Comments on: Ten Great Films that Capture the Olympic Spirit

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:52:58 +0000

Blades of Glory is a great sports movie! It cracks me up!!

By: Chance

Chance — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:14:56 +0000

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.

By: Tilda

Tilda — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:59:35 +0000

What about Breaking Away? The first time I understood bicycle racing.
And, Mystery , Alaska – superior to The Mighty Ducks.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:04:04 +0000

Blades of glory!!! Gotta love the Ferrel!

By: FilmSchoolGrad

FilmSchoolGrad — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:54:17 +0000

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.

By: Bug

Bug — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:39:06 +0000

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!

By: PKTeckGirl

PKTeckGirl — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:38:12 +0000

@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.

By: AB

AB — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:15:07 +0000

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.

By: G

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:39:12 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:42:11 +0000

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.

By: riggle

riggle — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:11:09 +0000

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.

By: Mrgrammarperson

Mrgrammarperson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:54:36 +0000

I’ve always been partial to Personal Best myself.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:17:47 +0000

you forgot the Best of the Best.

You shouldn’t block with your face.

By: GregInVancouver

GregInVancouver — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:11:47 +0000

“Visions of Eight” documentary of the 1972 Munich Olympics through the eyes of eight different directors.

By: sgi540

sgi540 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:06:42 +0000

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.