To understand 'Only The Strong' you have to know it was a thing in the early 90's to capitalize on the deteriorating public school system, teens, violence and temptation to drugs. This film - unlike other titles - wasn't kindly received. Critics and audiences didn't want a Karate Kid-like tale of teaching kids a martial art style known as capoeira to help overcome hardships.

The teacher is Louis Stevens (Mark Dacascos). An ex military man who picked up this art while on a tour of duty. I won't lie and tell you this film doesn't follow formula because it does. He inspires the teens when they witness him beat down some toughs on school property. Then a pilot program with the backing of Kerrigan (Geoffrey Lewis) who's a friend and teacher gets launched. There's the cliché resistant from the worst students to join him. Then the barriers come down.

An antagonist comes in the form of the local big time drug dealer Silverio (Paco Christian Prieto). Who doesn't like that he's losing his sway / workforce to Stevens. There's a steady progression of bonding with the students. Conflict with the baddies. A predictable romantic interest in a female teacher. Everything leading up to a big finale fight where everything hangs in the balance.

'Only The Strong' isn't bad. The message and it's form might be dated, but it's solidly made and features an upbeat tone, good music. Dacascos is in top condition both physical and with the martial arts. I saw this on late night tv in back in the 90's and thought it was decent. That thought remains today.

When I say that I mean, the Bruce Lee flicks, the Chuck Norris flicks, The Karate Kid, Never Back Down, the various ninja movies, etc. Then I see this movie on HBO about Brazilian martial arts and was hooked from the beginning!

At first glance, you think it's a typical B-movie with a former or current Special Forces type going out to change the world. Then as you get into it, you see that there's some story to it! Yeah, it's predictable like some have said, but at least the writers attempted to make a watchable story. The Martial Arts choreography is great, especially if you haven't seen Brazilian Martial arts before!

Like someone also said, this is not Oscar material, but it's certainly entertaining. Whether it's Academy Award worthy or not, that's what a movie is supposed to be: ENTERTAINING. "Only the Strong" certainly delivers in entertainment and in my opinion should have it's place among Martial Arts movies!

this fil has to be the best 15 martial art film i have ever seen in my life. Mark Dacascos (who i first noticed in the film "drive") is absoultly incredible and has to be one of the best martial artists i have ever seen. The storry starts off with louis stevens (Dacascos) as a green baray in Brazil, and after spending many years there learns the art of Capoeira. He returns to his high school and starts a capoeira class and trains the 12 worst kids in the school the brazilian kung fu so they can protect themselfs against the drug dealers that are tearing the area apart and to give them something to strive for, this film has more flips and kicks than some films that are classed as " martial art" and i throughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend it to all fans of martial arts and check out "drive".