The Bottom Line
I found “When We Were Kings” to be highly entertaining, but I learned very little and didn’t gain much insight.
Pros
- Captures Muhammad Ali’s charisma
- Exciting fight footage
- Highly entertaining, feel-good movie
Cons
- Provides little insight into Ali, the man
- Provides little insight into the era (1974)
- Doesn’t really explore issues raised
Description
- DVD containing documentary “When We Were Kings” (1996)
- Chronicles the 1974 world heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
- DVD contains a couple of special features
Guide Review - "When We Were Kings" DVD
“When We Were Kings” is a feel-good documentary that centers around one of the most interesting boxing matches ever, namely the 1974 heavyweight championship bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held in Africa and was dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle. The bout was not only one of the great sports events of the 20th century, it also had cultural significance, and the film shows musical performances by Miriam Makeba, James Brown, and B.B. King. There’s also commentary by George Plimpton, Norman Mailer, and Spike Lee. I found “When We Were Kings” to be highly entertaining, but I learned very little and didn’t gain much insight.