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Run-up to the Olympics: Chariots of Fire (1981)

Continuing on the Olympic theme I started yesterday, I have decided to spotlight a couple of Olympic-themed films.

Let’s start in the location of this year’s games – the United Kingdom, or rather England to be exact. The first film I will highlight is the multiple Academy Award winning feature, Chariots of Fire. 

SYNOPSIS

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice. (Source: Wikipedia)

This is a film I have only seen within the past five years – as a youth I always felt that this film was always inaccessible to me. It always seemed a bit cold and remote to me.

After having seen it, I can honestly say that the needle has shifted, if only slightly. Do not get me wrong it is a well-crafted film, but the performances in particular felt a little stilted and stagey for my tastes. One would think that a film about running would have some “pace” to it; instead, I feel like the film was dragged down as a result of it. You certainly felt all of the 124 minute running time.

On the positive side, I did like the framing device by which the story was told – and oh yeah and that musical score (Vangelis) is iconic.

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Favorite Films Set in Prague

With this installment, my cinematic journey through places I will visit in Central Europe for 2012 is complete. Previously, I mentioned my favorite films set in Vienna. Today I am going to focus on Prague, Czech Republic. When I say ‘focus’ I may be exaggerating a bit; in fact, I have only come up with one film that I have seen (and really liked) which are set in Prague.

 

Casino Royale (2006)

The film that made me think twice about the 007 franchise. I was never a HUGE fan of Bond films, but I was more than greatly entertained by this film. From the start, the action was non-stop and kept me on the edge of my seat. Prague was just one of several locations where the film takes place.

 

Honorable Mention: Mission Impossible (1996) This receives an honorable mention mainly because if memory serves, I did enjoy the film at the time of its release, but over the course of the years, my interest had waned a bit. So I cannot technically count this as a ‘favorite.’

 

Can you think of any other films set in Prague? They do not have to be in the English language.

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Fifteen Movie Questions Meme

Happy Memorial Day All! Currently watching the French Open (and loving it) but I have decided to take some time to do some browsing around the ‘net to see what is going on on some of my favorite movie sites. That is when I came across this fantastic meme (respect to Cinematic Paradox via my friends at Anomalous Material). The meme is called 15 Movie Questions. So without further ado, here are my answers:

1. Movie you love with a passion.

Sure I can find minor quibbles with stuff as I have watched it over the years, but I am always drawn A Room With a View.

2. Movie you vow to never watch.

I refuse to see Revenge of the Sith in its entirety. Sure I have it on good authority that this was the best of the prequels but I was so let down by the first two I gave up on the prequel franchise.

3. Movie that literally left you speechless.

Children of Men


 

4. Movie you always recommend.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid


5. Actor/actress you always watch, no matter how crappy the movie.

Kate Winslet!

 

6. Actor/actress you don’t get the appeal for.

Too many to name.

 

7. Actor/actress, living or dead, you’d love to meet.

It’s a tie: Rashida Jones and Drew Barrymore. They seem like cool ladies.

8. Sexiest actor/actress you’ve seen. (Picture required!)

Not  a fair question … so much hotness out there at the present moment. Guess I will go old-school with Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire.


 

9. Dream cast.

Love Actually


 

10. Favorite actor pairing.

Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, Notorious


11. Favorite movie setting.

 

12. Favorite decade for movies.

The 1960’s – it was such a turbulent decade outside of film but a lot of that unrest and upheaval became part of cinematic history.

13. Chick flick or action movie?

An action flick featuring a bad-a** chick 🙂

14. Hero, villain or anti-hero?

Anti-hero all the way ….

 

15. Black and white or color?

Cut my movie-loving teeth in the world of good ole B&W. But that is not why it is my choice. Over the years, I have come to really love the interplay between shadow and light that is so evident in the best B&W cinematography.

 

Well that’s me! Tell me what you think.

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