I attended the movie with 2 others. We were all equally bored with the production. Ali offered so much more than the movie portrayed. With the exception of a couple of scenes, it is a complete waste of time. Too long, Too slow, not enough boxing focus.

Ali is one of the best movies...

All around great acting but the storyline was very weak. The movie needed more dialogue from Ali, especially during the fight scenes so we could have gained more insight into Ali's character and mindset.

Will Smith deserves an Oscar for this role. He acted his ass off! There's no question that Mann's direction was incredible, Lubezki's cinematography was outstanding, and the editing and music score were captivating. But what this came down to was the story. It's Ali! Yes, I wanted to see more of the fighting. But I also wanted to see the effect of Parkinson's on this cocky man who's so full of engergy. The Rumble in the Jungle was necessary but how can there be no Thrilla in Manilla?? This seemed like a slice of life out of Ali's life and I would have much rathered seen his entire life story told in a interesting way. I'm sure the DVD will have several deleted scenes, probably at least an hour's worth. This film left me unsatisfied. But it did educate me on one of the most admirable people I've ever seen. Wonder when the sequel's coming out...… Expand

Is it a documentary or a boxing-film, honestly, I do not know and I guess the producers do not know, either thus, a boring movie with no real watchable story.

Here's what happened: Michael Mann completely destroyed this movie! Smith's Oscar nomination was well deserved just for being able to survive all the directorial missteps, which exist in almost every scene. You have the most exiting boxer of all time in Ali, but then make this oozing snail of a movie about his career. All the good reveiws you see are doing one thing: trying to save Michael Mann's career from the biggest mistake made by a decent director in the past decade! … Expand

It might have worked had this been about a fictional boxer, but is it the best they could do with someone as interesting and charismatic as Ali? If Mann could make the true story of the evil of Big Tobacco so riveting, how did he manage to drop the ball on this bountiful subject matter? All signs point towards what would had to have been an uninspiring script...

Muddled and sketchy, but often breathtaking... a bit of a letdown but worth seeing.

Unlike what I expected just highlights seperated episodes of a glorious period of his life. The disturbing fact is the inconsistency.

Great Movie, with good acting, well made, and well directed.

Perhaps movies about American icons should be done by anyone other than Americans, what with this and "Beautiful Mind," another work of fiction. If this is Ali's life i'm George Foreman. Hollywood dripple VOL II, worth an Oscar for best "Left out the truth in search of audience approval and Oscar Hunting" shared equal with "Beautiful Mind."

Well acted, but the story is unengaging and it wanders aimlessly - a worthy effort that is ultimately a blemish on Smith and Mann's careers. Shame.

Breathtakingly incomperable african scenes, astonishing portrayal by will smith - who establishes himself as the ultimate character chameleon - and nearly seemless continuity combine for a masterful, though tepid in places, visual story, that is a treat for all lucky enough to view it.

Overall, yeah, Will Smith did a pretty good job at mimicking - and at times really becoming - Muhammed Ali. But overall, he's not Ali, and no one ever could be. Outside of his performance, the script was boring, hackneyed, and didn't explore in any deep manner the issues and conflicts that made Ali one of the most interesting public figures of American 20th century history. Two really disturbing things stand out here; first was the level of development ANY of the female characters in the film get (which is to say none) and the fact that several scenes are copied DIRECTLY, shot for shot, outt of "Malcolm X" and the brilliant documentary "When We Were Kings."… Expand

Best movie ever made.