(M) Chariots Of Fire
Grade: B-
Apparently this is based on a true story of the 1924 Olympics. It follows a group of the competing olympiads who are competing for England. Each runner is not only competing for England, but against one another and for their own personal cause. One man is Jewish and is trying to prove himself and the value of his race, another man is a Scottish Christian who runs for God. There are a couple other athletes that it focuses on as well. It's not a bad movie but I guess I just wasn't very moved by it. However, it won Best Picture in 1981 as well as Best Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Score.



(M) The Best Years Of Our Lives
Grade: A+
Released in 1946 (the year after WWII ended), the story deals with veterans coming home at the end of WWII. Three men from different armed services return to small-town America to re-aquaint themselves with their town and their families. When they return, they enter an America that is not concerned with the veterans or the duties they served. The returning vets must adapt to life after the war. One man has lost his hands and feels that everyone feels sorry for him and he can't open up to the woman he was planning on marrying. Another man returns to his wife and children but consumes himself with alcohol. The third man comes home to his wife whom he married just before leaving for war after only knowing her for 20 days and realizes that they aren't meant for each other. The movie is absolutely amazing. A total classic film that deserves the highest rating. It's ruffly 3 hours long. The movie is ranked number 37 on AFI's top 100 movies.