I got this movie in a video store bargain bin as an used copy. The cover was appealing as i am interested in WW2 and i like boxing as well. Then it was in my shelve for a while as i was intending to watch it with my cousin who likes both subject as well. But then at some point i decided to watch it anyway, and realize it was sporting the name of ... UWE BOLL on it. Oh boy... i decided to put it in the shelve and include it in my next pawnshop movie sell(i do that once in a while as i buy pretty much all my movies used in video store, i don't rent much and i hate video on demand) So as i was making my movie pile for the pawnshop, i decided i should at least give it a go, after all, my Boll hate comes mostly from him destroying video game licences and i actually did enjoy Rampage.

The movie is in German, but i choose to watch it English dubbed. I am not a fan of English dubbed, but i tough it was rather OK in this, the voices didn't bother me too much. I come from a french province so i am used to french dubbing, but not English ones. Anyway yes the acting was so-so, but not that bad. I could get into the movie. I think his boxing years where pretty well done, the fights whee numerous and entertaining, i was actually surprised. I think the war segments and how the Nazis saw him could had been way better done, but then again it was not the point of the movie per say.

Overall i am surprised... its a decent movie, even tough its made to by Boll. Got to give credit where its due, I'm sure if the movie would had been dubbed in french i would had even more fun watching it. There is nothing spectacular but the movie don't feel too cheap or whatever and i didn't knew Max Schmelling at all, so now i want to look him up on wikipedia.

So yeah, i liked the movie. Will i keep it or pawnshop it? I dunno yet, it was way better than expected.

German boxer Henry Maske stars in the title role of Max Schmeling the greatest fighter Germany ever produced. He died a rich and successful man in 2005 just short of his 100th birthday having been given the concession for Coca-Cola in Germany post the World War. He also married film star Anna Ondry played here by Suzanne Wuest and they had a happy if childless marriage.

Schmeling's unhappiness stemmed from two things as the film brought out. He was heavyweight champion from 1930-1932. He and Jack Sharkey were declared the top contenders in an elimination tournament . When they fought Sharkey nailed him below decks and Sharkey was disqualified on a foul This was the only time the heavyweight championship ever was won on a foul.

After one defense of the title against Young Stribling, Schmeling gave Sharkey a rematch and in a decision that the crowd thought wrong Sharkey beat him. No doubt he felt his title was tainted, but he wanted it back.

But while he campaigned for it and fought his way back into contention the Nazis came to power and Joe Goebbels saw the propaganda value of Schmeling's quest. He became quite the symbol of Aryan superiority, even more so when he knocked out leading contender Joe Louis.

But it was Louis who got the title shot anyway against champ James J. Braddock. And it was Louis who knocked Schmeling out in the first round in a title defense. It was quite the propaganda defeat for Herr Goebbels.

Schmeling was an athlete he had no real politics. He resented being touted as a symbol of Aryan supremacy. He also had a Jewish manager in Joe Jacobs played here by Vladimir Weigl who despite pressures Schmeling wouldn't get rid of him.

The war scenes are what we Yanks don't know about Schmeling. And the scenes of husband and wife with Maske and Wuest are special. In fact the story is narrated in flashback by Schmeling to a British soldier who recognized him.

This film is a nice tribute to Max Schmeling a champion in many ways.

Max Schmeling is certainly a candidate for such a description. Then there is also the likes of Beckenbauer, Nowitzki, Schumacher, Becker and maybe a handful more. So many will probably not be too amused to hear that Uwe Boll is the director who made this film. However, I have to say I was very positively surprised by the outcome. The fact that Henry Maske (one of Germany's greatest boxers of all time himself) played Schmeling did not hurt the film at all, even if Maske had no real acting experience. A brave choice and a successful one. Maske was up to 15 years older than Schmeling when he played him in the film, but also this is not a problem at all. Also all the other boxers in the film with ring action are played by professional boxers such as Artur Abraham.

As it is been so long since Schmeling's peak, people today know hardly nothing about him. A shame. And this film educates us on an athlete who does not deserve to be forgotten. For example that his name as a fighter was Black Uhlan of the Rhine. The film plays at wartime, but it's really much more about Schmeling's career than about politics, although we, of course, find out about Schmeling's attitude towards the Nazis who glorified him after he bet the Negro Louis and forgot him after he lost to Louis. It's interesting to watch Schmeling's struggles as he still was not fully accepted as a champion due to the way he won his first big fight (an illegal punch by his opponent). Only knockouts or really long fights counted as worthy back in the day. Another big part of the film is about Schmeling's long-lasting relationship with actress Anny Ondra.

The most interesting way to watch this film is obviously if you don't know anything about the way Schmeling's big fights ended, especially those against Louis, but it's equally a great watch for those with an interest in the world of boxing. Certainly recommended. I have not seen too much from Boll, but this is certainly a pretty good movie, possibly his best.