Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

ALI knocked out before the first bell'

GOOD! by RABID KIMBA	Oct 13th, 2000 04:25:57 PM
Because Will Smith looks nothing like Ali.
It's about time somebody saw that Will Smith is completely wrong by iAmGladiator	Oct 13th, 2000 04:31:27 PM
Or maybe that has nothing to do with it, but even bulked up, it's hard to see Will Smith being "the Greatest." If I were Sony, I'd wait to see if the fucked up southern drawl he's carrying in Bagger Vance pays off before I send him off to do the story of one of the greatest men to ever live.
I doubt it. by bltpdx	Oct 13th, 2000 05:05:57 PM
I don't buy this news item. I'm staking my reputation, of which all is nearly gone anyway, that it turns out to be misinterpreted and that Ali goes on as scheduled.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee...I pity the fool that by Uncapie	Oct 13th, 2000 05:31:47 PM
Burma shave.
Smith as Ali by Emby Mellay	Oct 13th, 2000 05:39:55 PM
Did you see the pic of Smith in training in today's USA Today? He's looking pretty damned buff. I felt better about the casting after I saw that pic.
bleh by Westrum	Oct 13th, 2000 05:43:30 PM
i don't know if the director being black or white has anything to do with it, but i just can't see will smith as ali anyway. besides, harry made a good point; the real ali is still around, the history of the proposed film takes place up to the present i'd assume. it's really too soon for all of that.
Will Smith to play James Brown. Will Smith to play Martin Luthe by Ogami Itto	Oct 13th, 2000 05:53:48 PM
As much as I'd like to see a great Ali movie (he is one of my personal heroes) They probably shouldn't even try to make this one because there's such a high chance of failure, and anything but a masterpiece about Muhammad Ali would be disrespectful to the man's name.
Why can't they just get an unknown? by superninja	Oct 13th, 2000 06:41:42 PM
You will never be able to see someone that high profile as Ali. There are lots of talented black actors out there who are much more physically compatible for this role and could use a break.
I'd have to agree with bltpdx... by Darth Yddet	Oct 13th, 2000 07:38:41 PM
There's no way in hell this film is dead. It's Will Smith, it's Muhamad Ali. They can't lose (box office wise). There's no way they'd have Smith train for this long, especially with Ali at the gym watching him train EVERYDAY (yes it's true) and supporting Smith the way he has. AICN has been wrong plenty of times before and this is just one rumor that will add to that. I've read the script and it's beyond great. Judging from it, it would be very hard to screw this thing up. Jim Carrey looked as much like Andy Kaufman as Smith does like Ali... and look what happened. Smith is a good actor and will pull this off brilliantly... no matter what you people say. Just watch.
ok, it's Smith's movie.. by Devils Halo	Oct 13th, 2000 08:16:38 PM
but what I get from reading above, it's Michael Mann that's the problem. and i think that unless Smith, who is behind Mann 100% (not to mention that Mann has co-written the script), can endure possibly a re-write or agree to another director, he'll most likely be doing MIB 2 before he does ALI. in the past, Mann hasn't been the easiest director for studios to work with... with an artistic perfection that rivals Cameron and Sony with a large stake in another high profile movie (Spider-man) they may not want to risk two huge money pits at the same time.
Good, one less project for Jon Peters to wreck by KingKrypton	Oct 13th, 2000 08:26:05 PM
Now let's get him away from SUPERMAN and SANDMAN, as well. And any other project he may be looking into. Get that loser out of Hollywood!
To clarify by KingKrypton	Oct 13th, 2000 08:30:14 PM
Just so there's no misunderstanding, I like Michael Mann and Will Smith fine. But I don't want them making this movie unless they have a competent producer. Peters would just ruin it for them...and for us, too. If it weren't for Peters, I'd be all for this project.
Expect a 180 in about a month by Lazarus Long	Oct 13th, 2000 08:44:14 PM
Something tells me that after The Legend of Bagger Vance comes out, we won't be hearing all this "Will Smith can't act" crap anymore. Will an Oscar nomination be enough for Sony to push forward again? I don't suppose any of you saw Six Degrees of Separation, either, did you? The guy has been in a handful of bad films, but he's not the only person guilty of that crime.
Um, did ANYBODY here see the special on Ali that ran during the by Sith Lord Jesus	Oct 13th, 2000 09:34:53 PM
I did. When they were showing old footage of The Black Superman bragging to reporters about how pretty he was and how fast he was gonna take down his opponant, and then going into the ring and BACKING THAT SHIT UP 100%, I thought "Yup. That's Will Smith. He can DO that. Work him out alittle, bulk him up a bit, and he IS Muhammad Ali." I don't believe this story at all, I think it's just wishful thinking on the part of some who, for whatever reason, don't want Will to play the part. But just watch him--I bet this'll be the greatest role of his life, one that will not only make everyone forget that WILD WILD WASTE OF TIME ever existed but will also hand him one of those coveted little golden statues. Just wait.
Thank Fucking God! by The Black Adder	Oct 13th, 2000 10:07:13 PM
Will Smith sucked for that part. He looks nothing like him and he couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag.
I'm sure this report is wrong, BUT... by BGW Claw	Oct 14th, 2000 12:55:39 AM
...you fanboy fucks are forgetting that Michael Mann made 1999's best movie, THE INSIDER. And in a few weeks we're gonna get a glimpse of Will Smith's dramatic range in BAGGER VANCE, so shut the hell up about him. He's got the charisma, and he sure as hell is getting the physique. And the fact that Ali himself CALLED Smith and asked him to do it makes you doubt he can do it? Let the man himself decide. They really don't give two rats shits who you guys think should play him. They want the box office and the talent, and Will Smith can deliver that. Ali will be one of 2001's best films, and Mann (one of Hollywood's finest) has this and GATES OF FIRE, two sure masterpieces. How the fuck can you go wrong? Stop your bitchin and don't see the damn movie if you're so pissed. Cuz noone who's in power gives a good god damn. Go Mann! Go Smith! Fuck the naysayers!!! ALI, one of 2K1's BEST!!! And who gives a flying fuck if Mann is white. I'm black and I have complete confidence in him to make it. You know why. Yeah, cuz he's a GREAT fucking director and writer to boot! Better than Spike Lee. He has more vision and will bring us a grander vision of this epic story. You think his skin color is gonna deter his filmmaking abilities?!? What a stupid fucking world we live in with stupid fuckin people like some here roaming around in it. Pathetic.
And all of you who hate Smith cuz of WWWest... by BGW Claw	Oct 14th, 2000 01:02:07 AM
Can go fuck yourselves. You tell me you'd turn down $20 million, even if it were for ratshit like that movie. It's DONE with. And as far as I can see, it's the ONLY tarnish thus far on Smith's record. GET OVER IT. Simple as that. Read above again also.
What'd so bad about Big Will? by Twig	Oct 14th, 2000 01:14:20 AM
Everyone(well, most everyone) seems to hate on him, but why? Is it cuz he was a rapper, then an actor, or because he's done mostly big time action & sci-fi flicks(which, with the BIG exception of WWW, were IMO al pretty good)? He CAN act(see 6 Degrees or Bagger Vance, where I'm quite sure he'll be excellent), and he's about the only actor who COULD pull off Ali. I mean sure, no one can really duplicate Ali, but Smith can probably come as close as anyone.
At least some people here know... by Darth Yddet	Oct 14th, 2000 01:14:22 AM
Thank God people actually agree with me. Sith Lord Jesus is on the right track. Will Smith CAN act and Will Smith CAN BE MADE TO look like Ali. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but why people have to bring down good actors, who are genuinely good people as well such as Will Smith, is beyond me. Some of you people seem as if the entire world is going to hell because a two hour movie sucked (i.e. Wild Wild West). It's like you want to crucify any one who disrupts your already jaded movie experiences. Grow up. THESE ARE JUST MOVIES. These are just actors. All of this is for entertainment purposes only. If some of you people really get as pissed off as you seem in these talkbacks, then I'd hate to be around you when something bad actually did happen to you in the REAL WORLD. Relax, it's just a movie. There's no need to get so pissed off at someone who can already do a job a thousand times better than any single person on this talkback. I usually try to stay out of these stupid ass arguements, but it's gotten to the point where it's freakin' rediculous. These talkbacks, especially that one about T3 with all those morons, are simply embarassments to any one intersted in movies. Some of you movie "fans" are nothing more than negative little basement dwelers who got made fun of everyday in high school and feel this talkbalk is the only place they can come to feel important and cut down others because it was done to you. Sorry for my little pissed off rant, but I'm just saying everything I've felt since I started reading these talkbacks a couple years ago. And this was the place I decided to let it out. And Harry, just because YOU don't feel that it's not time for an Ali movie doesn't mean you can abuse your so called "powers" and print this bit of senseless news. Get professional and on the right track Harry before it's too late.
ALI? bah! by ablindsquirrel	Oct 14th, 2000 01:16:53 AM
I was just wondering if you all realized that you're not obligated to suck this guy off just because he's the most politically correct figure of the 20th century. A man uses religion to justify the fact that he'd rather play a sport than go to war and he's a "personal hero?" I can't believe some friggin people. Admire him for his boxing skill? ABSOLUTELY!!!! Admire him as a person? YOU'VE GOT TO BE F'ing kidding me. flame if you will, it's only my opinion.....maybe you can convince me other wise
This report doesn't feel all right... by Isidore	Oct 14th, 2000 01:17:45 AM
There's too little info on this, in the report for me not to suspect a little bullshit going on. As of less than a month ago Mann was like a fucking chicken with no head working on this, hiring people, etc. Now one person says it's over with no fact backing it other than a reputation with Harry, and it's dead? I'm waiting for some real evidence...
why you should admire ali as a person... by Lazarus Long	Oct 14th, 2000 12:41:24 PM
It's not about chooing boxing over fighting in a war. The most famous quote attributed to Ali during his draft-refusal era is "I ain't got nothin' against the vietcong" or something to that affect. This was not exactly a time of racial harmony in the United States, and Ali is basically saying, why should I go off to shoot a bunch of yellow people just because rich white men want me to? The fact is that most wars are fought by people who don't have rich daddies to keep them out of them, including a lot of minorities. Why would you support a government that won't even stand by your basic civil rights? When you aren't considered equal in your own country! It was Ali's high-profile persona that made his decision to not fight so inspirational among many of that generation, and still is to many people. Whereas money-hungry Uncle Toms like Michael Jordan won't use their celebrity to stand up for anything, because, as MJ himself put it (when asked to support a black candidate running against Jesse Helms) "Republicans buy shoes too." I'll take Ali anyday.
Yeah, you're blind allright, ablindsquirrel. . . by Sith Lord Jesus	Oct 14th, 2000 02:01:51 PM
. . .or maybe just being an obvious troll. Ali decided not to fight in Vietnam because he saw no reason why a black man from a racist, segregated country should go fight and kill Asian people to help prop up the last vestiges of a colonial regime, which is exactly what S. Vietnam was. I wouldn't have either. So yes, I admire him greatly, as I admire Marcus Garvey, Hajji Malik Al-Shabazz (Malcolm X) and Martin Luther King. If you still can't figure out why, then go to the library and do some reading. I'd start with X's autobiography. Also, "A Bright Shining Lie : John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam" by Neil Sheehan if you want to start learning about the war.
I have to agree... by All Thumbs	Oct 14th, 2000 02:42:49 PM
...with a lot of things said in this Talk Back. First, I agree that I'm going to wait for more news before pronouncing "Ali" defunct. Second, I think a good biopic of Ali would focus not on how "great" Ali was/is, but on how contraversial the man is. Whether or not you like Ali, you have to admit he's an interesting figure whose past would make for a fascinating movie -- if it's done right. Third, all of you guys saying "Smith can't act. He doesn't look like Ali. He's miscast. WWW sucked (yes, it did, but not because of Smith. I blame the direction and the script on that one)." need to take a closer look at "Six Degrees" and at some of Smith's work on "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." The guy has the dramatic talent. He can do comedy and drama at the same time. When he's not encouraged to just "be Will Smith" in a movie, I'm sure he can show range. Do I personally think he's right to play Ali? No, not really. I would rather see an unknown. I do think, however, that it would be nice to see Smith pull off the part. It's interesting to see if someone can meet such a challenge in terms of their acting skills, especially if they have talent that is currently ignored/untapped. I also want to remind people that it has been reported (and I don't doubt it's true) the man himself, Ali, personally asked Smith, who was hesitant, to take the part. Maybe Ali sees something in the guy that we all don't. Maybe he thinks that it's the attitude that the actor needs first and then the rest can be trained/built up from there.
The best guy to play Ali by Broedereppo	Oct 14th, 2000 07:29:08 PM
Ever heard of Michael Jai White he could pull it off he is quite an good actor (TYSON) and his phisique may even be to buff
The real Ali quote was... by gary2012	Oct 14th, 2000 10:57:01 PM
..."ain't no Viet-kong ever called me a nigger." Anyone who thought it was right to be in Viet Nam is an idiot. Tell that to the thousands that died for absolutely nothing at all in that failed attempt at furthering the capitolist systems strangle hold on the world. Will Smith is wrong for the part, period. He couldn't play Ali. No one should even try to make a movie like this. Why can't we just have master peices like "When We Were Kings" to show who Ali was and is. This film woud just end up being as bad, and insulting to Ali, as Man on the Moon was to Kaufman. Can't they pick quality actors who are right for the part rather than the typical box office stars?
w.smith sucks ass by tallboy	Oct 15th, 2000 12:50:52 AM
Maybe it's the liquor talking, but will smith sucks at every single thing he has ever done. I would rather see Pauly Shore making 20 mil than mister fresh prince.
THIS IS A CROCK OF SHIT!!!!!!! by batman55555	Oct 15th, 2000 03:15:49 AM
The ali movie will still go off on 1/4/01. Smith was just on Access Hollywood talking about the role. I don't think he would of spent 3 minutes talking about the movie If it wasn't going to get made.
Will Smith by Darth Terry	Oct 15th, 2000 10:06:46 AM
Like isn't Will Smith too lanky to play Ali, his head isn't round enough anyway. Why not go for Cuba Gooding Jr, I think he'd be a better choice and he'd cost a lot less.
"I Know You Didn't Shoot That Green Shit at Me" by DropKickMurphy	Oct 15th, 2000 02:09:22 PM
Please No More Will Smith. Please. I have no more energy to stress this enough. Ali rules yeah that's true. If this movie is good i'll be first to apologize. But to me Will Smith is the anti christ a loud loud lucky anti christ. Please no more. Please. No more of Him...very tired of him very tired very zzzzzzzz......(*Dropkick splits like pants so he can take a nappee)
Will Smith as ALI by X-Girls	Oct 15th, 2000 04:22:32 PM
Bad Casting. Get someone else, Ali is the mack, Will just wants to be. This could be a great movie, but with Smith??
Darth Yddet has a point. by X-Girls	Oct 15th, 2000 04:39:39 PM
Ok. Looks like it's in the right hands, but we gotta agree Will is going to make or break the belief he's a great actor. I'd rather watch an A&E biography..but I'm content now with where this is going. Should read the posts before hand...the new X-Men cartoon and the Spidey movie look nasty, I want to avoid them.
What's wrong with Will? by Koslaw	Oct 15th, 2000 05:21:20 PM
Just because he makes more money in a year then most people will in their entire lives gives you a reason to hate him? Or is it because Eminem hates him and being like Eminem is cool? Will Smith is a good actor. No bad actor would get paid 20 mil per movie. Period. Well, except Adam Sandler
Why "Ali" won't be scrapped... by LesterB	Oct 15th, 2000 05:39:57 PM
I happen to have a little personal experience with Michael Mann. Biggest asshole I've ever met in the film industry, but the fact is, the man's a fucking bulldog. Not only is he a talented artist and director, but he understands the business side of this industry, too, and he is a tough as nails. If he wants something, there is no one who's going to keep him from getting it without getting their nuts chopped off. So if Mann wants to do "Ali", he will do it, and he will have Will Smith in the lead role. And I'll bet you money it'll win Oscars after all the buzz "The Insider" had...
Now it's Official, here's the article Confirming Harry's Scoop! by Regis Travolta	Oct 16th, 2000 01:08:54 AM
FROM MONDAY'S HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ONLINE EDITION: Columbia Pictures has put its high-profile Michael Mann-Will Smith biopic "Ali," about the life of heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, into turnaround after budgetary issues, a studio spokeswoman confirmed. The long-in-the-works project was to start shooting in January with Smith starring as Ali. A highly placed studio source said the project was put into turnaround late last week when director Mann could not convince studio executives that he could make the movie for the agreed-upon budget of slightly more than $100 million. But "Ali" producer Jon Peters said the project has not been put into turnaround. "It is a technical term," Peters said Sunday. "We all worked through the weekend, and I spoke with (Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO) John Calley on Friday. He assured me everything would stay in place until Monday, when we are meeting and will confirm the magical number, which will allow us to move forward and make our dream come true." Peters added: "Everything's in position, including the foreign financing." A rep for Mann said the foreign financing was in place regardless of which studio makes the movie. Sources indicated Initial Entertainment Group, in which Germany's Splendid Medien AG owns a 49% minority stake, has had discussions with the studio to take a substantial stake in the project in return for foreign rights, but no deal has yet been inked. Columbia hyped the project with much fanfare at ShoWest this year when Mann, Smith and Ali flew to Las Vegas to greet exhibition executives. Smith is in negotiations to star in a "Men in Black" sequel for the studio, although no start date has been announced. Mann and Smith are repped by CAA, which had no comment Sunday.
All the people who say Will Smith can't act by samscars	Oct 16th, 2000 10:30:15 AM
You people who say Will can not act have obviously never seen six degrees of seperation, any of the strong, non-comical episodes of the Fresh Prince, or anything he's ever done not counting WWW. The bottom Line is that he can act, and would most likely do a wonderful job as Ali. I hope they make this film, so that all of you will have to eat your words.
I think Will Smith can act, I just think he had nothing about hi by superninja	Oct 16th, 2000 05:04:49 PM
Will Smith cannot bulk up. Taye Diggs and Wesley Snipes can bulk up. Chris Rock cannot bulk up. What I'm getting at is Smith can never be the pure physical presence Ali was. It has nothing to do with his acting talent, just his body type. Michael Mann is a kick arse director, btw.
WIl Smith....the greatest? by WilderKnight	Oct 17th, 2000 08:14:33 AM
He could do this, given another 5 years or so, the wait would be worth it. Right now? Better to go w/ an unknown, if Sony had the balls that is....
Your Morons! Mann's brilliant! by Nekko	Oct 18th, 2000 01:38:42 AM
What's with you guys? And you too Harry? Michael Mann is incredible, and a great shooter! He could make a movie about a tax audit and the thing would be bitchin! All you losers probably thought The Insider was going to be some boring movie about cigarettes. And look how amazing that piece of film was. I, for one, am looking forward to WHATEVER MANN IS DOING NEXT, AND YES, THAT DOES INCLUDE A BIO ABOUT THE GREAT ALI! Buncha amateurs.

Talkbacks

ALI knocked out before the first bell'

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks