Chariots of Fire

Rating:
Summary: DVD a Disappointment
Review: Purchased this DVD on impulse, often a big mistake. I should have checked the customer comments on Amazon first. Many others have commented on the fact that it was released in full-screen format instead of widescreen. Also, my copy is of fairly poor quality in general. The picture has black blips and white spots flashing throughout the film, as you often see in theaters when the film is old. And through much of the movie, there is a black smear in the center of the screen that is very annoying and unsightly.

This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and what a disappointment the DVD turned out to be. I would think it deserves to be released in a cleaned up version and in widescreen format.

Rating:
Summary: A refreshing and provocative story of contrasts
Review: When I watched this film when it initially came into the theaters, I was a young child and the thing I remember about the movie was that it got me interested in running since the actual race footage in this movie is outstanding and highly inspiring. Later on, I began to grasp the more substantive elements of the story. The acting, filmmaking, and story all combine to produce an outstanding film of substance over form.

As others have commented, the film is a study of contrasts that mainly chronicles two men. We're first introduced to Harold Abrahams, a secular Jew who comes from a successful Jewish family in England. He enrolls at Cambridge and sets out to prove himself in an often defiant spirit against what he perceives (rightly so in all probability) as the soft antisemitism that dominates his surroundings. He establishes himself as a dominant athlete possessing special athletic gifts, and also aggressively seeks to be accepted as an 'English man' by his peers through participating in G&S productions and in courting a prominent socialite. He is clearly on a mission to prove himself (to others as well as to himself) and to be accepted (by others and by himself).

Then we encounter Eric Liddell, a Scot and a Presbyterian missionary who believes that his ability to run fast is a gift of God that would be sinful to ignore. After a personal struggle about being torn between his church work and his running, he makes the decision to devote himself to running in the short term in the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics, and then after that, to become a full time missionary to China.

Both Abrahams and Liddell are portrayed as encountering opposition to their goals. When not competing directly against each other, they pull for each other and recognize each other's gifts. But I felt that the most provocative message of the story is that while one might expect that Abrahams would encounter opposition from the old guard and establishment because of being Jewish, we find that Liddell experiences the same thing as a result of being a sincere Christian, rather than one in name only. When Liddell refuses to put the interests of the earthly king ahead of the sacred instruction of the one true King, he takes a principled stand that is quietly respected by some, loudly protested by others - particularly those in power. In this respect, the contrasts between Abrahams and Liddell end up becoming similarities.

This film won the Best Picture Oscar, and deservedly so. By Hollywood standards, it is a rare achievement. It not only praises the humanistic determination of Abrahams (which is standard Hollywood fare) but also clearly praises the principled Christian attitudes of Liddell, which is antithetical to much of what we see on the movie screen these days. This movie provides a tremendous focal point for further discussions and contemplations because it does such a good job in contrasting the two men and their experiences in such a way that many viewers will likely find something they can relate to. The very end of the film demonstrates that both men achieved what they wanted, with Abrahams becoming an influential figure in British society and athletic scene, and Liddell fulfilling his Christian mission to China and being a hero to Scotland.

An outstanding film all the way around.

Rating:
Summary: NO WIDESCREEN
Review: Why bother to watch this beautiful film, review it, or buy the DVD version from Warner when they haven't released a widescreen version.
Hold out for something better!

Rating:
Summary: a consistent Christian is a hero, for once
Review: It is odd for the mass media to portray a consistent Biblical Christian as a hero.
His stand on not running on Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, is not an issue that many secular people will even think rises above the level of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It is to their great acclaim that the script writers didn't rewrite this so that it was "more up to date".
A runner, a Christian who died as a missionary to China, a man who struggles and strives to be good, if not the best in whatever endeavor God sees fit to place him in...

the elements of mythbuilding, of good moralistic tales to raise your kids on. watch it again and again with the kids as they grow up. and hope they learn the lessons of struggle and effort. our culture doesnt do movies like these often. love it and use the emotions it evokes to better yourself. like he did, running along the beach....
there is simply an outstanding essay on striving for your higher self at [url], which if this topic in the movie inspired you, then this essay will enlighten you as well.

richard williams

Rating:
Summary: Film 5, DVD 0
Review: [Addendum Nov 03: Grapevine has it that Warner Brothers has finally come around to doing a special editition, widescreen and all, scheduled for release sometime in 2004. There is a God... Until then, my current review stands.]

Dedication, duty and the passion for victory, both personal and spiritual. A magisterial score. Olympian triumph in the waning light of Empire. This film has (or rather had) it all.

It's a sad but true fact that were this film to be released today it wouldn't have even been a "sleeper", let alone an Oscar Winner. It would have quietly been passed over for the latest star-vehicle featuring [enter movie star of the month here]. Oh, maybe for costumes or art direction, but that's it. It would've remained art house or just gone straight to video.

From my personal experience vault: I distinctly remember when I walked out of the theater. I was very young, very impressionable, and absolutely astonished by what I saw. Here was heroism of the kind that only knew from myth and fantasy stories. Here were runners peforming like gods, but they were real, which made their victories (and defeats) the stuff of legend, yet attainable on Earth. I caught the bug and became a track athlete.

Years later, there was a theatrical re-release and I was hesitant about seeing it. It had been a long, long time since I strapped on my running spikes and stared down the lanes of a track. Would the indelible impression the film made on my young heart be now seen as just a childish emotional reaction? Would the whole story seem dated and, dare I say it, cheesy? No. It still evoked those feelings of triumph -- this time, I could appreciate the film for its wider themes of glory, prejudice and redemption. It was more than magnificent.

And yet in the end, DVD and the powers that be have robbed this fim of its artistry. No widescreen edition for Region1?? (And according to one DVD vendor in the UK, there IS widescreen, but alas, R2 only...) Do they think that Americans don't go for "foreign" films, even Oscar Winners? How insulting. Until there's a proper widescreen version--with or without special features, I'm not particular but they would be welcome--I will, sadly, not have this tremendous film in my library.

Attention other film lovers: Don't give in and buy it, no matter how much you love this film. Maybe they'll catch on...

Rating:
Summary: It's called WIDESCREEN!!!
Review: This is one of the finest films ever made, bar none. Why for the love of all that is decent and holy will they not put out a WIDESCREEN version of this DVD?!?! As it is, I have seen, but not purchased this fullscreen formatted DVD. I will hang on to my VHS widescreen presentation. Come on Warner....give us a WIDESCREEN version we can be proud of; that is the least this awesome movie deserves!

Rating:
Summary: Sublime
Review: This movie has helped me through the years. It has inspired me and encouraged me. It has motivated me, spiritually and physically.

If you dislike this movie you should reconsider your take on life...

Rating:
Summary: inspiring
Review: When I first viewed this movie, I missed the depth of its message. Fortunately, I watched it again and was almost in awe of its' brilliance. It is a tale of two men who have completely different motivations for success. One man, a Scottish missionary, is motivated by his faith. Talking of God, he says that he "feel(s) His pleasure" when he is running. The other man, a British student who happens to be Jewish, is motivated to achieve for his own glory. The aspect of his being a Jew gives the viewer a sense of his isolation from others and the film does bring out the prejudice he encounters. However, he seems to always want to step back when his comrades in track try to bring him into their circle. As the story line is developed, we see the way failure is handled by both men and, ultimately, how success is handled as well. There is a very Christian message in this film but it is not a "Christian" film. When glory exists in winning, it is temporal. When glory exists in devotion to a higher being, it is eternal. Watch this movie and you will understand both men and their motivation. You will also find yourself cheering for and celebrating with one more than the other as the message seeps in.

Rating:
Summary: Finest movie of all time
Review: This has it all; best in every respect.
Has been my all time number one for 21 years.
See it over and over and enjoy at the same level.

Could they release as DVD in Digital sound?

Rating:
Summary: A study of human courage
Review: This movie sits atop my all-time favorite movies list year after year. I agree with others that a letterbox format would greatly improve the viewing, for the cinematography is outstanding on a theatre screen. (Non-letterbox is the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars - the movie is a five-star movie; the format is a three star format.) That being said, this is still one powerful film. A true story that parallels the lives of two world-class athletes, it provides the viewer with a thoughtful portrayal of the human spirit. While each of the characters has a dream of Olympic gold, one (Harold Abrahams) gets his motivation from the prejudice he feels toward him as a Jew in a WASP world, and the other (Eric Liddell) gets his motivation from his Christian beliefs and resulting desire to glorify his God. The movie does take a few liberties with the historical truth, but for the most part is true to the convictions of each man.
If you are enthralled by the action-packed shoot-em-ups that litter the movie landscape these days, Chariots of Fire might prove to be too slow-moving for you. This is a thinking man's movie, and one must pay close attention to each detail or will miss the brilliant subtleties of the film. If you like a good, long read, or your imagination is captured by a study in what makes a man tick, this is a great film.
One interesting bit of trivia: The executive producer of this film was Dodi Fayed, who was killed in the car crash with Lady Diana.