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The Fight Within

Play trailer 1:25 Poster for The Fight Within PG-13 Released Aug 12, 2016 1h 34m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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40% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Although Logan Chandler, a young MMA fighter, seeks to overcome a troubled past and build a new life based on his new faith and his new love, he is forced back into the fighting world by Hayden Dressler, a local MMA professional.
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The Fight Within

Critics Reviews

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Joe Leydon Variety "The Fight Within" is clunky and didactic, and the movie as a whole has appreciably less mainstream appeal than several other recent, and much better, faith-based dramas. Aug 12, 2016 Full Review Noel Murray Los Angeles Times "The Fight Within" is too generic as a sports flick, and too pro forma as a tract. There's more vitality and humanity in the closing-credits blooper reel than in anything in the actual picture. Aug 11, 2016 Full Review Lawrence Toppman Charlotte Observer Director Michael William Gordon and writer Jim Davis give us a hopeful feeling about Logan without insisting on solving all his problems - or insisting that God will solve them for him. Rated: 3/4 Aug 11, 2016 Full Review Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat A film that combines rampant sermonizing with muscular dudes beating the crap out of each other. It's every bit as bizarre as it sounds. Rated: 1.5/4 Aug 8, 2016 Full Review Kam Williams Baret News Although the movie doesn't really break any new ground in terms of romantic, overcoming-the-odds sports flicks, it remains recommended as Evangelical fare that's more entertaining than heavy-handed. Rated: 3/4 Aug 8, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member It's always refreshing when you find a faith-based film that travels in a unique direction. "The Fight Within" mixes the tough and gritty world of MMA fighting with the everyday struggle we all face, overcoming our demons. Some of us are more in a fight with ourselves than anyone else, and those who have not yet found God are often in a fight with God. Logan Chandler, a young college student, works as a trainer at an MMA gym that he and his brother inherited from his now deceased father. Before his father's death, Logan trained with his father who was once a champion. Because his father believed Logan had that same talent, he pushed him hard to become a champion himself. Tragically, Logan's father died during a training session with Logan. Faced with always wondering if he was somehow to blame for his father's death, Logan battles inner voices of doubt. After a good deal of success in the octagon, winning all of his fights, Logan makes a decision not to fight anymore and stick to training other fighters. This becomes a problem when the current champion, Hayden Dressler, who happens to train with Logan's brother at their gym, is offered big money if he can get a fight with the previous champion, Logan. The gym is not a large money maker and the prize money from the fight can help his brother pay the bills, but Logan is adamant about not fighting. This disappoints his brother who needs the money, and only serves to encourage Hayden to constantly taunt Logan at every opportunity. The story becomes more complicated and interesting when Logan meets an energetic young girl at his college, Emma Jones. There is instant chemistry between the two that quickly turns to confusion for Logan when he learns Emma is a devoted Christian with a determination to become a missionary in Africa. Logan is an unbeliever and now has to wrestle with God to understand why he has been sent down this road. Emma patiently walks Logan in the direction of Christ and over time he gives his life to the Lord in an alter call at Emma's church. This budding romance seems to be pushing Logan in a completely new direction, until Hayden shows up again, this time taunting Emma to try to force Logan to fight for the big money prize. Going after Emma is the last straw for Logan and he finally agrees to the fight. Logan's brother goes to work training him for the big fight and the inevitable victory. Logan has conquered his battle with God and with himself, punctuating the transformation with a decisive victory over his worldly nemesis Hayden. The Fight Within is an innovative bit of storytelling that looks at faith from a totally new perspective. I could quibble with some of the story elements that tended to abbreviate deeper character development, often with a music montage. Nevertheless, the overall narrative held my attention and triggered honest emotions. Some of the best scenes were the well-choreographed fight segments. That bit of realism served as a conduit to pull me deeper into the story. This film has a nice mix of faith, romance, and action. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Really people, really. MMA and God aren't really compatible if you're into the whole 'do unto others' thing. Plus, the acting, I really think it was, "Let's just pull those who didn't make the cut for the local rendition of (insert current show)." Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie for the whole family.... with a wonderful message Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Good people, good message, acting and direction right out of the church choir. I went to sleep after the first 15 minutes, I set my phone reminder to wake me up in time to see the big fight at the end; After 20 seconds of the big finale, I drifted off again only to be awakened by the the three people leaving the auditorium. Amen. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review tara d The fighting was awesome and the story was very good. I would like to get the dvd when it comes out. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a wondefrul and inspirational story about a real life situation. I loved that it starred non professional actors. They did a great job and portrayed the love of Christ beautifully. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Fight Within

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Although Logan Chandler, a young MMA fighter, seeks to overcome a troubled past and build a new life based on his new faith and his new love, he is forced back into the fighting world by Hayden Dressler, a local MMA professional.
Director
Michael William Gordon
Screenwriter
Jim Davis
Distributor
GVN Releasing
Production Co
New Life Cinema
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Menace|Some Sports Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 12, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 34m
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