring and outside of it, which results in a colorful image of this complex man.
Of course it’s well-known what the results of boxing have been on his body. Muhammad Ali now moves very slowly and isn’t able to talk very well anymore, but you can still see that fire in his eyes which he also had when he was younger.
This documentary is excellent and give a very balanced overview of his life and his fights. A DVD which you don’t want to miss if you are a boxing fan.
Score : 9
