I didn’t grow up to be much of a sports fan. I never watch football, baseball, or even hockey. (I think this is one of the reasons my wife married me.) I did accidentally tune in to the Olympics once when I was looking for A&E, though. Up until recently, I had no idea just what I was missing. I didn’t realize just how entertaining a sports event could be. Thanks to the release of a new DVD, my eyes have been opened to the one and only true enjoyment that can be found at a sports event… the fan fight. That’s right, forget about all the dunderheads running to and fro across some field and turn your attention to the stands, and out on the streets where the REAL entertainment lies. At least that’s the premise of the new DVD from Moonshine Movies, aptly titled “Hooligans & Thugs: Soccer’s Most Violent Fan Fights.” The documentary is narrated by Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols), and throughout he is dressed like he just stepped out of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Most of the time he sounds like he is reading from cue cards, but somehow his old world cockney accent seems appropriate to the images we are shown.

“Hooligans & Thugs: Soccer’s Most Violent Fan Fights” runs right at an hour, and is broken up into twelve chapters, each focusing on a different country or year. As you might expect, most of the time the images are fairly inconsistent as far as quality since they were caught on home video, but most of the time you can see what’s going on just fine. As much as the DVD is really kind of an exploitation piece, the part of my brain that is fascinated by the human condition and the effect mob rule has on it was totally into it. Just when I started having a little bit of faith in people, I watch this DVD and it’s totally blown.

Many of the images presented are extremely violent and bloody, and should in no way be mistaken for a teaching tool showing the proper way to act at a sporting event. The people in these videos are idiots, no two ways about it. Some of what is shown just made me shake my head in bewilderment at how a game could be so important to people that they have to become so ridiculously violent.

“Hooligans & Thugs: Soccer’s Most Violent Fan Fights” is not for kids (unless they really, really like the WWE – and God help them if they do). There is certainly an entertainment factor to this DVD, somewhat akin to stopping to watch a traffic accident. If that’s your bag, this DVD is for you. A word of warning, however, when we watched it at our house the other night, a soccer game almost broke out in the living room. (Go ahead… groan. I dare you…)

Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Moonshine Movies
Release Date: 9/9/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR (Contains Strong Language and Violent Images)
Website

We'll give Hooligans & Thugs a B-.