Rating: 
Summary: My Favorite Movie OF ALL TIME!
Review: If I'm feeling down, I pop this movie in. If it's a rainy, overcast day, I'll pop this movie in. If I'm beginning to feel discouraged, I pop this movie in. It's not my miracle cure, but it is an incredibly uplifting way to spend 2 hours!For those who don't know much about the plot, the other reviews posted will give you a fairly detailed run-down of who the characters are and what they are up to. I'll merely say that the plot focuses on a true story from the 1924 Olympics. There are 4 runners from Britain competing in the games - 2 with particularly bright hopes for a gold medal. The only hitch is that these 2 have to compete against each other to get it. The movie starts in 1979 with the funeral of someone, but you don't know who it is. Then the movie flashes back to the Olympics in 1924 and introduces your main narrator. It then heads backwards even further to the point right before all these runners began competing. What unfolds is a truly precious & fully absorbing tale of these men in the 1920's in Britain, 3 at Cambridge and 1 in Scotland. As the story progresses you see how the background & faith of the men - particularly the 2 top runners - intertwines so heavily with their present reality as to affect every part of their life. It affects their running, yes, but also their relationships, their inner battles & their overall perception of the world around them. One runs to prove something - to try to escape the suffocation he feels because he is Jewish. (And, no, he's not a feminist.) The other runs in complete freedom - a freedom is private and yet contageous. However, I don't want to prejudice anyone towards either runner. It is simply too easy to love Liddell (the Scott) and to pity Abrahams (the Jew), at best. I think Jewish groups have decidedly disliked this movie for that very reason. But the movie gives you more content than that. It allows you to reflect on their different childhoods, their different acceptance in the world, their different faith structures. And, finally, for anyone who is curious I tried to do a bit of research on Liddell to see what became of him. The movie gives a brief synopsis of each, but Liddell's ending left me wanting to know more. From what I found, Liddell did go back to China to do missions work. He risked his life countless times to save Chinese men who the government had attacked and left for dead. He was able to get his wife and kids safely to Canada before WWII, but he was sent to a prison camp. There he organized Olympic type activities for the children & wrote devotional materials for the adults. He was a favorite among all who were there, and they were grieved when he died of a brain tumor shortly before the war ended. I'm not sure what adaptations were added to the movie from the Olympic story to make this more appealing. However, I absolutely encourage anyone who seriously loves & learns from movies to watch this one. The stories of the tests & triumphs of fellow humans - maintaining dignity in the face of so much - will strike your heart and leave you uplifted.
Rating:
Summary: A timeless and moving tale of human determination.
Review: This is a truly timeless film of human courage and determination. It is set in Britain in the period shortly after the First World War, and deals with the Olympic training and preparations of two great runners: Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddel. Abrahams, a secular Jew, attends Cambridge, and illustrates that despite the English class structure, the upper crust of England is open to a determined outsider if he or she has enough ability. Eric Liddel is a fervent Presbyterian, motivated by his religion, who eventually becomes a missionary in the footsteps of his father. He is, as one of his supporters explains, a "muscular Christian." But the theme of this film is what makes these two men run. For Abrahams, his running is his quest for excellence--in effect he is taking on (and beating) those who would hold him back from his goals of success and personal prestige. For Liddel, running is an affirmation of his love of Christ and his faith. Although the two men are very different, and motivated by very different things, in the end both are shown to be good men in a bygone age when such things as true amateurs still existed. The film is beautifully done. Its attention to detail and wonderful cinematography literally transport the viewer to the period of the 1920s--a simpler time, but a time not without its complexities. Ian Charleson is absolutely wonderful as Eric Liddel, and Ben Cross presents a superb performance as Harold Abrahams. The musical score by Vangelis is incredibly good, and perfectly captures the theme and tone of this fabulous film. The supporting cast all turn in fine performances. The film does slow down a bit at certain points, and contains a bit of extraneous material. For example, Abraham's romance with the opera singer doesn't seem to have any real point to it, although perhaps it further illustrates that Abrahams has successfully managed to become a part of the English upper class. Not many athletes attend the opera these days! Overall, though, the movie moves along at a reasonably brisk pace, although with numerous leisurely interludes here and there. It slows down at points, but never drags. It holds the viewer's interest at all times. The scene in which Liddel falls, recovers, and wins his race is one of my favorite scenes of any film ever, and it perfectly depicts the fact that, as Abraham's coach says, Liddel runs on guts, and draws his strength from within (or, as Liddel would have said, from his faith in God). The film's depiction of the American Olympic track team was hilarious, and I thought it perfectly captured how we Americans are often viewed by the Brits...a little brash and unpolished, very determined and competent, but in the end, as friends. The scene near the end involving Jackson Schultz (the "New York Thunderbolt") and Eric Liddel was touching, and done just right. I agree with other reviewers who have noted that the DVD should have been done on the wide letterbox format. Perhaps a re-release is something we can look forward to in future years. I trust that this film will always be available on DVD, for it truly belongs in every movie afficianado's film library. This is a truly great movie that has aged beautifully and remains a timeless classic. It will always be among my very favorite of films.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing film.
Review: "Chariots" does a marvelous job of transporting the viewer back in time. The sets, the costumes, the dialogue -- all are wonderful. The actors are uniformly outstanding. The music has been widely parodied, but it was perfectly suited to the film and only became disliked after it was played incessantly on the radio and as theme music on television sports programs.
One could nitpick if so inclined. For example, I thought the attention to detail was very good, but there are a few anachronisms (example -- freeze the picture at just the right moment when a U.S. athlete's sweatshirt is shown; you'll see 50 stars on the flag). Also, like all movie "true stories", there were departures from fact in order to achieve dramatic results. All of this is unimportant and detracts not one bit from the brilliance of this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Staying Power
Review: 'Chariots of Fire' continues to resonate a full 22 years after its initial release. Compare that to a similar Track and Field-based movie released around the same time: 'Personal Best' starring Mariel Hemmingway, written and directed by the great Robert Towne. Yet, no one remembers that one too much at all. There are two reasons why 'Chariots' hasn't receded from our collective memories. First, there's the score by Vangelis. Even beyond the famous theme song, the entire movie is set perfectly to vivid swatches of Vangelis' fertile imagination. Second, there's Hugh Hudson's brilliant imagery of the British runners, clad in 1924 Track and Field regalia, training en masse on the seashore. Put those two elements together: Vangelis + the beach-treading squad...in short, it's indelible. To this day, if you're in a road race and someone blares the theme song out their window (and someone invariably will), you will have a chill run down your spine. [As well as an overwhelming desire to run in slow-motion, a la the film.] The film is also notable by its intense performances from stars Ben Cross and Ian Charleson as Olympians Harold Abrahams and Eric Lidell respectively. Unfortunately, Charleson died too young at 40 of AIDS (1990), while heroically playing Hamlet on stage in London, literally up until the day before he died. Today, in his honor, the UK Stage industry presents the Ian Charleson Awards to honor the best classical stage performances by actors aged under 30. One final note: look for American stars Dennis Christopher and Brad Davis in small roles as U.S. Olympic competitors.
Rating: 
Summary: Full Screen???!!! HAHAHA
Review: I agree with other reviewers here. It must be joking that this film is released in full screen format! The Region 2 version is widescreen. Get that one instead.
Rating:
Summary: Reflections on Fire - 20 Years Later
Review: -
Synopsis: In the 1924 Olympics, a Jew and a Scotsman run for Britain Review: A film grossly undervalued. But understandably so. The characters within find meaning in existing; they are 'bound'-honor bound, duty bound, spirit bound, or tradition bound-but, in any case, bound. In our modern time, with its ennui and absurdity, this film is difficult to approach and appreciate. We are growing more and more comfortable among stagnation, decomposition, rot. Any thing, any life, with order, form, direction, faith, and beauty, is alien to us.
PS: This medium insults the art-try to obtain something in wide screen format. What Critics Said Then:
'The whole contradictory bundle is unexpectedly watchable.' Jo Imeson, MFB
'A piece of technological lyricism held together by the glue of simple-minded heroic sentiment.' Pauline Kael
'A hymn to the human spirit as if scored by Barry Manilow.' Richard Carliss, Film Comment Importance: Chariots of Fire is heroic/bold/romantic/strong-and other such things lower in our present value system. It is judged outdated, irrelevant. I believe it will hold an important place to those of us who are judged 'outdated' and 'irrelevant,' because we believe in something. Further Viewing: Other heroic classics, I believe, are Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, On the Waterfront, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Raider's of the Lost Ark, The Prince's Bride, and Rocky. Credits:
Writer: Colin Welland. Director: Hugh Hudson. Photography: David Watkin. Music: Vangelis. Actors: Ben Cross, Ian Charleston, Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell, Daniel Gerroll, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, John Guilgud, Lindsay Anderson, Nigel Davenport, Ian Holm, Patrick Magee. Awards:
Oscars: Best Picture, Screenplay, Score. Oscar Nominations: Director, Cinematography, Supporting Actor (Ian Holm). BAFTA Winner: Best Picture, Costume Design, Ian Holm. Dedication: to Miss Laura Kristine Cate
-
Rating:
Summary: "Let us praise famous men..."
Review: Chariots of Fire is an incredible film that consistently scores high on many a "best ever" list. The film contrasts the lives of Eric Liddel (played by Ian Charleson) and Harold Abrahams (played by Ben Cross) two men who competed on the 1924 British Olympic team. Liddel and Abrahams could not be more different. Liddel runs to glorify God while Abrahams runs to fight against the anti-Semitism that has dogged him all of his life. The movie itself is a rare combination of brilliant cinematography (for which it won the Oscar), an incredible score and a stirring story that can appeal to all kinds of people. It makes for a unique and awe-inspiring viewing experience. You'll be on your feet cheering by the end of the movie. The only criticism is the criminal way in which the DVD was released. It is not in widescreen. The "extras" are the trailer, production notes and scene selection. The film itself hadn't been cleaned up for DVD release either. Like virtually all of the other reviewers said, this makes watching the DVD painful and enchanting simultaneously. You love the art, but the DVD is almost so bad that it lessens the greatness of this masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: not widescreen - warning
Review: I purchased this film because a) it is a great work of art b) I loved in in theatres and c) I wanted to study it further. Working in the film industry, this film is of particular interest and value. I was horrified to find it is presented pan and scan full frame. Are you kidding me? This won an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Totally insulting. I returned the DVD immediately to my local store. Inexcusable. I recommend not purchasing this wonderful film until the studio releases a version that doesn't suck. You can't even see all the runners in some of the races in this version. Truly shocking. Pass.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the widescreen version
Review: Chariots of Fire is available in Europe (Region 2) on a widescreen DVD. Why is it still not available in the U.S. (Region 1)?
Rating:
Summary: Great movie! Poor DVD
Review: This truly is a great film and worthy of the Best Picture nod it got in 81', however, please beware that this is a full screen edition. To my knowledge, no letterbox edition has been released! The sparse bonus material (production notes, the trailer and cast profiles) only add insult to injury. Considering it even won an award for best Cinematography (New York Film Critics), the full screen presentation seems inexcusable. Come on Warner Brothers, treat your treasures with some respect!
That said, the transfer is acceptible, but the sound could use some work. Hard to understand the dialogue in some places. All in all, it's still a great film and worth watching. It just seems a shame we cant see it as it was meant to be.
| 
