Muhammad Ali

It's difficult to measure Ali's importance as a boxer and leader in the civil rights movement. But it was definitely huge. He is in my opinion one of the greatest athletes of all time.

This might be the best sports-documentary, I've ever seen. And I've seen them all.

I have read and watched almost everything published about Cassius Marcellus Jr. Clay, and while in his early 20's later accepting the Islam name, Muhummad Ali. I can never read or see enough film about Ali's early life and trajectory to become not only a sports hero but a legend for mankind.

Ali has been photographed and interviewed more than any other man/woman in the past century. It may sound strange but I don't think of Muhummad Ali as a famous and successful.three (3) times Heavyweight Boxing Champion. I will always remember his speech when he was asked why he refuses to go to Vietnam and if he was prepared to go to jail if he continues to refuse to go to war and fight for his country. Over the next several decades Ali maintained steadfastly his religious beliefs and used his fame to the betterment of not only African Americans but to all children, men and women around the world.

This documentary series provides an excellent insight into not only the man Muhummad Alli, but also insight into the many people who were close to him and influenced him both as a father, friend, fighter and as a political and civil rights leader.

This is a must see documentary series narrated with perfection by actor Keith David that I will need to purchase when it becomes available.

I give the series a perfect 10 out of 10 IMDB rating.

There is a lot of video that has been recorded of Ali over his lifetime and, because he was so loquacious, a lot of audio that accompanies it. Those are the best parts of this doco and always make for captivating entertainment. The bits about backgrounds to the fights are quite good but we do have to wonder how balanced the story telling is. The background on Ali's life seems very light with all sorts of women, houses, events popping up with little to explain any motivation about how Ali came to find himself in such situations.

A fascinating story of boxing and an average story of the boxer.

I've seen every documentary ever made on Ali. And I will say this is by far the best ever made. Ken Burns was born to make documentaries and he absolutely knocked this one out. It has more footage, more insightful information and behind the scene footage that has ever been shown in one show. Man this was so good. Keith David is probably the best narrator around today and he just is the icing on the cake. Any show that has Keith David narrating it I'm gonna watch. And Even if you don't like boxing, this series is so worth watching. No question this is the greatest Ali documentary of all time.

In the first of the three parts, the titles not represented here, we basically see a calculated move for amateur boxer to the heavyweight champion of the world. This incredible documentary shows us a man of enormous talent as a boxer, using tenuous methods to psyche his opponents, including the continual baiting of Sonny Liston, a heavy favorite to defeat hm. We are shown his movement toward Islam and his connections to Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammed. Also, his embracing of the pageantry of the sport. I will add more to this review after seeing the second part.

Having seen the second part we can see what can make for an ugly country. Granted, Ali was abrasive. But he was true to himself and formidable. This episode involves his confrontation with the draft during the Vietnam War. He refused to recognize the draft and paid dearly for it. He was stripped of his license to fight and had his title taken away from him for his personal and religious beliefs. Even though, as a celebrity, he would never have seen combat. He held fast to his religion. We are shown the small mindedness that would allow over a hundred white fighters with felony convictions to keep their licenses (murderers, armed robbers, etc.) while he was taken apart by politicians and law officers. It also shows his achieving the heavyweight championship and all the twists and turns he needed to fight his way back. More in the third part.

Now we have the most intense part of this series. It involves, first of all, Ali's having to deal with the five year sentence for avoiding the draft. But, the most interesting is his battle with Joe Frazier, whom he hated for some reason. Here we see Ali at his worst, abusing this man, making fun of his looks and his speech, and saying he is stupid. It went beyond his usual promotion of a fight. We all know what happens when they meet for the first time. This is a turning point. Ali wants a rematch but Frazier goofs it all up when he meets George Foreman. Ali also has bumps along the way and is starting to lose those youthful advantages. Episode 4 is on its way.

This was difficult to watch. When Ali fought George Foreman and wins, he gained a new sense of invulnerability. Because he had thrown so much money away or showed kindness to people, he felt he needed to keep going and he continued to fight way too frequently. After losing to Leon Spinks, he gets a rematch, defeats him, and gets his title back for the third time. The perfect time to quit. But then we see the decline of his health and his efforts to foolishly fight while ill and aging. This is a terrific documentary and it gives us a balance view of a man who was vile sometimes, loving most of the time, and never deterred. Excellent.