Patriotic film!

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2005)

It's nice to see a film that is patriotic and that doesn't bash our great nation. I've noticed scenes in other films (i.e. "In the Line of Fire" "Chaplin") where characters intimated that this nation is evil. Although we are great, that doesn't mean we are perfect. Yet we are the first ones to admit and attempt to atone for our past mistakes.
I am a huge hockey fan. It is the most exciting sport, especially live (I have to laugh at the yahoos who called hockey "boring". These are the same people who believe a car going 'round and 'round a track is exciting). Herb Brooks coached my favorite team, the N.Y. Rangers. It is one of my life regrets that I did not see the U.S.-Soviet game--I was home and was watching something else. But I did see the Gold Medal game.
I thought Kurt Russell's portrayal was outstanding. The hockey scenes were outstanding in their detail. Although I read that it did not actually happen, I loved the scene where Mike Eruzione yells that he plays for the USA.
The drawback for me was hearing that failed one-term president Jimmy Carter's malaise speech---which instead of being inspiring, blamed the American people for his failings as a president. Oh yes, those halcyon days of double-digit unemployment, inflation and mortgages--which coined a new phrase "misery index" were truly memorable until Ronald Reagan took the reigns and reversed course.
And I'm glad the Soviets weren't portrayed as lovable bears either. The world has suffered hundreds of million deaths at the hands of world communism, and I'm glad this film didn't portray them as lovable "Reds".