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FIRST LOOK

First Look: Channing Tatum in Fighting

by Alex Billington
December 19, 2007
Source: ComingSoon

I doubt that many of you saw A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints from 2006. It wasn't that great of a film, but at least it was interesting. It was written and directed by the same real person that it was actually about - Dito Montiel - an Astoria, Queens native telling the story of his teen years growing up. Dito's next movie is one currently called Fighting and it is a rough-hewn heroic tale about high-stakes underground street fights. ComingSoon visited the set a in New York City a few weeks back and grabbed a few first look photos of Channing Tatum in a fight - and damn are they impressive.

Fighting sounds a lot like Fight Club, but with a lot less imagination and Brad Pitt and a lot more realism. The cast includes Channing Tatum as the main character Sean Arthur as well as Terrence Howard, Brian J. White, and Luis Guzmán. Sean Arthur is a young man who scrapes up a living hustling counterfeit merchandise in NYC. With family tragedy in his past and his father keeping him at a distance, this outsider has little to motivate him. A chance encounter with veteran street-fighting coach Harvey Boarden (Howard) leads to a whole new career for Sean. The ensuing bouts get tough, especially with the criminal element horning in, so Sean gets tougher. He will fight to win, not only the prize money but also the unexpected new relationships that are strengthening him.

Since A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints wasn't a great first start for Dito Montiel, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect here. But these photos have changed my mind - now I'm looking forward to this. If he's got the right story and the right cast, which it certainly sounds like, this could be better than just an MTV movie's street fighting version of You Got Served.

Channing Tatum in Fighting

Channing Tatum in Fighting
Dito Montiel, left, coaches Channing Tatum, right, in preparation for a fight scene.

For more info on the film, check out ComingSoon's lengthy set visit report. Fighting is being distributed by Rogue Pictures and currently does not have a release date set, but is expected to arrive in theaters at some point in 2008.

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Ryan

Damn are they impressive? Sorry to be an ass, but no. They are not.
scar

I own it.... it was a good coming of age movie.....but....could've beeeen waaaaaaaaaaay bettter.
james H.

A Guide To recognizing your Saints was the most impressive movie in years! Are you kidding with saying it was only promising? It blew eevrything away last year and if this has Montiel's touch i'll be there day 1
Tank

Yeah...that has to be one of the worse observations I have seen on this site. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints was an amazing movie. I would like to know what you thought the flaws were in the film. It certainly wasn't the acting. So...?
Lisa 16

I loved A Guide and found it so moving it brought me to tears. Channing is as hot as they get and Terenc is real cool. Is Shia in this too? I loved him and Channing in A Guide to recognizing your saints. I especially loved Antonio in it. He was like my brother but worse.
James

I haven't seen A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, so I will take your word for it that it was not great. But what exactly about these photographs impressed you? What would the photos have had to look like to NOT impress you?
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

AGTRYS was not amazing. I'm not going to be soft and just say, oh you're right, maybe it was. It was not a good movie at all. It was bland and very poorly directed. You can't say that Dito, a guy who has never directed before in his life and just wrote a book about himself, would be naturally talented. It had some great elements and great acting, but that's about it. These impress me because you take what I believe is inexperience in directing (from Dito) and a concept that could turn out to be bad, and the result is something that looks fairly exciting from these photos alone. Just the way they're composed and how they look, I get a very "street" Fight Club feeling from this, and that's good considering how much I disliked AGTRYS and am not fond of Dito's directing. I think these look good and that's the opinion I'll stick with. Coming from nothing and probably a negative opinion to start, these have quickly changed my mind about what to expect with Fighting.
George Cleveland

Whether or whomever directed AGTRYS I could care less. The movie was astounding. The man or people behind it may or may not be "experienced" to you (Mr. Billington above me's) liking but regardles it was incredibly real and moving. Why everyone continues to call the film "raw" is beside me. The word "raw" is used whenever people either dislike or are moved and this was an experience like no other cinematically for me since Badlands. So if this is what "inexperience" or new or fresh or... means, I'm in. Where do I buy my ticket now!
BOB

THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT THIS MOVIE IS HOT ASS CHANNING TATUM WOOO HE SOO FIIITT !!!
Ashley

The movie AGTRYs was good in the fact it was very real,simple,and memorable. It cant be comparid to FrancisFordCoppelia in directed but it had the same appeal and greatness. As it was Dito's first film. It was great for what it is. The movie fit the story the style fit the theme. So possibly it was a perfect movie!!
Meg

I dont know what ur problem is but, A guide to Recognizing your saints was a brilliant movie!!! I bought it the first time it came out. Just because it wasn't popular doesn't mean it was bad. I love it!!! I cant wait to see Chan in this film I like Terrance Howard too.
debbie

you dumbass. you are ugly. leave him alone. he dont like you! FUCK OFF!
Emma

Debbie youu dont need to get arsey right. if she likes him tough. he dont like you either. ur being bloody pathetic tbh so ur the one who should FUCK OFF and think about how ur acting to other people coz tbh ur the one bing a dumb ass. I bet ur the ugly one and i bet ur insecure so u tell ova people they're ugly to make u feel better littol bit of advice go get plastic surgery and stop being a fucking Twat !!.
BABY. BEE/

OMG HE IS SEX, CHANNING TATUM . LIKE WOOOOOW. GORGEOUS MUCHH!?