One of the greatest stories of dedication and bravery of all time

Rating: 10/10 (22 March 2007)

I am not much on sports films, but "Chariots of Fire" transcends the sports movie and becomes the testament of two men of principle and extreme courage. Ben Cross and Ian Charleson perfectly bring the fire and intense dedication of their characters to the screen in one of a handful of films that actually deserved the Best Picture Academy Award. Rounded out by an all star cast with Ian Holm, Sir John Gielgud, Nigel Havers, Nigel Davenport, Alice Krige and Patrick Magee it is a story of two very diverse men who are bound toward the same goal, the 1924 Paris Olympics, but who refuse to compromise their personal honor to the demands of others. The funeral scene, which opens and closes the film was especially poignant and never fails to move me to tears. It is ironic that Eric Liddle was killed in China for his faith while still a young man, and actor Ian Charleson succumbed in his youth to AIDS. This is just one of those films whom everyone needs to see, along with "Amadeus" and "Gandhi" making the early eighties one of the greatest periods for biographical Best Picture Winners. The musical score by Vangelis not only adds to the magnificence of the feature but stands alone as a thing of great beauty, with a theme that will long be remembered. These were the days of young gods on earth.