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Summary: How about that 2002 Olympic hockey series?
Review: Now THAT is a story for the history books.
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Summary: Could have been better
Review: The documentary is great. Reminding us of what was going on in world events at the time. However, would have been great to have the entire game uncut from start to finish?
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Summary: A Little Disappointing
Review: This DVD was a little disappointing because there was too much focus on the hostage crisis of 1979, to much time devoted to personal interviews, and not enough of the game.
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Summary: Yes! I beleive in miracles!
Review: This DVD was excellent. A look from both sides- USA and Russia. Great interviews, commentaries. A real tear-jerker!
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Summary: IF YOU'RE AMERICAN YOU WILL LIKE IT
Review: This is a great program, about a great moment in sports history. If you are interested in the event, buy the video. I think far too much of the program is dedicated to late 1970's politics, but hey. We won the hockey match, right? Consider this, however: What do you think would have happened if the officials interrupted our players while they were hugging each other like schoolgirls who found out the quarterback thought they were cute. What if he told them, told the U.S. coach, that there had been some sort of fundamental mistake in the way the match had been run (e.g., wrong dimensions for the ice, for the rink, whatever), and that they would have to play again? RIGHT THEN? NOT tomorrow (the next day)? "Okay. Now we play again"? No, not like the 1972 Olympic basketball gold medal game. In that case the referees put something like 3 seconds on the clock. No, I mean what if our pimple-popping players suddenly had to swallow the fact that they had gotten remarkably lucky and play again? I believe they would have threatened to sue... That is, they would have whined, cried, complained, then would have lost. Badly.
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Summary: The Cold War on a Sheet of Ice
Review: This is seriously one of the best sports documentaries I have ever seen. In fact, this inspired me to base a major oral history project (worth 90% of my grade) on it. It gives great detail about the background of the game, stories most people never heard, and it's so well done you'll get chills just watching it. This documentary was superbly made and it really showed why it was so much more than just a game.
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Summary: One of the Best Documentaries Around
Review: This is simply the most moving sports documentary I've ever seen. Produced by HBO, this chronicles the journey of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team from unknowns to national heroes. "Do You Believe in Miracles?" follows the team from the tryouts in 1979 through the exhibitions they played, including the one against the Russians in Madison Square Garden, and finally, the triumph over the Russians and the Finns to win the gold medal. It includes interviews with head coach Herb Brooks and several players, including team captain Mike Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, and defenseman Mike Ramsey. But the documentary also does an excellent job chronicling the feeling of America before and after the U.S. won the gold, including the low feelings after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and during the Iranian hostage crisis. One of the most fascinating interviews in the whole thing is with Barry Rosen, one of the hostages, who didn't find out about the Olympics until returning home months later. Of course the highlight of "Do You Believe in Miracles?" is the victory over the Soviets. The documentary uses footage from the network telecast for the highlights, including the calls from Al Michaels (who is also interviewed here). If you don't tear up when Eruzione scores or when Michaels shouts "Do You Believe in Miracles?", something's wrong. The players reactions afterwards, even though this was done twenty years after the fact, are still very touching to watch. Overall, I think this is one of those sports documentaries that transcends time. Years from now, people will still watch this documentary and still cry when they hear Al Michaels utter "Do You Believe in Miracles?".
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Documentaries Around
Review: This is simply the most moving sports documentary I've ever seen. Produced by HBO, this chronicles the journey of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team from unknowns to national heroes. "Do You Believe in Miracles?" follows the team from the tryouts in 1979 through the exhibitions they played, including the one against the Russians in Madison Square Garden, and finally, the triumph over the Russians and the Finns to win the gold medal. It includes interviews with head coach Herb Brooks and several players, including team captain Mike Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, and defenseman Mike Ramsey. But the documentary also does an excellent job chronicling the feeling of America before and after the U.S. won the gold, including the low feelings after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and during the Iranian hostage crisis. One of the most fascinating interviews in the whole thing is with Barry Rosen, one of the hostages, who didn't find out about the Olympics until returning home months later. Of course the highlight of "Do You Believe in Miracles?" is the victory over the Soviets. The documentary uses footage from the network telecast for the highlights, including the calls from Al Michaels (who is also interviewed here). If you don't tear up when Eruzione scores or when Michaels shouts "Do You Believe in Miracles?", something's wrong. The players reactions afterwards, even though this was done twenty years after the fact, are still very touching to watch. Overall, I think this is one of those sports documentaries that transcends time. Years from now, people will still watch this documentary and still cry when they hear Al Michaels utter "Do You Believe in Miracles?".
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Summary: I believe ...
Review: This is without question, the single greatest sports documentary to be produced by HBO Sports. To a non-sports fan, born in the last 25 years, this event may seem trivial, almost meaningless in a time where the Cold War has melted, the Iron Curtain raised and the US and Russia allies. But 22 years ago, in the shadow of the Cold War, with Soviet troops in Afghanistan, rising prices at the gas station, spiraling inflation and US hostages in Iran, things were anything but OK in the US and this docuemtenary superbly illustrates the dark times in the US and how a nation's spirits were lifted by a group of college kids who refused to give up. They were led by a colorful ambassador of the game, whose own mind games united an amateur team and allowed them to take down a colossus of Russian professionals. The documentary strings together interviews with former players. Captain Mike Eruzione, Forward Mark Johnson, Goalie Jim Craig all chip in with memories and commentary, as well as Russian goalie Vladimir Tretiak and an Ex-Soviet sports journalist. It's an exhaustively crafted piece, full of clips of practices, exhibition games and exhaustive research, all powerfully narrated to put the cherry on top. Everyone remembers where they were the day the United States of America beat the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 4-3 at Lake Placid, NY. This documentary bring chills up your spine, as Al Michaels screams that famous call "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"
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Summary: An Amazing Story
Review: This story brought back a lot of memories. As a lifelong hockey player and fan, I remember watching the game when it was first televised. I was only 9 years old at the time, but remember the event as if it happened yesterday. "Do You Believe in Miracles?" does an excellent job of telling us why the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team's win was not only remarkable, but also why it was so important to our country. You will want to watch it again and again. Just be sure to keep a box of Kleenex handy.
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