BLEEDIN’ WICKED GOOGLY… Films about 35 of those “Other” Sports (Part 4 of 7) by JAY
Yessir sporting activities, like crooked cops, malevolent extraterrestrials and nymphomaniacal teens, just lends itself to treatment on the silver screen. Yet apart from films centered on the big four – you heard me, four (football, basketball, baseball, golf) – few seem to have any knowledge or interest in cinematic depictions of the so-called lesser athletic endeavors. So let’s take a look at some participatorily-challenged sports and the films which sought – with varying degrees of success – to bring them to the forefront of the public conscience…
(CONTINUED FROM PART 3)
16. Hockey
WINNER: “Slapshot”. Sure Paul Newman was great, but the assault-and-battery trio of the Hanson Brothers stole the show. George Roy Hill puts his signature stamp on this sports classic.
Honorable Mention: “Miracle”.
17. Horse Racing
*See NASCAR.
WINNER: Fine. “National Velvet” and “Sea Biscuit”.
Dishonorable Mention: “Racing Stripes”.
18. Lacrosse
WINNER: Believe it or not there are two! One, “Warrior” starring Kellan Lutz, is still in post production (apparently) and the other is a Canadian Indie called “The Creator’s Game”. So if you like Ivy Leaguers in short-shorts dressed up like bee-keepers on acid hacking away at each other with fiberglass butterfly nets, then I say these are the movies you’re been waiting for.
19. Martial Arts
WINNER: “Blood Sport”/”The Karate Kid”. With such a broad spectrum of disciplines encompassing a wide range of genres, this is a hard pick to nail down. Let me just say that before 1980, karate in film was hackneyed and silly with dreadful, un-synched Foley and clichéd zooming close-ups leading to a slap-fest free for all which ended only when someone got their heart ripped out of their chest cavity. As far as karate as a competitive sport, the field is rather narrow.
Honorable Mention: “Best of the Best”.
20. Motocross
WINNER: Nil. The names of these tragically clichéd, testosterone vs. adrenaline infomercials for Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki say it all: “Supercross: The Movie”, “Motocrossed”, “Motocross Kids” and simply “Motocross”. There is about as much artistry in the sport overall as in the uninspiring names of the movies meant to glorify it.
-Jay
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
OTHER “LIST” ARTICLES…
#1: BLEEDIN’ WICKED GOOGLY… Films about 35 of those “Other” Sports (Parts 1 - 7) by JAY
#2: “Bard None: A Cinematic Guide to Really Bad Shakespeare” by JAY
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Yeah, old-time hockey! Sweep the leg! You break my record… now I break your face!
Hi,
So, in general, I have agreed with most or your posts on this site, but I have to interject on this one. Are you going for feel good Martial Arts movies of movies that involve skill?
I understand that “The Karate Kid” was a big step forward for the Martial Arts genre. For that, give is a nod definitely, but please don’t make it the winner. I am willing to admit that it has been a long time since I have seen TKK, but if you are rating movies based on the quality of the sport, there have been so many movies that have blown away Ralph’s skills. If we’re talking technique, then “Ong Bak” and “Protector” take the cake, in my opinion. “Unleashed” is another contender. These movies do, at times, trade some acting skill for the skill of the sport, I’ll give you that. However, they are far superior where Martial Arts skills are concerned.
That’s my 2 cents,
Erica
I think what qualifies “Karate Kid” and “Bloodsport” for this category is their focus on arena fighting. “KK” stayed in the realm of legitimate competition, while “Bloodsport” fell into the non-legitimate, yet legendary tale of the Hong Kong Kumite which may be real and if it is… it’s a sport. It’s true that Frank Dux (played by Jean Claude Van Damme in the film) turned out just recently to be a fraud and never competed in the Kumite, but I’ll always remember it as the inspiring, action-packed story that launched Van Damme’s career.
While there are many amazing martial arts films out there, especially “Ong Bak” and “The Protector” (a.k.a. “Tom Yum Goong”), I’m favoring Jay’s choices because they are nostalgic 80’s films and focus somewhat on the sport aspect.
Erica, have you gotten a chance to see “Best of the Best” yet? It’s Tae Kwon Do (right up your alley, black belt!) and I know I recommended it to you at one point. It’s Jay’s Honorable Mention and a paragon of the genre.
Sweet, I just checked. Not only is it available through Netflix, they have it ready to watch streaming on demand. See it!
Here’s the link, but note it might not work if you’re not a Netflix member… http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Best_of_the_Best/70005163?trkid=222336&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=944126022_0_0
-C
I’ll let you favor his choices. But remember, while it is not the main focal point of their plots, I believe, Ong Bak, The Protector & Unleashed all have competition in them. Just saying…
You have recommended ‘Best of the Best’, highly, but I have not been able to find it. I have tried though! I’ll check out your link and see if it works.
I love Ralph, but honesty, I’m afraid to watch ‘TKK’ again. I don’t think he had anything behind his choreography, and I don’t want to ruin my memory. I’m just saying, if you are looking for movies displaying true Martial Art & Artists, go beyond ‘TKK’. But, hey, we are all entitled to our own opinions, right
?
-Erica
PS- Thank you Jay, for writting this series of posts. They rock.
Actually, I just watched “Best of the Best” for the first time in years. I’d like to nominate it for the greatest sportsmanship movie of all time. The last 20 minutes were brilliant and moving.