About me:I am at the moment a homemaker with 4 children, 2 have left home and the other 2 still live at home....
Member since:11.07.2000
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Review rated by 9 Ciao members on average: very helpful
Cool Runnings is one of the Disney films I can watch over and over again. It has earned it’s place on the video shelf and will have it’s place on the DVD rack as soon as I come across it. I live in a City and it took it’s time to get it’s play here so I had to go to a nearby town to watch it. And it was worth it.
I wouldn’t say I was an avid winter sports fan but the previews for the film on TV made it one not to miss. It is based on a true story about how the Jamaicans first entered the winter Olympics in 1988 in Calgary, Canada.
An ex American Bob Sledder, Irv Blitzer, played by John Candy, is convinced that fast runners would make excellent bob sledders but his theory falls on deaf ears. We then see how 3 Jamaican sprint hopefuls fall in an Olympic qualifying heat and loose their place in the team, but one, Derise Banner, wants off the Island and hears of Irv Blitzer’s theory so tries to persuade him to be their coach. They are a man short so bring in the Jamaican push-cart champion, Sanka Coffey, played by rap singer Doug E Doug.
They arrive at Calgary and are immediately the laughing stock. Jamaicans bob-sledding? The East German team is very hostile towards them and their sled is very old but they do qualify and the world is behind them. Then, on the second day whilst they are doing so well, they develop a steering problem and crash just yards from the finishing line. Showing that they are serious competitors they carry their sled across the line.
The whole film from start to finish is full of excellent comedy whilst trying not to steer away from the story. It also has one of the better soundtracks, featuring some great reggae tracks.
I have always admired the courage of the Jamaicans since this film and was delighted to find the Jamaican Bob Sled Federation’s website at:
http://www.jamaicabobsleigh.com
It is coloured in black, green and yellow, as you would expect. It is fast to load and is easy to navigate. It doesn’t contain heaps of content but it does give the Disney film a 2 thumbs up and also compares the real story to Disney’s adaptation. The most interesting part is the history section. Here it tells you the complete history to date of the team. There is also a picture section but it doesn’t say who they are of. I found it very interesting and it cleared up many things about the film that was not entirely true.
If you haven’t had the chance to watch the film yet you won’t be disappointed. It’s a film for the whole family. And if it is one of your all time greats you will want to visit the website.
m that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even ...
m that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even ...
![Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78539432.jpg)
![Cool Runnings [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/102354610.jpg)
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14.04.2001 17:45
Great op, I'm watching this film on TV at the moment. I agree its brilliant! I may even write an op the film later! Thanks for a great read~Em~
14.03.2001 20:14
gr8 op, cool runnings is da funniest film ever!!
05.02.2001 18:45
I have seen it a couple of times and it still make me laugh. Great review, thanks :)