As mixed martial arts continues to gain popularity over traditional boxing and other competitive fighting, it was only a matter of time before a movie centered around the sport hit the big screen. Hitting theaters today, Warrior successfully beats any potential competition to the proverbial punch in MMA movie making.

When Paddy (Nick Nolte) gets an unexpected visit from his estranged son Tommy (Tom Hardy), old wounds are reopened as Paddy tries to make up for his alcohol-fueled abusive past. Meanwhile, financial strains cause problems for high school physics teacher Brendan (Joel Edgerton) and his family. Though they seem to have very opposing motivations (at least at first), fate sees both men entering Sparta, a first-of-its-kind MMA tournament where competitors from around the world will compete for $5 million, and the title of world’s best fighter.

With fighting being used as a powerful metaphor for the life struggles each character faces, the similarities between Warrior and Rocky cannot be denied. Both films involve working class fighters (one of which is past a prime that was never that memorable to begin with) trying to overcome such odds as Koba, a seemingly unstoppable Russian fighter played by current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. But as each character’s history and motivations are revealed, Warrior proves to be more than just Rocky: The Next Generation. From the realistic nature of the cage fighting scenes to the climactic final battle in which everyone (not just the two combatants) is forced to face their darkest fears, Warrior is just as much about making amends for past mistakes as it is about submission moves and physical grappling.

Warrior. Directed by Gavin O’Connor. Starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte. Rated PG-13. www.warriorfilm.com.

Review by Jonathan Williams