Former Special Forces soldier Louis Stevens returns to Miami to find his old high school invaded by drugs and violence.Former Special Forces soldier Louis Stevens returns to Miami to find his old high school invaded by drugs and violence.Former Special Forces soldier Louis Stevens returns to Miami to find his old high school invaded by drugs and violence.
Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter
- Philippe (Jamaican Gang Leader)
- (as Jeffrey Anderson Gunter)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCapoeira was invented in the early 16th century by African slaves in Brazil. The dance moves were incorporated to disguise the fact that they were learning to fight.
- GoofsDonovan says he ran Louis' cassette tape through a midi setup. A cassette tape is an isolated prerecorded audio track which cannot be modified through a midi setup, not the way Donovan is describing.
- Quotes
Louis Stevens: Can you turn that music... up?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Capoeira Master Rates 9 Capoeira Scenes in Movies and TV (2023)
- SoundtracksParanauê
Performed by Serapis Bey
Produced by Kao Rossman and Stuart Shapiro
Featured review
Positivity & Kicking Butt
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.
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.
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- refinedsugar
- Aug 21, 2023
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $6,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,283,371
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,286,889
- Aug 29, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $3,283,371
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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![Mark Dacascos and Sergio Kato in Only the Strong (1993)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzljYzQyNTMtNTdmZC00ZTM2LWJjN2YtMDNiOGI4Nzg1NThkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzc5MjA3OA@@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,0,90,133_.jpg)