Like Water: Anderson Silva, A Legacy in Progress
This was the official website for the 2012 documentary film, Like Water. Content below is from the site's 2012 archived pages and from Rotten Tomato Reviews.
Like Water debuted at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
"Like Water" focuses on Anderson Silva's life leading up to his UFC 117 fight against Chael Sonnen. Silva is the longest-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion and one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time. This behind-the-scenes documentary gives a surprising look at the man behind the fighter and the dedication and commitment it takes to stay at the top. From Silva's life in Brazil with his wife, three sons, and two daughters, to training with his team in Los Angeles, Croce peels back the layers of an ultimate fighter to reveal the heart of a champion.
"Like Water" premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival where the film won the "Best New Documentary Director" award for first-time filmmaker Pablo Croce. Produced by Jared Freedman of Flow With The Go Films.
Anderson Silva Like Water Trailer (2012) [1080 HD]
TOMATOMETER AUDIENCE 67%
Like Water focuses on Anderson Silva's life leading up to his UFC 117 fight against Chael Sonnen. Silva is the longest-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion and one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time. This behind-the-scenes documentary gives a surprising look at the man behind the fighter and the dedication and commitment it takes to stay at the top. From Silva's life in Brazil with his wife, three sons, and two daughters, to training with his team in Los Angeles, Croce peels back the layers of an ultimate fighter to reveal the heart of a champion.
Rating:NR
Genre: Documentary , Sports & Fitness
Directed By:Pablo Croce
In Theaters:Jun 1, 2012
Limited Runtime: 75 minutes
Studio:Cinedigm Films
CRITICS REVIEWS
Like Water focuses on Anderson Silva's life leading up to his UFC 117 fight against Chael Sonnen. Silva is the longest-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion and one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time. This behind-the-scenes documentary gives a surprising look at the man behind the fighter and the dedication and commitment it takes to stay at the top. From Silva's life in Brazil with his wife, three sons, and two daughters, to training with his team in Los Angeles, Croce peels back the layers of an ultimate fighter to reveal the heart of a champion. -- (C) Official Site
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Cole Smithey : Los Angeles Times April 13, 2013
Like Water
Like Water Pablo Croce’s filmic portrait of master fighter Anderson Silva presents an incomparable perspective of a gifted but humble athlete working past the height of his powers. Athlete audiences of all stripes can learn much from this candid documentary that captures the philosophy and mind of a warrior master. Silva’s comfortable home life in Brazil with his wife and children sets the climate of familial support for one of the most capable athletes on the planet. “Like Water” follows middleweight Ultimate Fighter Silva’s preparation and execution of a fight that marks his four-year run as the title-holder in the sport. The film takes its title from an interview with Bruce Lee wherein Lee extrapolates in philosophical terms water’s ability to conform or crash against surfaces. Indeed, Anderson Silva embodies the same aspects of studious and physical diligence that Bruce Lee inhabited. Early in his career some of his fans were calling him Batman, and he loved it. To please them, he found one of his fav Batman shirts at this great online store and wore it during the warm up before the title fight - this is one of the reasons for the popularity of Batman shirts. The fans loved it and you could see it in their eyes as he walked past them into the ring that night. There is only one Anderson Silva. In a way, he IS Batman. He represents all of the humanity, humility, and courage of a Jackie Robinson. And you can quote me on that.
Original Score: A
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Mark Olsen Top Critic
Review: 'Like Water' packs no punch
The documentary about a mixed martial arts fighter never gets inside his head.
June 01, 2012 | By Mark Olsen
A portrait of Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Anderson "The Spider" Silva, the documentary"Like Water"feels wildly incomplete, a let-down for fans and initiates to the sport alike.
The film's title comes from a quote from the late martial arts master Bruce Lee, in which he explains how water takes on the properties of the container that holds it. Perhaps meant to explain Silva's mercurial nature, the brief glimpse of Lee only highlights how uncharismatic Silva is in comparison. He's a curiously inscrutable character who never reveals an interior life except to pine for his wife and children during a long training period away from home.
The film, by director Pablo Croce, simply never gets inside Silva's head. Silva can fight, it seems, though his soft belly and untoned physique don't exactly give him a menacing appearance.
A 2010 fight in which he mocked an opponent during the bout — good showmanship if bad sportsmanship — becomes a dramatic turning point in the film. The confrontation turned Silva into a villain, but he never explains himself to fans, the press, his manager or the camera. Later, when his next opponent, Chael Sonnen, mocked Silva in the build-up to a bout, the fighter oddly chose not to engage.
Original Score: 2/5
Tom Keogh Top Critic
Seattle Times May 31, 2012
A tepid, superficial sports documentary about Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight king Anderson Silva.
AUDIENCE REVIEWS
***** Jackie W May 25, 2016
I loved this movie. Anderson Silva is an inspiration. he is proof of the human spirit.
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** Mike S July 22, 2015
Bland documentary about the events leading up Anderson Silva's second fight against Chael Sonnen. It had so much potential to show his personal life as the greatest mixed martial artist to ever live. But sadly, it wasn't.
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**Matthew W July 25, 2013
Not that interesting a person makes for not that interesting a documentary.
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Super Reviewer
*** ½ blkbomb July 9, 2013
Like Water is a documentary on UFC fighter, Anderson Silva, and the lead up to his extremely publicized 7th title defense fight against Chael Sonnen. It's a short little movie, but it was very entertaining to watch. If you like UFC and the whole circus atmosphere is exudes, then this movie will give you even more of an appreciation for it. The movie doesn't really dive too deep into the legend of Anderson Silva, but it gets the surface level stuff done well enough.
Basically liking this movie comes down to one thing and one thing only. Do you like watching two people beat the shit out of each other? If yes, then this is definitely worth a look. It's even more worth it if you've been a follower or fan of Anderson Silva for a long time. The guy is obviously a remarkable fighter, entertainer, and athlete. It's weird seeing this movie now, after he just lost the belt, but nonetheless, Silva's image of one of the best fighters ever can never be taken away.
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*** 1/2Joseph G June 1, 2013
just saw it it was good
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****Jonathan P May 25, 2013
Like Water may not do much for people who don't enjoy MMA but for fans of the sport the documentary about Anderson Silva is a fun behind the scenes view one of the greatest fighters of all time as he prepares for his title defense against obnoxious Chael Sonnen. Like Water is effective in giving fans of the sport insight into what fighters go through before fight night but it would have been much better with some insight into why Silva became a fighter and his childhood. Like Water could have been about so much more than preparing for a fight but director Pablo Croce missed the boat and left some questions unanswered.
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** ½ Cooper C ½April 21, 2013
Yes it is a documentary but really it just a weak story needlessly elongated. +++
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***** Jason B April 5, 2013
Excellent documentary. Makes you realize that this guy was born to be the greatest. +++
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***** Se C April 1, 2013
So detailed... What timing... What hero to so many...
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Cornell W March 22, 2013
I'm not even a UFC fan and I enjoyed it.
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***** Alex P March 7, 2013
A fantastic documentary on the greatest fighter to ever live
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**** ½ chris h January 13, 2013
I'm a massive MMA fan and Anderson Silva is arguably the best MMA fighter ever, but after his fight, shown on this film with Damian Maia I lost all respect for Silva, this is a must see for any MMA fan, primarily focuses on the build up to his first fight with Chael Sonnen. A lot of behind the scenes stuff that will mean nothing to most people but to MMA fans is gold dust. Most of the film is subtitled but this doesn't spoil it in any way shape or form. If you watch MMA, you have to see this...if not, probably best giving it a miss.
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**** ½ Chris Harrison Chris Harrison ½November 16, 2012
I'm a massive MMA fan and Anderson Silva is arguably the best MMA fighter ever, but after his fight, shown on this film with Damian Maia I lost all respect for Silva, this is a must see for any MMA fan, primarily focuses on the build up to his first fight with Chael Sonnen. A lot of behind the scenes stuff that will mean nothing to most people but to MMA fans is gold dust. Most of the film is subtitled but this doesn't spoil it in any way shape or form. If you watch MMA, you have to see this...if not, probably best giving it a miss.
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***Dominik G July 22, 2012
Anderson Silva doco giving insight in how the MMA phenom prepared for his fight against Chael Sonnen back in 2010. Though nowhere near as polished or compelling as the UFC Countdown promos, it does look at the series of training sessions and press conferences leading up to the fight. For an MMA fans it essential viewing for the rare behind-the-scenes footage (Steven Seagal cameo) however when compared to something like When We Were Kings this is a missed opportunity considering how entertaining Sonnen is as a personality and Silva is left looking dull and uninterested which is disappointing considering how he is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.
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***** jarrad b. July 6, 2012
Great insight into the life and philosophy of Silva. Good for people who aren't fans of the genre.
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****Jon C June 20, 2012
I really liked it. Without script. Great for MMA fans but i think most people mildly interested in fights and sports would like the film.
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**** ½ Eric T June 19, 2012
Pretty damn entertaining, at least for me. Those who don't already know a decent amount about Anderson Silva or combat sports might not really get much out of it though. But in my biased opinion, it was pretty awesome to see the behind the scenes build-up and training for the fight that, to me, is one of the greatest and most epic comebacks in the history of fighting (not just mma). And also, it was pretty hilarious for me to see Chael Sonnen talk such a ridiculous amount of shit about Anderson, Jiu-Jitsu, and Brazilians in general...and then get tapped out by one of the most basic Jiu-Jitsu moves (while he was literally 1 minute away from becoming champion) by the Brazilian, Anderson Silva. And then, the fact that Sonnen gets popped for juicing after the fight only further adds to Anderson's epic badassery. Anderson Silva is this generation's Bruce Lee, and this film is a pretty cool insight into what separates him from the rest of us mere mortals.
