Cin’s Movie Critiques

How is it possible that I lived my entire 32 years in Utah and never learned to ski? That is as bad as all those people who live within a mile of the ocean and never go to the beach. Insanity I tell you! So for my 32nd birthday, my very good friend took me to Monarch Ski Resort in Colorado and taught me to ski. I know, I didn’t even learn to ski in Utah, the irony never ends…

After learning a few basics, and with much protesting (I was happy on the bunny hill ok?), we took to the lift. Ever been on the sky ride at Lagoon? Yeah, that was nothing compared to this baby, we’re soaring 10 times higher, there is no protective bar in front, we’re swaying in the sub-zero wind, and I was a wee bit nervous to say the least. We glide to the top of the mountain, I somehow manage to get off the lift without dying, and then I look up.

Before me is the most beautiful, white sparkling landscape, and it takes my frosted breath away. It was in that moment that I got it, this beauty is what all these people are here for, and I was hooked. I knew this was something I’d be doing for the rest of my life. (Come to find out, the scenery really isn’t what it’s all about, it’s the rush of adrenaline speeding through your veins, but hey, it was a nice moment.)

Warren Miller Ski Movies

Sports. Cin’s Critique:

I’ve watched Warren Miller Ski Movies before, but it wasn’t until I had experienced the thrill myself that I really understood them. I never appreciated watching someone ski off a cliff, or jump out of a helicopter while attached to a snowboard.

Even if you’re not a skier, you will enjoy the extremes Warren Miller takes you to in his ski movies. You will laugh, you will cringe, you will ooohh, you will aaaww. Miller has released a movie every year since 1949 to celebrate the beginning of the ski season. He got started by filming himself and his buddy ski, to improve their technique. He showed the films to family and friends, inserting his own funny comments and remarks to get some laughs. After a while he would be invited to show the films at parties and such, and he got the brilliant idea to try to make some money off of his hobby. (Wouldn’t it be great if that worked for all of us?) Anyway, to read a bit more about Warren Miller, click here. And for a short example of the content in his films, click here.

Invincible

Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale, Greg Kinnear as Dick Vermeil. Rated PG for sports action and some mild language. 2006, drama/sports.  Cin’s Critique: 3 *

Invincible is based on the true story of football player Vince Papale. Back in the 70’s when the Philadelphia Eagles held open tryouts, thirty-year-old bartender Papale made the cut and joined the team off of the streets of his hometown. This was an inspiring movie to watch; full of football action and true bits and pieces of the story of how Papale made the team. Although I liked this movie, it did drag in places, and felt like the producers were doing every thing in the book to make it a full ninety minutes. What I actually enjoyed watching more than the movie was the featurette on the DVD showing Vince Papale himself. It was more factual and less dramatized, and gave you a glimpse of the true man. What was interesting to me was that Papale’s story happened at the time the first Rocky movie came to theaters in 1976, and that their stories were parallel in so many ways. Vince Papale was the real hero in Philadelphia, the homeboy off the streets making his dream come true. So, yes, I recommend watching this movie. Although slow in places, it is full of that “dreams really do come true” inspiration that we all can use a dose of from time to time.

The Replacements

Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, PG-13 for some sexual humor and language. 2000, comedy/sports.  Cin’s Critique: 4 *

“Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever!”

After a pro football team goes on strike, replacement players are called in to play the rest of the season. They are a group of misfits given a second chance to live their dream of playing professional football. This is an entertaining watch, full of quirky characters, football action, comedy, and a little romance. John Madden and Pat Summerall make guest appearances as themselves and announce the games, watch out for the scene where John Madden draws something interesting on the touch screen. The replacement cheerleaders (lap dancers at night) are also funny to watch, especially when the opposing team misses plays while distracted by them. And truly, I feel that no movie can be too bad to watch if Keanu Reeves is onscreen!

With all the testosterone floating around in the air due to the upcoming Superbowl, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the big game: not interested. Quite honestly, one of the best things about my recent divorce is that I haven’t had to listen to the background noise of football every Thursday, Sunday, and Monday. I haven’t broken one dish this year because I was startled by a blood-curdling holler or curse at any given moment. And I announce with glee, I don’t even know who is playing for the title of champion this year. Now, for those of you out there that may be appalled at my lack of enthusiasm, let me assure you, I actually do enjoy watching football, in a movie that is.

That’s right. Football in the movies is the way to go. You still get all the action and adrenaline of the game, it is just compacted into 10-15 minutes, instead of dragged out for hours on end. You miss all the boring play by play commentary by announcers that think they are funny. You don’t have to sit through a flashy, non-entertaining halftime show. The cheerleaders in the movies are much more fun to watch, because you know they are getting paid to act like bimbos, instead of actually believing they have talent or purpose on the sidelines. Plus, in the movie, you get the added benefit of something called a plot; the game is just one small part of a bigger and better story! You get to know your players through character development. You get to leave with an uplifting and inspiring feeling that you can accomplish anything! And… you get not only the heart-pounding action, you can also throw in some drama, some comedy, some romance, a bar fight…honestly, a real football game is dull in comparison.

So, with that said, my next several posts will have some great suggestions for those of you who long for something better to do on Superbowl Sunday. Get some football action in a movie and call it good!  Let’s get started with:

We Are Marshall

Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Rated PG for emotional thematic material, a crash scene, and mild language.  2006, drama/sports.  Cin’s Critique: 3 1/2 *

After a plane crash takes the lives of almost the entire football team of Marshall University, the new coach and the surviving players try to keep the football program alive. Based on a true story, this is an inspiring and thought provoking movie making you feel the drama that happened in real life. An entire town and university is crushed by the death of so many loved ones, and everyone has to find a way to carry on. This movie is packed full of emotional scenes dealing with the issues everyone had to face after such a disaster, and is also full of football action, letting you feel the victory of overcoming adversity. Have some tissues on hand, and be prepared to jump up and down with adrenaline at the end!