Tokyo Olympiad

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Reel Movie Critic.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reel Movie Critic.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1352.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazon DVD Reviews"><U>Amazon DVD Reviews</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1375.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aberdeen"><U>Aberdeen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1096.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Affair of the Necklace"><U>The Affair of the Necklace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Annas Summer"><U>Anna's Summer</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1364.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Awful Truth: The Complete Second Sea"><U>The Awful Truth: The Complete Second Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1390.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beverly Hills Cop"><U>Beverly Hills Cop</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Blue Angel"><U>The Blue Angel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1359.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boycott"><U>Boycott</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1360.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Complete F"><U>Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Complete First Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1340.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Charlotte Gray"><U>Charlotte Gray</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1019.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daresalam"><U>Daresalam</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1353.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Blue World"><U>Dark Blue World</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1351.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daughters of the Dust"><U>Daughters of the Dust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1345.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" DeNiro Collection"><U> DeNiro Collection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Disco Pigs"><U>Disco Pigs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1330.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Endurance"><U>Endurance</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1350.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Female Trouble"><U>Female Trouble</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1347.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grateful Dawg"><U>Grateful Dawg</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Am Sam"><U>I Am Sam</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1226.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Majestic"><U>The Majestic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1365.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mark Twain"><U>Mark Twain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1389.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mash"><U>Mash</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The One"><U>The One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1021.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Lady of the Assassins"><U>Our Lady of the Assassins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1313.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Porn Star"><U>Porn Star</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1357.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roots"><U>Roots</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1348.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Saudade Do Futuro"><U>Saudade Do Futuro</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Session 9"><U>Session 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1077.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seven men from Now"><U>Seven men from Now</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id273.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Up at the Villa"><U>Up at the Villa</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1410.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trembling Before Gd"><U>Trembling Before G-d</U></A>   |   <B>Tokyo Olympiad</B>   |   <A HREF="id1346.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Trial in Prague"><U>A Trial in Prague</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1363.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tron: 20th Anniversary Collectors Editio"><U>Tron: 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Vertical Ray of the Sun"><U>The Vertical Ray of the Sun</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1367.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waking up in Reno"><U>Waking up in Reno</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1358.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Walk to Remember"><U>A Walk to Remember</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1332.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Werckmeister Harmonies"><U>Werckmeister Harmonies</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Newsletter"><U><B>Free</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Newsletter"><U><B> Movie Newsletter</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top 10 Video Rentals"><U><I><B>New to Video</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <B>Traveling for Less</B></div> <div> <I><B>New Book Discounts</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="http://site25521.dellhost.com/id361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://site25521.dellhost.com/id361.htm"><U><B>Great Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id744.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New?"><U><B>What's New?</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id913.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Movie Reviews"><U><B>Current Movie Reviews</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Future Films"><U><B>Future Films</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top Ten Box Office "><U><B>Top 10 Box Office</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id963.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art House Films 20021"><U><B>Art House</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id358.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Web Sites "><U><B>Movie Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ethnics In Film"><U><B>Ethnics in Film</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1098.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMAX Films"><U><B>Imax Films</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Tokyo Olympiad</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="501" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 146 WIDTH="495"><div> <IMG SRC="10f34b8c0.jpg" border=0 width="75" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/630411656x/reelmoviecriticc">Tokyo Olympiad on VHS</A>  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Tokyo Olympiad </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings 2" ><B>êêêê</B></FONT><B>  </B> (NR) </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By George O. Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="575" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>All Men are Created Equal</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Kon Ichikawa</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: The 1964 Summer Olympics are seen up close and personal in a purist form that focuses on the athletes without the spins that are now the norm that we tend to <I>expect and like</I> from sports announcers and writers. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> This film makes clear how important the Olympics are because in part it shows that even if peace if forced, it's a good thing. This is indeed affirmative action for a good cause. </div> <bR> <div> Long before the Berlin Wall was to fall, East and West Germany came together to compete in the Olympics in the summer of 1964. We were all asked to put aside our less than perfect thoughts regarding race, creed and religion. The games of 1964, were the 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> Olympics and other than for war, which is very ironic as it's the polar opposite of peace, were held every four years. In 1964, 94 countries competed, some for the first time such as Chad, an African nation only four years old. The young runner from Chad, Isa was 22 years old, and he was there to compete, do the best he could and if he did not win, that was perfectly fine. Watching him eat alone in the cafeteria and stroll the streets of Tokyo for some minor sightseeing gives a sense of the importance of sports in this setting to the competitor and the nation they represent. Almost certainly, Isa had never traveled that far before and may not have even been on an airplane. Watching a young Japanese child befriend him and seeing him reciprocate while walking the streets of Tokyo was touching. If you are starting to wonder if this film shows any sports events, don't worry, there are plenty. It's just that there is so much more to the film than those who stood on the podium to receive a medal. </div> <bR> <div> With the exception of Bob Hayes (runner) and Joe Frazier (boxer), all of the active athletes are nameless (to me anyway). Jesse Owens was in the stands waving and one can't help but smile at that image. There were some sponsors names you'd see around like on a Coke machine in the cafeteria and from time to time a name like Nippon on clothing. It was not a commercial fest with ads on sweatbands, shoes and banners in every spot on the inside wall of the stadium. Throughout the film, the purity of what sports are about is what is communicated.</div> <bR> <div> The phrase "up close and personal" takes on a new meaning when you see the athletes compete in this film. The pole vault competition lasted over 9 hours and at the end, looking at the two-finalist try their 3<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >rd</FONT> and final attempt to clear the bar was thrilling. Much of that was based upon the fact that you were with the athlete and the main sound was that of the stadium and minimal voice over in the film. Although this film has sub titles, so much of what you gather is from what you see and feel, that even a dedicated hater of foreign films will like this one.</div> <bR> <div> There is just as much focus on the person that came in first as the one who came in last. In the 10,000 meter (25 trips around the track) men's race, watching the leaders lap other runners, who are the best in the world, said a lot about conditioning, stamina and a strong will. When they were in the final lap, seeing the leaders reach for their physical and mental reserves for a spurt toward the finish line gave me chills. The crowning touch though was the last runner to cross the finish line who got an ovation from the crowd that appeared as thunderous as was given to the winners.</div> <bR> <div> Another thrilling segment was the 80-meter women's hurdles. Director Ichikawa held the crowd noise and just gave us the track sounds with a close up of the women as they jumped hurdles that seemed too close not to knock down. Looking at the determination in their faces as they came closer to you at the finish line was riveting. As they cleared the last hurdle and rushed toward the finish line, the crowd noise was brought back in and you soon saw the winners in joy and relief. </div> <bR> <div> Some events were acknowledged but not shown such as horse racing and fencing. Others had moments of intense interest that were much less about who won than about the individual effort to win in events like wrestling, swimming, the shot put, rowing, sailing, biking, field hockey, soccer and women's volleyball.  Clearly the funniest sport was that of walking. It's like running except that walking is defined as "one foot may be lifted only after the other has touched the ground". When you do that as fast as you can, you look like a duck being chased by a fox.</div> <bR> <div> The last sporting event in the Olympics is the men's marathon. Abebe Bikila was the first person to win it twice in a row and he did it in apparent ease even though he had appendix surgery only 4 weeks prior!! He was the Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong of his day. He finished in just over 2 hours and the last person to cross the line was almost at 4 hours. Both were warmly received by all. </div> <bR> <div> Seeing this film ties all of various events in the Olympics all together. The opening ceremonies are somber and respectful because it shows the intentions of peace and goodwill to all, big and small, rich and poor, the worlds best and the ones just proud to be there knowing they don't have a prayer for a medal, marching side by side providing mutual applause. After the medals have been awarded, the closing ceremonies are festive, joyful and in full out party mode for medals winners as well as those that came in last or anywhere in between. One can sense that barriers have been dropped <I>because </I>of the competition and the coming together of nations.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: My first reaction to the film was that it was very good but not great in part because I have been conditioned to seeing such events accompanied by the slick commentary of the NBA Finals and The Super Bowl. It's difficult to understand what you are looking at unless its being explained to you which means you don't have to think. Between the announcers and instant replays, looking at sports really is for couch potatoes. </div> <bR> <div> Looking at a documentary on sports with many records that have long since been broken almost 40 years later, which is so relevant to the issues of today, demonstrates the true meaning of the games. If seeing a film that is almost 3 hours long can help mankind move toward peace, then everyone should see this film. Just think how long wars last and when they end, that even the victors have no reason to smile or want to party (at least until they get back home and even then, that joy is short lived). Here, the positive feelings last a lifetime.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Not Rated</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> George O. Singleton © 2002</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>