Directed by Jesse Johnson

Starring: Dominique Vandenberg , Steven Bauer , Stephen Graham , Stana Katic

I was once told that the best way to market a new film was to 'hype it' as a cross between two different movies. If Pit Fighter were to be 'hyped' I could see it as "Bloodsport" by way of "City of God". Bloodsport, as any action fan knows, is about a man in the Kumite, a nasty little fighting tournament. City of God is based on the true story of a young child growing up in one of the most crime infested cities in South America if not the world.

    Although this may seem like an odd couple, it really is not. Our 'Pit Fighter' doesn't grow up in a crime-infested city, at least to our knowledge. He has a past, a dark and violent one at that, but he doesn't enter the realm of underground fighting to make things right or make his 'master' proud.

    No, that's just about the only thing he can remember from five years ago, where one day he woke up bloody, beaten, and full of lead. And there's a tattoo of a woman's name across his chest, but who is she? We find out more and more about the Pit Fighter through flashbacks. Pit fighter is a tight little story that weaves it's way to a violent conclusion, and I must say it did not disappoint in the least.

    Dominiquie Vandenberg, our fighter, lives the role. Dominiquie is very much like a pit bull. He's not the size of a Rotweiler, or Doberman, but don't mistake his size as a aweakness. He goes for the throat, and every fight in this film shows the brutality that is a part of the dog in him. I must warn you, do not expect bloodless violence in his fights. There is bone crushing galore, and none of it is done with 540 degree roundhouse kicks ala Jet Li. We're talking REAL fights, knuckles to nose, and man do they hurt. Luckily Dominiquie is not a one man acting army in this film. He has a fine supporting cast, the most well known being 'Scarface's' own Steven Bauer. I must say the man sweats like no other sleaze ball manager that I can recall.

    And of course I must say Jesse Johnson, the Writer and Director, did a fabulous job. Going back to the 'City of God' comment before, Jesse brings out the underlying beauty of this small town. It may be dirt infested with run down houses, prostitutes, and rusty old cars, but under Jesse's eye it sets the tone of the film.

    It looks as if Pit Fighter will be hitting video stores in the near future, via Fox. Do yourself a favor and look past the Vin Diesel films, the new Seagal films, the new Van Damme films, and pick up Pit Fighter. If you are in need of a real action fix, complete with the harshest fights imaginable and bloody gun violence straight out of a Sam Peckinpah film, smoke on this.

Review by Gordo