Search - The Smashing Machine - The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr on DVD

Outstanding representation of a Shakespearean tragedy

therosen | New York, NY United States | 09/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Outstanding story of the rise, fall and attempted resurrection of Mark Kerr's career as a professional fighter. Mark's willingness to allow a film crew to follow him in his ups and downs, as well as his honesty of emotions makes for a gripping tale. Other famous fighters are weaved into the story, including Mark Coleman, Ricco Rodriguez and Bas Rutten.

You see the enormous highs of victory, as well as the training to get there. There's the downsides as well, as you see Mark slide into drug addiction and relationship hell. Heavy stuff.

It's easy to generalize about these fighters. He's too nice to fight. He's a psycho. He's a drug addict. He just needs to dump his girlfriend. But in the end you're left with a contradictory individual. It's a struggle, but you find yourself rooting for him in the end.

The bonus tracks added quite a bit. 30 minutes of Renzo Gracie's life was a great surprise, and the director's voice over makes the entire video worth watching twice.

Very well done!"

A dark and poignant documentary

Kenneth Leung | San Diego, CA USA | 03/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD offers an unblinking look into the life and times of Mark Kerr between the years of 1999 and 2001. Kerr was once regarded by many as the most dominant ultimate fighter in the world. Those who remember watching his early matches will recall the physically imposing Kerr, an ex-Olympic wrestler, easily handle all comers and earning his nickname "The Smashing Machine". This film documents the rollercoaster ride that was Kerr's professional fighting career. It portrays the story of an intelligent, well-spoken, and emotionally vulnerable athlete who gave himself to one of the most demanding and brutal sports in the world.Kerr, lured by the promise of large paydays and fueled by the euphoria of his early victories, is forced to do battle with physical injuries and his inner fears. The chaos of these matches weigh heavily on the minds and bodies of these athletes, and some like Kerr deal with the physical and psychological trauma by turning to drugs. Kerr's addiction is shown in raw form, and the camera does not shy away as he desperately solicits drugs from friends and event staff, and injects pain killers into his veins.Fans who remember Kerr's shocking loss to Fujita in Japan, will finally understand the forces behind Kerr's undoing. Especially intriguing is seeing the relationship between Kerr and the wily vetern fighter Bas Rutten, who helps train Kerr and is then forced to watch the unraveling of his pupil.It is a story that can be difficult and gut-wrenching to watch. The documentary has few cheerful moments, and a dark mood hangs overhead even when Kerr wins his matches. It seems to suggest that pain and blood are always right around the corner in the lives of these fighters. Outside the ring, Kerr's gentle nature and thoughtful commentary make him an endearing figure. However this story does not have a happy ending, and may leave fans with mixed feelings over what they just saw."

Ignore the editorial.

djmc78 | Plymouth, UK | 10/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't disagree further with the editorial review on this documentary. Having sought it out after reading excellent reviews and recommendations I was immensely impressed with the detail and access that the Smashing Machine provides. Mark Kerr to his credit shows an immense amount of his private world to us in what would appear to be an attempt to get help. And the makers to their credit steer away from making a judgement based piece in order to allow the viewer to assimilate the information on show. This is exemplified by the scene at the doctors surgery in which Kerr is less that impressive in trying to explain his motivations of fighting to a middle aged female patient. This is a fine document of a sport transferring from it's infancy to the modern world and I recommend it for MMA and non-MMA fans alike."

Awesome profile of MMA

M. Davidson | UT; USA | 10/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great movie folks. It gives you an appreciation for No Holds Barred fighting. Many people consider it barbaric, but this shows a different side. Many of the fighters are good friends behind the scenes. Also, these guys are not supermen. They have the physical and emotional problems every person faces. They are sometimes addicted to drugs, they have physical pain constantly, but they still go out and give it their all when they can. Profiled here is Mark Kerr, who rose to become a UFC Champion and Pride FC superstar. The documentary is honest, forthwright, and heart wrenching. You see a good man brought low and constanly try to pick himself up again. It just does not always work, no matter how much you want to stand. This is an awesome watch if you are a MMA fan. If you are not, and are one of the sports many critics, watch this to get a better understanding of why these guys fight their hearts out."