Girlfight wins every round.  First time feature director Karyn Kusama displays amazing poise behind the camera and in the editing room. The timing of the film is nothing shy of perfect. Fight sequences are dynamic and the training never appears hackneyed, a major achievement in itself. 
    The script, also by Kusama, is polished. This is the terrific story of Diana Guzman, a tough troubled ghetto girl who finds that prize fighting just may be the outlet to release her frustrations in a positive way. Besides the boxing, difficult family issues are dealt with in an intelligent fashion and a lovely romance evolves. Perhaps some elements are over-simplified, but Kusama shows the superb balance of a ring master in staying on her toes throughout the production.

Lots of snap to every punch. ©Columbia

     The cinematography is excellent. Kusama makes intelligent choices throughout. The dexterous camera of Patrick Cady captures the fisticuffs with equal focus on footwork and punching. 
     Kusama's insightful filmmaking includes intuitive casting. Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez is wonderful as Diana. Not only does Rodriguez look like she can pack a punch, she manages a fine range of emotion beyond left hooks and straight jabs. Jamie Tirelli gives a convincing performance as trainer Hector and Paul Calderon presents Diana's father Sandro with moody and unpredictable strokes. All Hail Kusama!
   Girlfight is another excellent transfer from Columbia. I found no fault in any aspect of the presentation. The image is consistently sharp, motion stable. Shadow detail is revealing and balanced. Blacks are very good. Color is accurate and nicely saturated. Theodore Shapiro's music is delivered with snappy pulses in the Dolby Digital 5:1 presentation. The nice surround stage  adds to the dramatic impact of the images.
     Kusama's scene specific audio commentary and a making of featurette complete the special edition treatment.

A larger than life screen presence brought joy to audiences for six decades. Anthony Quinn had a rare zest for life that was invested in many of his roles. Long live his memory. Click on the image for a look at his career.

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Spartacus (SE) /A, B+

This is one of the great epic films with an animally electric performance from Kirk Douglas. Great special editon.

With the introduction of the Columbia Super Bit collection it looks like a new wave of repackaging marketing might be just around the corner.
New Edition: Bit by Bit