For all of the traditional complaints lodged against film critics -- too pointy-headed, too snooty, unable to enjoy a movie on the level of the simple pleasures it may present -- I worry that what I'm about to say may harm my standing in the field; namely, I liked Never Back Down. No, it's not The Battle of Algiers or Jules et Jim; it's a movie where good-looking 20-somethings playing good-looking teens offer American moviegoers the exciting prospect of Mixed Martial Arts action without the daunting possibility they might have to read subtitles. It's far below the fights-and-fury quality of Donnie Yen's Flash Point, another MMA action flick opening in limited release as Never Back Down splashes up on movie screens across America. And yet, Never Back Down seems to know what it is, and executes the rote and required moments in a film like this -- a template set by movies like The Karate Kid and Rocky and a dozen others -- with a certain amount of style and exuberance. Never Back Down revolves around good-looking people beating the holy hell out of each other; it doesn't pretend to be much more than that, and while the pleasures it offers are modest, it nonetheless delivers them.

There's a little film called Get Some gearing up for production that is being called a "teenage Fight Club." Hmm ... A movie about teens beating the crap out of each other ... how uplifting! The film will follow a "rebellious" kid, played by Sean Faris (Yours, Mine and Ours), who is having troubles fitting into his new school. Somehow, he gets lured into an underground fight club along the way. Now, the Palahniuk, adult version of this tale had grown men pummeling each other to find strength, meaning and reason to their lackluster lives -- and for the main guy -- a little mental clarity. If this takes on the same tone, I won't be surprised if some parents get a bit ticked off.

As we learned last month, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane star Amber Heard had signed on to co-star as a girl whose "loyalties are put to the test when her boyfriend severely beats up Faris' character." Now, Variety reports that Djimon Hounsou (recent Oscar nominee for Blood Diamond) is also starring in the drama, although there is no word on his role. Since it's a starring role, I would imagine that he's either going to be a teacher at the school that's instrumental in trying to stop this, or a fight-hungry man instrumental in getting this all together -- or maybe a blending of both. The film will begin shooting in July, directed by Jeff Wadlow, from a script by Chris Hauty and Robert Munic. I, for one, am interested to see what they make of this premise, because it really needs to walk the fine line, unless there is a surprise twist and all the guys are pillow fighting. My question: Fight Club inspired middle-aged men to toughen up with their own underground clubs. Will the same happen in high schools across the country?

21 year-old Amber Heard has just landed another starring role in Get Some, a teen drama that will be directed by Jeff Wadlow, who helmed the 2005 horror film Cry_Wolf. The story of Get Some is being described as, believe it or not, a teenage version of Fight Club, although presumably with not with enough blood to earn an R-rating. Sean Faris will also star in the film as an Iowa teen who moves to Florida and gets involved with the underground club. According to HR, Heard will play a young lady whose "loyalties are put to the test when her boyfriend severely beats up Faris' character." I guess that means she takes pity on the guy who can't cut the mustard and romance blooms. The film was written by Chris Hauty, whose most recent credit is the 1996 film Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco.

Get Some is only the latest of several films that Heard has signed on for, but that haven't gotten around to being released yet. She's also the lead in the much talked-about horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which premiered last year at the Toronto film festival, and she recently signed on for The Pineapple Express, with James Franco and Seth Rogan. If that's not enough, she's also got a TV deal going, starring in Hidden Palms, a Kevin Williamson series that premieres tonight. So get used to the name Amber Heard -- you're going to be hearing it for a while.