Monday, December 10, 2012

Movie Time

This blog is gonna be something new, but everyone loves lists, right?


So you got a little down time, you've had some long training days, and you're tired.  Looking for a little extra motivation.  I've come up with a top 10 movies to watch list(this is my list, so I'm using my own rules).  I know you're anxious, so lets go.


10. Mighty Ducks- What a great story of a former hockey player turned lawyer who after a DUI arrest is forced to coach a team of Pee Wee hockey losers.  Of course he helps turn the kids from losers to winners, and they win the state championship.  Sure it's a little corny, and I still don't know why there's a commentator at a Pee Wee hockey game, but it's a great movie.(Sorry Miracle, I have a one hockey move per list rule, and Mighty Ducks beat you out b/c it brings back great memories, and reminds me of one of my first coaches)

9.  Rudy-  Story of a kid with a dream to play american football for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, one of the top football colleges in the country.  The undersized Rudy, works to get his grades right, as well as improving on the football field.  In the end there's an epic scene of all of the football players offering their spot on the team so Rudy can dress for the last game of his Sr season.  This really is an amazing movie, b/c I don't actually like it anymore (after seeing it like 100 times) but I know this list is completely discredited without it.

8. Cool Runnings- Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get on up.. it's bobsled time!!!  This movie taught me so many things.  Track stars make the best Bobsledders, everyone should have a lucky egg, and Swiss people hate Jamaicans(haha just kidding Livio).  Sure the movie makes the Jamaicans look a lot better than they were in real life, but who cares it's a great film that everyone should see it.




7. Forever Strong- Troubled teen rugby star Rick Penning gets sent to a juvenile detention center, where he gets convinced to play for rival Highland rugby team.  He learns to play the game the right way, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and to help others.  Goes on to play the national championship against his former team coached by his demanding father(who also used to play for Highland).  This isn't a very well known movie, but it's on Netflix, so check it out if you got a chance.

6. Michael Jordan to the max- Ok, not the most critically acclaimed movie ever, but it's about Michael Jordan.  And any movie about Michael Jordan is good to me.  This guy probably hates losing more than anyone that's ever lived.  On road trips he would bribe the guys who unloaded their bags to put his on the belt first, then bet his teammates that his bag would be first.  Man did he hate losing, and he worked hard as hell so that he wouldn't lose.  So, this is a decent movie, but because it's about Michael it gets on the list.

5. The Ultimate Fighter: season 3- I'm cheating now, I realize that.  This isn't a movie, it's a TV show, but it's on DVD, so it counts(remember my list, my rules).  And I know it's lame for someone who's not a teenager or a female to watch reality TV, however it is about fighting so that's makes it a little cooler, right?  While the later versions of the show reflect more on the antics of the cast, and the earlier versions were more about educating the fans about the sport.  Season 3 was dead on, Tito Ortiz(former UFC champion) coached against Ken Shamrock.  The theme of this season was basically, those who work harder get better.  There were clips that showed Tito's groups working their butt's off, while Ken's group would be dong things like going to the driving range.  Tito's group gets better and better, Ken's not so much.  Work hard, get better... Great Moral

4. The Karate Kid- We're talking 1984 not 2010.  Once you get past how 80's this movie is, it's pretty awesome.  Mr. Miyagi teaching Danielson how to fight by making him "paint the fence" "wax on, wax off".  Then he battles through the the bullies in a karate tournament with one of the most awesomely bad songs of all time "You're the best".  Then Johnny sweeping the leg, and Danielson limping out and using  the crane kick(and every school yard fight for the next 2 years included at least 1 failed crane kick attempt) .  The Karate Kid will for sure get you going.

3. Chariots of Fire-  To be honest, this is the movie on the list it's been the longest since I've seen.  The plot involves two runners quest to win gold medals in the 1924 Olympics.  I remember it being a great movie, but one might ask how can a movie you haven't seen for so long be #3 on your list.  It's simple, because of the song.  The Chariots of Fire theme song still plays in my head anytime I see someone running in slow motion.  bum bum bum bum buuuum bum, bum bum bum bum buuuummmmm.. I'm sure someone just read that and sung along, that's why Chariots of Fire is 3#





2. Remember the Titans- I've seen this movie hundreds of times, have it on DVD and if it comes on TV I still watch it.  An team integrated in Virginia, in a time when people weren't too pumped about integration.  Sure that would be a good movie, but the training scenes were sooooo good, mix that with one of the best placed sound tracks of all times, and you got yourself a winner.  Kids if you've never seen this movie, and I don't know how that's possible.. Stop whatever you're doing right now, and go watch it.   No, seriously, GO!

1. Rocky 1, 2, 3, and 4-  I didn't want to take up 4 spots with Rocky Movies, oops.  But seriously no movie is going to get you pumped up more than the Rocky films(minus 5, which we pretend never happened, and Rocky Balboa which was a good movie, just not on this level).  Sure if you're an actual boxing fan there are parts of these movies that drive you up the wall(Rocky got knocked down like 100 times against Ivan Drago, c'mon ref you gotta stop that fight).  But the training scenes are unmatched by any movie.  When I was a kid, my club would all get together before our national championships and watch the Rocky movies as a group.  Rocky is the ultimate underdog, and everyone of these films can help you get the eye of the tiger if you need a little motivation.  These movies are great because as I'm writing this there are all sorts of rocky scenes going through my head... Rocky and Apollo's first battle, Rocky and Apollo's beach hug(sure it was slightly awkward), "yo Adrian, we did it", the kids chasing rocky up the steps, "he's not a human.... he's like a piece of iron"... These movies were truly some of the best movies ever made.


Thanks for reading this far, I know it's a little different, but it's December and there just isn't too much going on in the inline world.  That was really hard, and I doubt I'll do anymore lists, but who knows if enough people read it and like it we'll see what happens.

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