During the late 80's, early 90's a martial arts craze was happening in films, bringing us such films stars as Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme. When one of the lessor known straight-to-video stars, Mark Dacascos entered the game, he brought us something out of the box with this film which features the Brazilian fighting style, Capoeira. I love this movie so much it's one of my favorites, despite the fact that it does not really withstand the test of time. Though the message of a Teacher from the hood coming back to his hood to teach the worst kids in his old school how to respect themselves so it will influence them to not let the streets consume them is timeless, the delivery of this message could not be more early 90's.The acting was straight out of an after school special, and it feels like whoever wrote this movie was watching MTV while he did it, more concern with coming off cool rather than being actuate. Sure in the 90's this would all be more acceptable, but now it just seems cheesy in campy.However, all this is does not matter, because in the heart of this flick it's a martial arts film, and this they got right. This movie made me obsessed with Capoeira for the next few years and even thought from this obsession I learned that the filmmakers took liberties with the fighting style, that does not matter, because the movie version of Capoeira makes this one of the best Martial art films made.Watching Mark teach these kids how awesome Capoeira is, puts a smile on my face every time,and watching him use the fighting style for both self-defense and aggressively was just so cool. The filmmakers used low camera angles to really express the high flying kicks and flips. It was just mesmerizing and worth watching.It does not have the same legs as the Karate kid has but using Capoeira gives this movie an originality that most other Martial arts films don't have.

a very enjoyable film the martial art beautiful to watch dacascos on top form. though the film is predictable you blatantly watch it too see the martial arts.ever since watching drive i have been a dacascos fan, but feel he can do so much better than the stuff he is given.just watch the film for the martial arts, for the uninformed amongst you the art in question is Capoeira (what eddy does in tekken 3) a Brazilian martial art that looks like dancing.dacascos alone embodies the art and is given help from the on screen badguy to pull off one of the most watchable and exciting fighting climaxes in history.i say its a no brainier with the bad guy, kid that needs help, sideline love interest and the mandatory good looking leading man but what the hell? sit back and enjoy

I saw a preview of this movie nearly 10 years ago, so I went right out and rented it. I really loved it, but I could never remember the name. I hunted high and low for the cover which made a lasting impression on me, but to no avail. Today I was chanel surfing, as I normally do, and there it was, ON British TV!!! I was amazed. I had to sit and watch it. Now I will always remember that "Only the Strong" is the best motivational movie I have ever seen, though there was one noticeable inaccuracy. When Louis (Mark Dacascos) is in his BDU's, he has his sleeves rolled like a Marine, though he was is a former Green Barret. Other than that I was impressed with the movie.

this is the best movie of Capoeira in the world. There aren't many movies about Capoeira, but this is definitively the best. Mark Dacascos show us his great martial-artist talent.If you like Dacascos, you have to see Crying Freeman ;)