DISQUS

Film School Rejects: Ten Great Films that Capture the Olympic Spirit

  • Brian Rodden · 1 year ago
    Props for Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings and the Cutting Edge. Tear...
  • JMoney · 1 year ago
    Don't get me started on D2.

    the Ducks facing off against the mighty hockey powerhouse of ICELAND, they must be good at hockey, they have the word ice in their name.

    Not to mention the big win over Canada by the hockey nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

    I know you just put that movie on there to be funny, but it strays so far from reality it isn't funny. a house league team gets picked to represent the entire country?
  • erika · 1 year ago
    Maybe you don't really want to know what happened to DB Sweeney, but he played the evil Goetz in the twice cancelled Jericho! And he was awesomely eeeee-vil!
  • Cole Abaius · 1 year ago
    Finally, Neil had an excuse to make a list with Miracle at the top. I'm pretty sure Universal owns the option on Water Albatross: The Michael Phelps Story.

    WTF: Water Albatross.
  • Krazd · 1 year ago
    Cool Runnings and D2 - thumbs up
  • Johnny · 1 year ago
    The films are great. I wonder how hard it is to incorporate the shows' spectacle since as the Beijing Opening Ceremony that I find interesting and remind me of the greatness.

    http://www.danielpoon.com/lifehacking/2008/08/1...
  • blazen harvey · 1 year ago
    I think that Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story is the most touching. You know the one about the olympic diver with aids
  • learnfilm · 1 year ago
    Hands down Miracle is the best one of all, very inspiring movie
  • NateH · 1 year ago
    Neil, I'm glad to see that you didn't let me down with this list. If Miracle hadn't been in the number one spot, I would have flown back to Columbus and kicked you square in the junk.

    Seriously though, overall great list, and while I get the comedic value of it...

    D2? Really?
  • Jim McDish · 1 year ago
    I personally am finding the olympics to be a real drag this year.

    JT
    www.FireMe.To/udi
  • sgi540 · 1 year ago
    You left out Olympia. Beats the mostly fictional crap you listed.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_(1938_film)

    The best part is where Jesse Owens bests some Aryans and they get a reaction shot from Hitler.

    Although the full frontal nudity dancing is neat too.
  • GregInVancouver · 1 year ago
    "Visions of Eight" documentary of the 1972 Munich Olympics through the eyes of eight different directors.
  • Dave · 1 year ago
    you forgot the Best of the Best.

    You shouldn't block with your face.
  • Mrgrammarperson · 1 year ago
    I've always been partial to Personal Best myself.
  • riggle · 1 year ago
    Does anyone else remember the made for tv flick, "Nadia"? It's very true-to-reality (except for the 80s hair) movie about Nadia Comaneci, and of course it includes a properly over-scored scene of the historic first perfect 10 at the 76 Olympics. Very touching, if you grew up with it and appreciate Romanian mental abuse.... with surprisingly smooth actor/stunt gymnastics sequences. One of my favorite Olympic movies, anyway.
  • Anonymous · 1 year ago
    Got to agree with Mrgrammarperson. Personal Best is one of the sports movies of all time. You actually get a sense of what athletes go through in training at the world class level. Plus, the sand dune scene is a classic.
  • G · 1 year ago
    Cool Runnings??!! The biggest work of fiction ever. The team came dead last in 88 and had one of the most spectacular crashes ever seen.

    On a serious note though - 'The Games' (1970, Michael Crawford, Ryan O'Neal) is a top film. Focusing on 4 athletes from the most diverse of backgrounds training for the marathon. Excellent film.
  • AB · 1 year ago
    What about American Anthem! Granted is was about the Olympic trials but it actually starred Mitch Gaylord, who won a gold medal in gymnastics in the 1984 Olympics.
  • PKTeckGirl · 1 year ago
    @AB: Thank you for reminding me about American Anthem! That was the film that popped in my head when Neil mentioned "Peaceful Warrior" but I could not for the life of me think of the title. That was an awesome movie in the 1980s and it didn't hurt that Mitch Gaylord was a hottie either.
  • Bug · 1 year ago
    Ohhh, Nadia & American Anthem. As a gymnast growing up in the late 80s early 90s those were my two favorite movies!! Super cheesy, super fun. But I have to say Miracle is easily my favorite sports movie ever. I can watch it 100 times and cry every single time!
  • FilmSchoolGrad · 1 year ago
    Glad to see at least one other person mentioned OLYMPIA... don't see how you could leave
    it off the list.
    But in addition, there is Ichikawa Kon's great Tokyo Olympiad.
    C'mon... do the research.
  • Vincent · 1 year ago
    Blades of glory!!! Gotta love the Ferrel!
  • Tilda · 1 year ago
    What about Breaking Away? The first time I understood bicycle racing.
    And, Mystery , Alaska - superior to The Mighty Ducks.
  • Chance · 1 year ago
    Actually, the funny thing is that Jesse Owens was very gracious about the situation, and even had praise for the Germany of 1936, and for the Germans. Funny how that's always left out. In hindsight people want to make him into some kind of great "embarrasser" of the Germans, but he himself never felt that way.

    And to their credit, the Germans DID win the most medals of any country at the 1936 Olympics. No one thought they could, but they did.

    But all that's beside the point. Olympia is a magnificent film.
  • Jamie · 1 year ago
    Blades of Glory is a great sports movie! It cracks me up!!