Miracle | | Cast : | Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West | | Director : | Gavin O'Connor | | Studio : | Buena Vista Home Vid | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | February 06, 2004 | | DVD Released Date : | January 25, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 19, 2005 | | Summary | What more can be said? | Content
 | Really now what more can be said about this nation altering movie. This is truly an epic story that captured a nation when it was taking place. This film does a great job of showing how a team is formed and what these young men went through during the 1980 games. If you haven't seen this yet you are cheating yourself out of a great experience. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 16, 2005 | | Summary | A must-have for a hockey fan... | Content
| I ordered this after the NHL lockout finally came to an end because I needed a hockey fix right away. This movie captures the intensity and excitement of hockey and gives the viewer some context of how significant the 1980 Olympics were to the USA. Kurt Russell does a fine job in his role as Herb Brooks. This movie is not only one of the better sports movies, it's a great overall film and is appropriate for any kind of audience (it's made by Disney, so it has a kid-friendly rating!) |
| Rating | | | Date | August 05, 2005 | | Summary | Achieving the Impossible | Content
| "Miracle" is an entertaining movie that chronicles the stunning upset by the U.S. Olympic Hockey team over the former Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. This movie follows the team from its formation all the way through its upset victory against a heavily favored Soviet team- a decisive victory that led to a Gold Medal for the Americans following a win against Finland.
What sets this film apart from other sports movies is its direct plot. Unlike other movies that deviate from the main plot at some point, this film stays completely focused. It starts out talking about Herb Brooks and his selection of players for the Olympic team. Then, it follows the players as the take part in grueling daily practices. Then, it shows them practicing and playing exhibition games. Finally, it shows them triumphing over the Soviet Union's team in front of a sellout crowd of fans who are whipped into a frenzy over what is taking place before their eyes. There is little else covered here outside of hockey. At one point, the film shows Brooks and his wife watching television and learning that a group of Americans have just been taken hostage in Iran. Director Gavin O'Connor could have developed all sorts of different subplots using this or other themes. But he sticks to hockey from beginning to end.
Another positive of this film is Kurt Russell. He is great as coach Heb Brooks and his look and accent are befitting of the man he played. Russell is tough and knows what it takes to win. He can be credited in this movie with some memorable quotes and with taking the viewer back to the 1970's with his hair style and fashion. The long locks of hair and the plaid suits will have many people reminiscing about this bygone cultural era.
There is little character development among the players on the team. But this is primarily because, like I said before, there are no real subplots developed. The movie sticks to hockey so the guys on the team really don't have the opportunity to strut their stuff when it comes to acting. They condition, and they play hockey. There are a few conflicts between Brooks and some of the players, but these conflicts don't last very long. They are quickly resolved and the team and coaches return their focus to winning games.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining film that most viewers will find uplifting and enduring. Of course, we already know how the story ends. But the predictability doesn't matter in this instance. Winning against some of the best teams in the world is no easy task, but the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team and coach Herb Brooks are determined to dream big and achieve the impossible. And this event is captured and brought back to life in this memorable, entertaining movie.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 25, 2005 | | Summary | This was their time to shine....... | Content
| Miracle is the story of the United States Olympic Hockey Team, that, in 1980, managed to overcome impossible odds and defeat the greatest hockey team of that time.......
Kurt Russel stars as Herb Brooks, a hockey coach who had an unrealistic dream, to beat the best Olympic Hockey team in the world and become the new dream team coach.
He faces impossible odds; from forming a team of young, college kids who are more interested in checking out the female fans in their first game, to making sure his wife knows that he loves her more than the game itself, which he is obsessively obsessed about. He even has to remind fans that this is just a game, and that, "Killing Commie B**tards," isn't what Hockey is all about.
Then of course, there's the stress of playing the games themselves.....
26 men, all fighting for a chance to become a 20 man team. Each man had to go through hell to get their rightful place at being the best the US had to offer. Eddie Cahill stars as Jim Craig, the goalie of the team, who's mother just died and had a dream that her son would make it to the olympic team. With his father at ringside it was an emotional moment for both father and son.
Other men were great as acting like the family they all said they were. Nathan West [who plays Rob McClanahan] Patrick O'Brien Demsey [who plays Mike Eruzione] Bobby Hanson [who plays Dave Silk] all give great supporting roles as the team mates who bonded after some rocky starts between some of them as the season started.
One memorable scene was Brooks' way of teaching the young men some respect for the game after giving them drill after drill when the stadium had emptied and they were the only one's left in the dark. It just made the men strive to become more like the team that Brooks knew they could turn out to be.
The movie is filled with thrilling hockey game shots, some hard hitting action as the opponents constantly bash into each other, and some really great saves by Craig, made the games seem as important to the viewers as they were to the players.
This is a great movie and the DVD comes with some great extras;
"The Making of Miracle"
Adio Commentary by the Director, Gavin O'Conner, and others
Outtakes
And a little showing of how they made hockey players into actors.
I definately reccommend this DVD |
| Rating | | | Date | July 22, 2005 | | Summary | A puckin' GREAT movie! | Content
| Hands down, this is one of the best sports movies I've even seen! From the moment the film opens with a montage of the turbulent 70's to the closing credits accompanied by Aerosmith's "Dream On", you're hooked. If you're not on your feet cheering by the end, you've probably got no soul.
Like ROCKY and CHARIOTS OF FIRE, I thought this film should have been nominated for best picture. Kurt Russel's performance was worth of a best actor nomination, as well. |
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