Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

Seeing as how my local pub that normally remains relatively dormant throughout the week is suddenly aswarm with throngs of beer-bellied gargantuans painted a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart, the start of football season has begun and thus this week shall be dedicated to all things sport.

Growing up I succumbed to the multitude of G-rated sports flicks like The Mighty Ducks, Little Big League, Ladybugs and The Sandlot. Some of which I even find myself watching again these days when nothing else seems to be on television.

I unapologetically admit to liking those sappy romantic comedies disguised as a sport movies like The Cutting Edge, Bend It Like Beckham, Aspen Extreme and Goal!

However with Caddyshack a close second, A League of Their Own and Field of Dreams definitely tie for the number one sport films in my opinion.

So lace up your cleats and get to discussing your favorite sports themed films!

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

I would like to add, in addition to the other children's sport films, Little Giants.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

The Bad News Bears was classic. I also liked the remake. 

I really liked Field of Dreams. But I thought Hoosiers was a bit better for a dramatic sports movie.

Adam Sandler's done a few sports movie, Happy Gilmore, and The Waterboy.

As far as I'm concerned, football and baseball are just filler sports to get me through until basketball season starts. Hoop Dreams and Through the Fire are a couple of good roundball documentaries.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

As a high-school runner, I have to lay down "Chariots of Fire" as a sports movie although not so classically sporty as the usual team over coming insurmountable odds within and without that Disney periodically cranks out with a 'Based on a True Story' tagline (I at least "Remember the Titans" without very fond memories). However, despite being a runner I haven't seen the classic Prefontaine movies out there like "Prefontaine" or "Without Limits". But those are the sports movies I know. 

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

Add Rudy to that list as well (which also goes on my list of movies I resisted, resisted, resisted, then watched against my will and actually liked).

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

The_American_Dream:

As a high-school runner, I have to lay down "Chariots of Fire" as a sports movie although not so classically sporty as the usual team over coming insurmountable odds within and without that Disney periodically cranks out with a 'Based on a True Story' tagline...

I watched Chariots of Fire again and I think it is one of the few Olympic movies that stand up to repeated viewings. (Unlike Cool Runnings.)

In terms of sports comedies I have to go with Dodgeball and A Day at the Races. Both are hilarious for different reasons. If you can't watch either without laughing your ass off, you need to see a mental health specialist.

For baseball, I'd have to go with John Singleton's Eight Men Out and The Pride of the Yankees as a double header since they show the game at it's worst and best.

For hockey, I'd pick Mystery, Alaska.

As for boxing, it's got to be the original Rocky, hands down.

And Sly comes right back for the best movie portrayal of professional arm wrestling with Over The Top.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

I think the saddest football movie I ever saw was the original Brian's Song.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

Other than the week we did "sex" this is probably the broadest topic.  I mean there are a lot of heist movies, and road trip movies, and other of the other types that come out.  But sports movies seem to be a Hollywood staple.  I wonder if you could find a new one every single month.

I'd have to say my favorite, is the made up sport BASEketball.  I still think it's the funniest thing those South Park guys have been involved in.  And it looks like David Zucker and another one of the writers of that movie are coming out with something in a month called An American Carol.  Looks like a jab at Michael Moore.  You guys heard of this before?  I just wandered across it as we speak.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

Personally, I'd say that Slap Shot is the best hockey movie, being a former long-time hockey player...it's ridiculously spot-on, besides the actual hockey scenes, which are still really funny.

I'm also among the minority that thought (figure skating) Blades of Glory was hilarious...I guess I'm just a Will Ferrell fan, because I thought (NASCAR) Talledega Nights was completely hysterical ((basketball) Semi-Pro was pretty bad though).

As for movies actually dramatizing sports, I've never really been a fan.  In fact, I typically scoff at them, and point out everything stupid or cliched that occurs, and am one of those people that laugh when a character says something stupid in a more tragic moment.  Friday Night Lights was allright though.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 15: This Sporting Life

Smooth_J:

As for movies actually dramatizing sports, I've never really been a fan.  In fact, I typically scoff at them, and point out everything stupid or cliched that occurs, and am one of those people that laugh when a character says something stupid in a more tragic moment.  Friday Night Lights was allright though.

It is true that the Sports movie genre is one of the most cliched genres out there.  I guess because it's all about competition, and rooting for someone, and if you try to thwart the audiences expectation in too many ways they will just get pissed.  Just like fans of an actual sport.  They will watch it week after week, hoping for the same outcome every time (that their team will win).  Whether the team wins or not is how they judge their enjoyment of the game, not many other factors you can play with there.