MovieChat Forums > Raging Bull (1980) Discussion > Realistic boxing?

Realistic boxing?

posted 12 years ago by nicklpool
8 replies | jump to latest

The 2 things every novice knows about RB is :
(i) De Niro put on loads of weight for the part and
(ii) the various fight scenes are totally convincing.

No probs with (i), though I personally would like to know how he took it off again afterwards !!
(ii) though is more problematic. While the boxing scenes are painful to watch and very powerful, I didn't find they lived up to the hype. If you watch real Jake La Motta, Rocky Marciano etc on YT, it's messier, clingier, lots of half-missed punches, same as today. Most of all, with guys built like that you just couldn't take a flurry of half a dozen unblocked, direct punches to the jaw and just look woozy for a minute or two.
Maybe the film was far better than previous attempts, but for a director and cast known for total grittiness, they left me surprised.
All comments welcome.

[–] nicklpool 12 years ago

Right - just spotted someone started a similar thread on this board, back in 2009. Sorry about repetition, all comments still welcome.

[–] lubin-freddy 12 years ago

Scorsese wasn't going for realism, but trying to present each match through Jake's point of view. It's interesting to watch each match, one after another, to see how the film-style changes, the lighting, camera movement, editing, etc.

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[–] manofsteel4455 12 years ago

Realists really should not be watching movies.

You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan

[–] heyuactor 11 years ago

Most of all, with guys built like that you just couldn't take a flurry of half a dozen unblocked, direct punches to the jaw and just look woozy for a minute or two.

I get what you are saying, the same thing can apply to the Rocky movies, and other fight films too. It's just for dramatic 'effect', and while I too wish boxing scenes were more realistic (having been in the ring a little bit myself), it's the general audience that most movies are meant for, and very accurate portrayals of real events are rare.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] espdemon-18077 8 years ago

The boxing sequences in RB make the boxing sequences in the Set Up and Rocky seem like actual prize fights. The camera angles which tried to dramatize the fights only made things worse. A man takes countless punches to the head and does not even attempt to defend himself?? Other sequences show asinine "fighting technique" by throwing like ten left hooks in a row? Raging Bull sucks.

[–] lubin-freddy 8 years ago

... it's messier, clingier, ...

You could say the same for most cinematic sex scenes.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

[–] lubin-freddy 8 years ago

It's a MOVIE

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

The fights in Rocky were more realistic but Scorsese went for something more artistic. And also weren't the focus of the movie.