Look at what I got today.....
I've got three weeks to figure out how to play this darn thing.
Very excited!
By the way...
Cost of the tape (from eBay) - $1.00.
Cost to ship it - $7.00.
Hilarious.
Are You Ready for Some Football?
5 hours ago
Thursday, October 4, 2012
30 in 30 - A Nice Update
When was the last time you were excited to see a vhs tape? When was the last time you were excited to see a vhs tape in a mailbox?
Look at what I got today.....
Sealed and never watched. Barring any issues with the tape actually playing (fingers crossed for the vcr downstairs to still work) this doc, which is on the list, might get its viewing.
I've got three weeks to figure out how to play this darn thing.
Very excited!
By the way...
Cost of the tape (from eBay) - $1.00.
Cost to ship it - $7.00.
Hilarious.
Look at what I got today.....
I've got three weeks to figure out how to play this darn thing.
Very excited!
By the way...
Cost of the tape (from eBay) - $1.00.
Cost to ship it - $7.00.
Hilarious.
30 in 30 - Day 3: Touching The Void
Tonight's documentary was less about sport and more about survival. That said, I have had this title on my list of "ones to watch" for a while now and I'm glad I finally watched it.
Tonight's film - Touching The Void
Touching The Void (2003)
106 mins.
Rated: R (some profane language)
"The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985." (source: imdb)
Link to the film - I watched it online via Youtube
This film is unlike a lot of documentaries I've watched over the years. Because of the content and story, the entire film was made with re-enactments. Actors playing the roles of the climbers. Yes the climbers themselves do the talking and they are shown numerous times on screen (talking directly to the camera), but there is no footage of the actual event - hence the need to re-create it.
While I didn't mind the technique in this instance, I am normally not a fan of re-creating events for documentary purposes...I much rather see the actual footage or be shown authentic photos.
Anyways, on to the film itself.
The premise is very simple. Three people - two climbers and one setting up camp at the bottom of Siula Grande is the setting for an amazing story of survival. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates decide they will do something that (until then) had never been accomplished - climb Siula Grande in Peru. We are taken through this adventure in diary-like fashion.
Day one shows the energy, passion, exhilaration and success these two have on their daunting journey. It is fast paced and sets up for what's to come.
Day two reveals the long haul the pair are indeed in for. Wind, snow, blinding white-out conditions...all very well filmed and shown on screen. I felt more invested in the story as time went on. Because this film was over an hour-and-a-half long, they were able to let sections like these breathe and get the viewer drawn in more.
Day three and a false sense of success. While they reach the summit, it is quickly mentioned that 80% of accidents occur on the descent. Foreshadowing? For sure.
The visuals are dizzying at times and really aid in the overall feeling of the moment. You know something is going to happen - it's just a matter of when.
As the two start their descent, another white-out causes them to lose their direction. They also lose the remaining gas they had to provide heat as that evening came and went. They only expected to be on the mountain for three days. Now heading into day four, it was critical that they not lose focus of the end goal.
Day four is where things go sour. Joe injures himself - seriously. To the point where it jeopardizes the descent and ultimately the lives of both of them. The process of lowering themselves down the mountain (at a frustratingly slow pace) makes me wonder when things will come to a head. The tense moments and inner realizations of survival were clearly evident.
Ultimately, (and I'm trying not to give too much away) a decision is made that drastically affects both climbers. One has the fortune of making it down the mountain while the other is essentially left for dead.
Day five is a day of realization. The scope of what happened - and what has to happen is at the forefront. Pain - both physically and emotionally is very evident both in the re-creations on screen and by the words spoken. You can hear the emotion and inner struggle to understand what has happened.
Day six is all about survival and pushing ones self to the ultimate limits. How much can a person endure? How much can a person push on? It was very tense to watch and I was very anxious to see what would happen next.
Day seven is the final act of the play so to speak. We see the conclusion of the hour and a half buildup. It is an amazing ending to an incredible story.
Again, without giving too much away, I feel that I need to express some of the shortcomings of the film.
First and foremost, it is evident quite early on that both climbers are going to live. Why? Well because they are both giving interviews after the fact. As the days went on, it was less about what's going to happen and more about WHEN it's going to happen. That was a bit of a downer for me, but I don't know how you would get around that.
The end of the film and the pivotal moment of reconnection (while very gratifying and positive) left me wanting to know more about the aftermath. What happened to the pair? What kind of condition were they in? Yes, there was some text to explain, but it was very little - and not satisfying at all.
When I first started watching, I was thinking to myself - "Boy this is going to be a long doc". But after about 30 minutes I became really invested in the film. I started feeling very isolated and engrossed in the challenges the climbers endured. A half-hour or even an hour long doc would not have given the story the proper breath needed to draw the viewer in.
In fact, the story drew me in so much that it took me about an hour to really snap out of it. I watched the film by myself and felt very uneasy after doing so. In addition, it was dark out by the end of it and that really made me uncomfortable and in need of getting out and connecting with the real world again. The film did an excellent job of drawing me into the story and investing in the characters.
Was it an amazing sports doc? It was good - very good actually. But it didn't feel like a sports doc at all. It was more a story about human spirit, survival and the lengths people will go to live. From that view it had me on the edge of my seat.
While it won't be the favourite doc on my list, it was one that I'm glad I watched.
3 out of 5
Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert
Reel Views
Next up...Sir Bobby Charlton
Tonight's film - Touching The Void
106 mins.
Rated: R (some profane language)
"The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985." (source: imdb)
Link to the film - I watched it online via Youtube
This film is unlike a lot of documentaries I've watched over the years. Because of the content and story, the entire film was made with re-enactments. Actors playing the roles of the climbers. Yes the climbers themselves do the talking and they are shown numerous times on screen (talking directly to the camera), but there is no footage of the actual event - hence the need to re-create it.
While I didn't mind the technique in this instance, I am normally not a fan of re-creating events for documentary purposes...I much rather see the actual footage or be shown authentic photos.
Anyways, on to the film itself.
The premise is very simple. Three people - two climbers and one setting up camp at the bottom of Siula Grande is the setting for an amazing story of survival. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates decide they will do something that (until then) had never been accomplished - climb Siula Grande in Peru. We are taken through this adventure in diary-like fashion.
Day one shows the energy, passion, exhilaration and success these two have on their daunting journey. It is fast paced and sets up for what's to come.
Day two reveals the long haul the pair are indeed in for. Wind, snow, blinding white-out conditions...all very well filmed and shown on screen. I felt more invested in the story as time went on. Because this film was over an hour-and-a-half long, they were able to let sections like these breathe and get the viewer drawn in more.
Day three and a false sense of success. While they reach the summit, it is quickly mentioned that 80% of accidents occur on the descent. Foreshadowing? For sure.
The visuals are dizzying at times and really aid in the overall feeling of the moment. You know something is going to happen - it's just a matter of when.
As the two start their descent, another white-out causes them to lose their direction. They also lose the remaining gas they had to provide heat as that evening came and went. They only expected to be on the mountain for three days. Now heading into day four, it was critical that they not lose focus of the end goal.
Day four is where things go sour. Joe injures himself - seriously. To the point where it jeopardizes the descent and ultimately the lives of both of them. The process of lowering themselves down the mountain (at a frustratingly slow pace) makes me wonder when things will come to a head. The tense moments and inner realizations of survival were clearly evident.
Ultimately, (and I'm trying not to give too much away) a decision is made that drastically affects both climbers. One has the fortune of making it down the mountain while the other is essentially left for dead.
Day five is a day of realization. The scope of what happened - and what has to happen is at the forefront. Pain - both physically and emotionally is very evident both in the re-creations on screen and by the words spoken. You can hear the emotion and inner struggle to understand what has happened.
Day six is all about survival and pushing ones self to the ultimate limits. How much can a person endure? How much can a person push on? It was very tense to watch and I was very anxious to see what would happen next.
Day seven is the final act of the play so to speak. We see the conclusion of the hour and a half buildup. It is an amazing ending to an incredible story.
Again, without giving too much away, I feel that I need to express some of the shortcomings of the film.
First and foremost, it is evident quite early on that both climbers are going to live. Why? Well because they are both giving interviews after the fact. As the days went on, it was less about what's going to happen and more about WHEN it's going to happen. That was a bit of a downer for me, but I don't know how you would get around that.
The end of the film and the pivotal moment of reconnection (while very gratifying and positive) left me wanting to know more about the aftermath. What happened to the pair? What kind of condition were they in? Yes, there was some text to explain, but it was very little - and not satisfying at all.
When I first started watching, I was thinking to myself - "Boy this is going to be a long doc". But after about 30 minutes I became really invested in the film. I started feeling very isolated and engrossed in the challenges the climbers endured. A half-hour or even an hour long doc would not have given the story the proper breath needed to draw the viewer in.
In fact, the story drew me in so much that it took me about an hour to really snap out of it. I watched the film by myself and felt very uneasy after doing so. In addition, it was dark out by the end of it and that really made me uncomfortable and in need of getting out and connecting with the real world again. The film did an excellent job of drawing me into the story and investing in the characters.
Was it an amazing sports doc? It was good - very good actually. But it didn't feel like a sports doc at all. It was more a story about human spirit, survival and the lengths people will go to live. From that view it had me on the edge of my seat.
While it won't be the favourite doc on my list, it was one that I'm glad I watched.
3 out of 5
Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert
Reel Views
Next up...Sir Bobby Charlton
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - Another One That Isn't Mine.....Yet
The last Linden pickup of mine was all the way back on August 25. I can't honestly remember a time when I have gone longer than a month without picking up a card for my player collection. And while he's prevalent in Upper Deck's The Cup, I have yet to really dive into those singles.
I do have one card on the way - but until it's in hand - it doesn't count.
With all the high-end card products being released over the past few weeks, today's realization came as a surprise to me. And I'm still determining if it's a good surprise or a nasty nightmare.
Upper Deck, who for years pretty much avoided the name Linden in their products, has placed him in yet another release. Artifacts.
Or as I like to call it - Parallel Hell.
Here's a look at the base card. This one will most definitely be mine - I know I can afford it. Time will tell which of the other 10 billion cards in the product will make their way to me.
Here's a breakdown of what's being added to the wantlist...
Base
Emerald parallel /99
Sapphire parallel /85
Spectrum parallel /25
Black parallel /5 (and it's auto'd)
Silver Dual Jersey /125
Emerald Jersey/Patch /75
Spectrum Dual Patch /15
Black Patch/Tag /5
Silver Auto Dual Jersey /12 (why 12? who knows)
Emerald Auto Jersey/Patch /8 (again.....why?)
Spectrum Auto Dual Patch /3 (hoo-boy)
Black Auto Patch/Tag /1 (and there it is)
Well, I guess 13 cards isn't too bad (when you're comparing it to The Cup). Hopefully the price point on some of these cards won't be as crazy as I've seen over the past week.
I guess in some ways it is a new hockey season - whether I want it or not.
And who's kidding who......I want it.
I do have one card on the way - but until it's in hand - it doesn't count.
With all the high-end card products being released over the past few weeks, today's realization came as a surprise to me. And I'm still determining if it's a good surprise or a nasty nightmare.
Upper Deck, who for years pretty much avoided the name Linden in their products, has placed him in yet another release. Artifacts.
Or as I like to call it - Parallel Hell.
Here's a breakdown of what's being added to the wantlist...
Base
Emerald parallel /99
Sapphire parallel /85
Spectrum parallel /25
Black parallel /5 (and it's auto'd)
Silver Dual Jersey /125
Emerald Jersey/Patch /75
Spectrum Dual Patch /15
Black Patch/Tag /5
Silver Auto Dual Jersey /12 (why 12? who knows)
Emerald Auto Jersey/Patch /8 (again.....why?)
Spectrum Auto Dual Patch /3 (hoo-boy)
Black Auto Patch/Tag /1 (and there it is)
Well, I guess 13 cards isn't too bad (when you're comparing it to The Cup). Hopefully the price point on some of these cards won't be as crazy as I've seen over the past week.
I guess in some ways it is a new hockey season - whether I want it or not.
And who's kidding who......I want it.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
'DID YOU KNOW' - Tired Legs
Growing up, there were three numbers that stuck with me when it came to the NHL.
396, 21 and 80.
396 was the magic number when it came to the hobby. That's how many cards were issued in the yearly O-Pee-Chee product release. I remember making it my single winter goal to come up with all 396. Most of the time I came up short, but that number was etched.
21 was the number of teams in the NHL at the time. With the WHA disbanding in the late 70's and four teams coming over to the NHL (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec and Winnipeg) the league expanded to 21 teams. I discovered the NHL in 1980 so 21 was all I ever knew (until the 90's arrived and ballooned that number to the current 30).
80 was the number of regular season games a team would play in the NHL. Why they grew it to 82 is beyond me. I think that there are too many games played in a year to begin with (with all the preseason and - for some - playoffs) the number could reach close to 100 tilts.
But it's that third number that has lead me to this installment of 'Did You Know'.
DID YOU KNOW: That Bob Kudelski and Jimmy Carson hold the record for most games played in one regular season - a whopping 86!
In both instances, they played a bunch of games for their first team of the year, then was traded mid-season to a team that hadn't played as many games.
While 86 seems like a lot, I'm kind of surprised that the record number isn't even higher.
And for those keeping score, Jimmy Carson comes out slightly on top - in my books anyways - since he was traded to Los Angeles in 1993 (while Kudelski went from Boston to Florida in 1994).
Jimmy went on to suit up for 18 more games in the playoffs, helping the Kings go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals (sorry Leafs fans). But we all know what happened in that final series against the Habs (right Mr. McSorley)?
Sadly, that number won't be in jeopardy this season. Hitting the magic 40 mark might be a task in itself. (hint: let's go guys.....I'm ready to watch some hockey).
And now you know.
396, 21 and 80.
396 was the magic number when it came to the hobby. That's how many cards were issued in the yearly O-Pee-Chee product release. I remember making it my single winter goal to come up with all 396. Most of the time I came up short, but that number was etched.
21 was the number of teams in the NHL at the time. With the WHA disbanding in the late 70's and four teams coming over to the NHL (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec and Winnipeg) the league expanded to 21 teams. I discovered the NHL in 1980 so 21 was all I ever knew (until the 90's arrived and ballooned that number to the current 30).
80 was the number of regular season games a team would play in the NHL. Why they grew it to 82 is beyond me. I think that there are too many games played in a year to begin with (with all the preseason and - for some - playoffs) the number could reach close to 100 tilts.
But it's that third number that has lead me to this installment of 'Did You Know'.
In both instances, they played a bunch of games for their first team of the year, then was traded mid-season to a team that hadn't played as many games.
While 86 seems like a lot, I'm kind of surprised that the record number isn't even higher.
Jimmy went on to suit up for 18 more games in the playoffs, helping the Kings go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals (sorry Leafs fans). But we all know what happened in that final series against the Habs (right Mr. McSorley)?
Sadly, that number won't be in jeopardy this season. Hitting the magic 40 mark might be a task in itself. (hint: let's go guys.....I'm ready to watch some hockey).
And now you know.
30 in 30 - Day 2: Magic & Bird
Tonight was a night where I got a chance to leap into the time machine back to an era where sports was simple. The politics, the behind-the-scenes drama and the animosity between athletes was oblivious to my young eyes.
The early 1980's was a time when sports was about just fun competition and one team beating another. In hockey it was the Islanders and Oilers - two teams that reeked of talent. In baseball, it was more about players to me. Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk and "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson.
But basketball may have served up the best. Magic and Larry. Johnson and Bird. They single-handedly got me interested in basketball and for a good chunk of the 80's had me tuning into a sport that up until then had never really mattered to me.
Tonight's film - Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals
Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals (2010)
85 mins.
Rated: unrated (some strong racial content and a couple moments of profanity)
"The special traces the history of the competition between Los Angeles Lakers immortal "Magic" Johnson and Boston Celtics great Larry Bird, which began 30 years ago when they led their midwest universities to the 1979 NCAA Championship game, through a decade of dominance, when the two won three NBA MVP awards apiece and a combined eight NBA titles." (source: HBO)
Link to the film - I watched it online via Youtube
First of all, let me say that HBO - rocks! Thank you for putting some resources and effort into sports documentary programming. I love it. What I also love about HBO is that they've got Liev Schreiber to narrate. He's the voice of their 24/7 series that have been hugely popular over the past few years. His voice lends great to sports docs.
After a couple of back-and-forth clips from Johnson and Bird, the opening title sequence draws me in for a ride I'm excited to take. Some great still photo treatment blended with great textures and font styles - I'm only a couple minutes in and already I'm excited.
We are introduced to Magic and Larry as they meet in the 1979 NCAA Final. This is the first time that the two rivals would face-off and thus began a tremendous relationship. It's this game that acts as a launching point - taking us back to each player's childhood and upbringing. I really appreciate that a good amount of photos were used (there's nothing worse than a good doc spoiled by lack of footage or photos).
It's quickly evident that these two are absolute polar opposites, Magic is the outgoing showman while Bird is the enigmatic one who is very private. But for all the differences between the two of them, they also share some strong similarities. One of which is a dedication to the game and some very serious work ethic.
There are some moments as we learn about their childhood that I found very interesting and a couple times - shocking. I got the feeling that there was no subject that was off limits.
Something else that was focused on in the film (and was oblivious to me when I was seven) was just how critical to the NBA's future Johnson and Bird were. They came into the league at a time when the NBA was struggling with an identity issue. They just could not connect with fans and their television coverage was a joke. Magic and Bird literally saved the NBA.
And credit that to their early success. This is where I relived some of favorite moments as a kid watching the Lakers and Celtics play. Hollywood Showtime vs. Lunchbucket, Hard Working Grinders. The highlights were abundant and I was just taking it all in - loving every minute of it.
Magic, a champion in his first season while Bird followed up with a title in his second. These guys came in and immediately made an impact. So much so that the league in many ways revolved around them. And while the league grew, so did the level of competition between the two.
It was that drive to out-do the other that really created a dislike between the pair. And it all came to a head in the 1984 Finals where they met for the first time with the big prize on the line.
There was a moment that really made the film take on more than just a basketball role. It was when they were asked to film a Converse commercial together.
I never realized how critical to the game, to the fans and to each other this commercial shoot would become.
Each played out their career in very different ways and both remained true competitors until the end. And while the film doesn't focus on life for them after retirement, it is clear to see that they have the same amount of respect and mutual admiration for one another as they did throughout their playing days.
This doc is very well produced with not too much in terms of flashy graphics or fancy text, but it doesn't need it. Just having recent interviews of both Bird and Johnson is what acts as the solid thread throughout.
If there was one criticism, it would be that there is a lack of teammates who are involved in this doc. No Kareem, no Dennis Johnson, no Vlade. Sure, there's a decent representation (and I guess they do the job telling that aspect of the story), but it would have just felt more complete with these guys.
This was a very enjoyable documentary and a must-see for any fan of the NBA in the 80's. In fact - it's required viewing. For those of you with HBO, keep your eyes peeled...it might get an airing with the NBA season ramping up.
A great film for those of you who know saw them play.
4 out of 5
Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...
Next up...Touching The Void
Monday, October 1, 2012
30 in 30 - Day 1: Murderball
Welcome to the first day of my 30 in 30 sports documentary posts.
My goal is to give you a quick synopsis of the film, some key vital stats and of course - my review.
I'm hoping to standardize the look of these posts and hope you enjoy the next month of my journey.
The first film to make the list (and by the way....the list was created randomly) is Murderball.
Murderball (2005)
85 mins
Rated: R (some vulgar language and sexual content)
"A film about paraplegics who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style wheelchairs - overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece." (source: imdb)
Link to the film - I watched it online via Vimeo
The opening scene of the film gives the viewer a quick glimpse and appreciation for (what is to us) one of the simple tasks we take for granted each day - getting dressed.
Immediately, I felt a little uncomfortable watching US Quad Rugby player Mark Zupan take minutes to do, with purpose and precision, what takes me literally seconds - and with little or no thought.
Quickly that feeling faded as I am introduced to a number wheelchair rugby players and their efforts out on the court.
We are at the 2002 World Championships in Sweden and Team USA is in the gold medal game against Team Canada.
This is where we meet Joe Soares. He is the coach for Team Canada and at one time was (and to him still is) the greatest rugby player of all time. He played for Team USA at the time and his relationship with his former team is without question a strained one.
Without giving too much away, we go from the 2002 World Championships to the training for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. Along the way, we meet Mark Zupan and Joe Soares outside the rugby court.
We learn more about how they became confined to a wheelchair, their struggles and triumphs. We also meet other players and their personal stories. In addition, we meet some individuals who have just recently been rehabbing from a serious spinal injury.
The bulk of the film focuses on the off-court lives of these players - something that didn't really bother me, but I would have liked to have seen more rugby action.
Three-quarters of the way through the film, we make it to Athens and the 2004 Paralympic Games. For Mark Zupan, you can clearly see how this moment is the pinnacle of his sporting career. He is extremely proud not only to represent the USA, but to represent wheelchair rugby.
The film left me feeling pretty upbeat about what the guys on these teams have and can accomplish. A definite positive note.
The production value of this doc is pretty unpolished. No fancy camerawork, no fancy interview settings. It's much like the sport on the court - rough and in-your-face.
As I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to have seen more actual rugby playing. And the bulk of the sports action was goals. Very little hitting. This film is called Murderball - I didn't see much to indicate that.
There were a few scenes - like the one to start the film off, where watching such simple tasks take time....lots of time really makes me think and appreciate what I take for granted.
These guys are really an inspiration - not because they are "getting out there" in their wheelchair, but because these guys are pushing themselves to the limit. They are sharing their knowledge to others and trying to grow the sport - and in some instances, give others an outlet to strive and eventually succeed.
I remember back in 2005 when this movie came out. There was a lot of hype around this film. It doesn't quite hold up. I think it's a good film, but it didn't knock my socks off.
A solid watch, but it has some holes.
3 out of 5
Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert
Reelviews
Next up...Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals
My goal is to give you a quick synopsis of the film, some key vital stats and of course - my review.
I'm hoping to standardize the look of these posts and hope you enjoy the next month of my journey.
The first film to make the list (and by the way....the list was created randomly) is Murderball.
85 mins
Rated: R (some vulgar language and sexual content)
"A film about paraplegics who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style wheelchairs - overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece." (source: imdb)
Link to the film - I watched it online via Vimeo
The opening scene of the film gives the viewer a quick glimpse and appreciation for (what is to us) one of the simple tasks we take for granted each day - getting dressed.
Immediately, I felt a little uncomfortable watching US Quad Rugby player Mark Zupan take minutes to do, with purpose and precision, what takes me literally seconds - and with little or no thought.
Quickly that feeling faded as I am introduced to a number wheelchair rugby players and their efforts out on the court.
We are at the 2002 World Championships in Sweden and Team USA is in the gold medal game against Team Canada.
This is where we meet Joe Soares. He is the coach for Team Canada and at one time was (and to him still is) the greatest rugby player of all time. He played for Team USA at the time and his relationship with his former team is without question a strained one.
Without giving too much away, we go from the 2002 World Championships to the training for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. Along the way, we meet Mark Zupan and Joe Soares outside the rugby court.
We learn more about how they became confined to a wheelchair, their struggles and triumphs. We also meet other players and their personal stories. In addition, we meet some individuals who have just recently been rehabbing from a serious spinal injury.
The bulk of the film focuses on the off-court lives of these players - something that didn't really bother me, but I would have liked to have seen more rugby action.
Three-quarters of the way through the film, we make it to Athens and the 2004 Paralympic Games. For Mark Zupan, you can clearly see how this moment is the pinnacle of his sporting career. He is extremely proud not only to represent the USA, but to represent wheelchair rugby.
The film left me feeling pretty upbeat about what the guys on these teams have and can accomplish. A definite positive note.
The production value of this doc is pretty unpolished. No fancy camerawork, no fancy interview settings. It's much like the sport on the court - rough and in-your-face.
As I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to have seen more actual rugby playing. And the bulk of the sports action was goals. Very little hitting. This film is called Murderball - I didn't see much to indicate that.
There were a few scenes - like the one to start the film off, where watching such simple tasks take time....lots of time really makes me think and appreciate what I take for granted.
These guys are really an inspiration - not because they are "getting out there" in their wheelchair, but because these guys are pushing themselves to the limit. They are sharing their knowledge to others and trying to grow the sport - and in some instances, give others an outlet to strive and eventually succeed.
I remember back in 2005 when this movie came out. There was a lot of hype around this film. It doesn't quite hold up. I think it's a good film, but it didn't knock my socks off.
A solid watch, but it has some holes.
3 out of 5
Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert
Reelviews
Next up...Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals
WELCOME TO MY BLOG: A Re-Introduction
This week marks the 3-year anniversary of My Hockey Card Obsession. I normally wouldn't make much of a fuss over it, but this week is also the week that Hobby Insider (the sportscard forum I usually peruse) launches its new homepage.
So what's the link? Well, my blog has been chosen as one of the feature blogs on said homepage. So I thought I'd give the newcomers a proper welcome and let them know what they are in for.
My name is Brett and I go by the handle 'bamlinden' on Hobby Insider. I've been a hockey card collector for over 30 years now. As a kid, it was the heyday of the 80's (Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Roy) that had my collecting attention. Building sets and old school trading - that's what the hobby was all about.
I stopped collecting for a few years in the late-80's but was re-invigorated with the sportscard boom of the 90's. Anything and everything. That was my motto. It didn't take long though before I was burnt out.
Vintage. That's the way to go. I started building sets from the 70's. And while it did the job for a while, it still didn't quite do it for me.
Then in 1997, my collecting life changed. I discovered player collecting.
Trevor Linden had always been my favorite player (even before he was drafted into the NHL) and discovering the numerous cards he had to collect turned me into an instant player collector.
I've been loving it ever since.
This past year, I've been fortunate enough to pick up my 1000th different Trevor Linden card. From a simple .25 cent base to a high-end 1/1, each card gives me the excitement when I track it down. The wallet sometimes grimaces when I actually purchase it.
In addition to my Linden collection, I also dabble in goalie mask cards. For the record - I'm a sucker for masks, especially the ol' vintage fibreglass offerings. Gorgeous stuff.
While I haven't been too active with picking up new mask cards, I'm always looking to see what the card companies throw out at us collectors.
I also have some small pc projects. My '1 vs. 100' chase has me looking for one card numbered out of every number between 1 and 100. Confused? Well just check out the posts labelled 1 vs. 100 and you'll figure it out.
My 'Raise The Cup' collection is a real fun build. It focuses on cards where players are holding the Stanley Cup over their head. It's cool to see these photos where players have reached that pinnacle moment in their career. A ton of fun - and quite inexpensive. Who says collecting has to be costly.
I'm also a sucker for card designs - both what has been done by the pros and custom work I've managed myself over the years. If you have a chance, check out some of the labels on the right-hand side of the page. Hopefully you'll be entertained by my ramblings.
Lastly, I'd just like to say - thank you! Thank you to those who have dropped by for the first time. You will find my blog to be clean and profanity-free (I have a niece and nephew who like to check out my collecting every once in a while) and I try to post a few times a week. It's a ton of fun for me and it's actually helped the organization of my collection....just a bit.
And thank you to the "regulars". Those of you who have stopped by and (hopefully) enjoyed my posts. While I post first and foremost for me, it's nice to know there are others who appreciate what I'm trying to do here.
With that - welcome to My Hockey Card Obsession!
So what's the link? Well, my blog has been chosen as one of the feature blogs on said homepage. So I thought I'd give the newcomers a proper welcome and let them know what they are in for.
My name is Brett and I go by the handle 'bamlinden' on Hobby Insider. I've been a hockey card collector for over 30 years now. As a kid, it was the heyday of the 80's (Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Roy) that had my collecting attention. Building sets and old school trading - that's what the hobby was all about.
I stopped collecting for a few years in the late-80's but was re-invigorated with the sportscard boom of the 90's. Anything and everything. That was my motto. It didn't take long though before I was burnt out.
Vintage. That's the way to go. I started building sets from the 70's. And while it did the job for a while, it still didn't quite do it for me.
Then in 1997, my collecting life changed. I discovered player collecting.
Trevor Linden had always been my favorite player (even before he was drafted into the NHL) and discovering the numerous cards he had to collect turned me into an instant player collector.
I've been loving it ever since.
This past year, I've been fortunate enough to pick up my 1000th different Trevor Linden card. From a simple .25 cent base to a high-end 1/1, each card gives me the excitement when I track it down. The wallet sometimes grimaces when I actually purchase it.
In addition to my Linden collection, I also dabble in goalie mask cards. For the record - I'm a sucker for masks, especially the ol' vintage fibreglass offerings. Gorgeous stuff.
While I haven't been too active with picking up new mask cards, I'm always looking to see what the card companies throw out at us collectors.
I also have some small pc projects. My '1 vs. 100' chase has me looking for one card numbered out of every number between 1 and 100. Confused? Well just check out the posts labelled 1 vs. 100 and you'll figure it out.
My 'Raise The Cup' collection is a real fun build. It focuses on cards where players are holding the Stanley Cup over their head. It's cool to see these photos where players have reached that pinnacle moment in their career. A ton of fun - and quite inexpensive. Who says collecting has to be costly.
I'm also a sucker for card designs - both what has been done by the pros and custom work I've managed myself over the years. If you have a chance, check out some of the labels on the right-hand side of the page. Hopefully you'll be entertained by my ramblings.
Lastly, I'd just like to say - thank you! Thank you to those who have dropped by for the first time. You will find my blog to be clean and profanity-free (I have a niece and nephew who like to check out my collecting every once in a while) and I try to post a few times a week. It's a ton of fun for me and it's actually helped the organization of my collection....just a bit.
And thank you to the "regulars". Those of you who have stopped by and (hopefully) enjoyed my posts. While I post first and foremost for me, it's nice to know there are others who appreciate what I'm trying to do here.
With that - welcome to My Hockey Card Obsession!
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