Go, Sports Movies, Go!

Have you ever watched a sports movie and been pissed off because the best thing about it was a snot-nosed kid throwing popcorn at your head? Well, the two of us have and we have definitely seen our fair share of crappy movies.

We interviewed students and teachers, who all agreed that sports movies that follow the same formula are a waste of money and time. This is not to say that sports movie scripts should go crazy— formulas are necessary for a movie’s success— but when movies stick too closely to the formula, they can get extremely boring. We all saw Friday Night Lights and even though it stuck to the formula, it added its own funky original flare. Maybe that’s why it has become a TV series.

A good sports movie needs more than originality - it needs to spark emotion. We can’t laugh and cry and feel tingly all over unless we connect with the characters within the story. Sports movies usually have underdogs as the main characters; let’s face it—who wants to watch a perfect quarterback bring home the win every game? It is way better to see flawed characters coming together, because that is what we can relate to.

We also have to know all about the characters’ backgrounds. Take Remember the Titans, for instance. In the movie, the players choose to be segregated by race. Obviously, if this were not included in the film, we would not be nearly as affected by the team overcoming its issues and winning the game. Senior Sophia Kang agrees: “When movies inspire me, I reach for my goals!”

Once we are in sync with the characters’ emotions, we can really get into the story. All good sports movies have rivalry and determination. We can feel the fire of competition as the players feel it.

Rivalry is crucial because it leads to the team’s determination. Without it, there wouldn’t be a story. Alex Assia, a junior on the Varsity Football team, agrees, “Oh, man—rivalry. Rivalry is what makes a movie interesting. And also some heroic stuff.” Determination is what carries the characters to the championship game. Because of their determination, the players can transform into winners in the end. Movies that don’t suck include Miracle, Brian’s Song, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, The Rookie, and Love and Basketball. Movies that do suck are Juana Man, Like Mike, The Mighty Ducks, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and The Sandlot 2.

Hopefully sports movies will continue to get better and popcorn in the theater will be eaten, not thrown.

4 Responses

1. 8:50 AM on November 6th, 2006alex:

   sup peter

2. 8:51 AM on November 6th, 2006alex again:

   by the way. like mike dont suck!! like mike go!!! and mighty ducks?! c’mon thats a classic!!!!!!

3. 2:34 PM on November 27th, 2006hip_dude420:

   IT WAS SOME BOOTY POOPOO, PETER.

4. 11:35 AM on March 15th, 2007hi:

   TITS

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