Film-maker knocks out his critics

By Pascale Harter
BBC News

A German film-maker repeatedly panned for making bad films has been - quite literally - hitting back at his critics in a boxing ring in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

Director Uwe Boll took on four of his critics in a boxing match, after he became annoyed at the barrage of abuse he received from them.

This might be PR, but I don't want to keep getting punched in the head Critic Jeff Sneider

One critic said the horror movie-making Mr Boll was one of the "most inept film-makers ever".

But it was the director, now dubbed "Raging Boll", who emerged victorious from a boxing ring in Vancouver, watched by a crowd of 600 people.

After knocking his detractors out in the ring, Mr Boll accused them of judging his films unfairly.

"If you make a zombie movie like House of the Dead, what are they expecting? Schindler's List?" he asked.

Critic Jeff Sneider of Ain't It Cool News did fight back, but not in the ring.

He said Mr Boll had told him the match would be a publicity stunt.

"I think he's a jerk," said Mr Sneider after the fight. "This might be PR, but I don't want to keep getting punched in the head."

Another critic said he did manage to punch Mr Boll in the face a couple of times, calling it revenge for Boll's latest film, BloodRayne, a vampire flick starring Ben Kingsley.