The best I've seen is The World Cup: A Captain's Tale.
Recently saw Shaolin Soccer which was disappointing from the footy perspective.
Anyone know of any others ?
Bend it Like Beckham was very good. I haven't seen the one you mentioned -- if I find it I'll have to check it out.
I never even bothered to watch Shaolin Soccer -- that one looked like a terrible mistake.
I really liked "Mean Machine" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291341/), a remake of "The Longest Yard" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071771/). Another remake of "The Longest Yard" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398165/) is about to be released.
"Victory" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083284/) is interesting to watch if only to see a soccer player who can't act (Pele) and an "actor" who can't play soccer (Silvester Stalone), and an actor who does a pretty decent job in the soccer scenes (Michael Caine) share the screen.
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I saw "The Game of their Lives" with my daughter and a couple of her friends. So it's not "Gone With the Wind," I still really liked it. It doesn't follow the "Karate Kid" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/) or "Rocky" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/) formula, where underdog works extra hard in training to prepare for the unbeatable foe. Instead, it's about teammates learning to believe in themselves and each other. Patriotic heartstrings are tugged. I liked that the film sees no reason to demonize the English team or its fans.
This weekend, I saw "A Shot at Glory" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193854/) and really enjoyed it. Some salty language will keep me from sharing this with my daughter until she's 16 or so. The rest of the content would make it fine to show to the U-13 team I coach. Too bad.
I liked Mean Machine as well. I also liked Victory...except for Stallone. I saw it on the History channel of all places, and they had commentary from some of the actors.
Stallone said that they were horsing around, and Pele fired a shot past him. Stallone said he thought it wouldn't be so hard to stop, so Pele lined him up for a penalty shot. He told Stallone right where he was going to kick it, then booted the crap out of it. Stallone said it went straight through the net and busted up some barrels behind him.
I liked Shaolin Soccer, but not from a soccer standpoint...still funny as heck though, and there are a couple nice CG enhanced shots. Much like I enjoyed Ping Pong, but not from a table tennis standpoint.
shoalin soccer did suck to my dismay...just saw Game of Their Lives which was AWESOME!!! ... Victory is a good movie too..and Hotshot with the King PELE!
shareI also enjoyed "A Shot at Glory," even though it isn't very beleivable.
shareWhen Saturday Comes with Sean Bean is pretty good
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"Hotshot", which features Pele playing a character based on himself, is worth a look. Not the best film, but enjoyable.
"G'ole", the offical film of the 1982 World Cup narrarated by Sean Connery, is rather well done. It almost turned a few American chums of mine into fans. The real game is far more dramatic than anything that can be manufactured.
I would add the following:
The original version of "Fever Pitch," about a crazed Arsenal fan (recently remade as a baseball movie).
The Bhutanese film "The Cup."
The Hungarian film "6-3", a time travel fantasy about the Magyar upset of England in 1953.
I'd advise you all to watch "Those Glory, Glory Days", if you ever get to see it on tv.
shareGoal! the Dream Begins starring Kuno Becker was great, Goal 2 just ok...Goal 3 is a piece of &$^@#$ !@&^#$%!&...
shareI love this movie - thought it was really well done - though it was called THE MIRACLE MATCH when I rented it.
As for others, "Ladybugs" with Rodney Dangerfield rocked. Just kidding - the soccer in that is awful, but it's a pretty funny over-the-top comedy. Same deal with "She's The Man" w/Amanda Bynes, though the soccer is a bit better in that.
Recently, "Gracie" was decent, though much of that deals with grief and one girl's journey as opposed to a team's journey.
So far, The Game Of Their Lives/Miracle Match is my fave, but I still need to see Goal! The Dream Begins.
The Miracle of Bern
shareI agree, that's one of the best ones, and has some of the same spirit as "The Game of Their Lives". Highly recommended to anyone who can stand movies with subtitles. ;-)
I see "Bend It Like Beckham" was mentioned earlier. A couple of other decent movies (part comedies) about girl's football are "She's the Man" and "Gracie".
'Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait'.
'The Damned United', though it has hardly any football in it.
"They ate Mummy! They burned Mummy and killed her and ate her!"
The Damned United was good.
shareI think "Shaolin Soccer" is great - just obviously not a realistic portrayal of soccer - it's more about the kung-fu and Stephen Chow's trademark weirdness.
Obviously the best soccer movie made is "The Big Green" :P
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turnin' every good thing to rust
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