The Waterboy

The Waterboy is about the team waterboy (Bobby Boucher) who accidentally has his anger unleashed, turning him into a defensive maniac and a feared linebacker. However, if he wants to play football, he must keep it a secret from his mother who believes he is too delicate, while also overcoming academic adversity.

Release Year: 1998
Rating: PG-13
Length: 90m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Aggression is seen in nearly every scene of this movie. His aggressive is usually unlocked by opposing team members and even his coach. For example, Coach Klein tells Bobby that water sucks and gatorade is better to motivate him and make him angry, which leads Bobby to have a field goal block/return to win the game. (42m)
• Confidence: Confidence plays a major role in the beginning of this film. Bobby was picked on by players from both teams he worked for but failed to redeem himself due to a lack of confidence. It is evident when he recalls a memory from his childhood where a past coach belittles him when he tries to stand up for himself. (13m)
• Cultural Differences: Bobby has never considered playing football and when given the opportunity he is hesitant because of what his mother will say. Coach Klein attends dinner at Bobbies house where his mother rattles on about how bobby is to delicate and how she raised a sweet boy and he doesn't need to go to college. You can tell they have different standards and beliefs towards education. (16m)
• Imagery: In several instances he recalls images from his past that contribute to his aggression. But a better reference for imagery is the scene where Bobby replaces the heads of the offensive line and field goal kicker with Coach Klein's face while having them sing a catchy tune. (43m)

McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice

McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice is a documentary that briefly follows the careers of tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.  The movie focuses on their competitive rivalry and friendship, including the epic 1980 Wimbledon final.  Each player along with sports media personnel are interviewed throughout the film.

Release Year: 2011
Length: 61m

For more information, view its HBO page or purchase the 1980 match from Amazon.

• Aggression: Throughout the film, shows highlights of McEnroe flipping out, including the famed "you cannot be serious" 36m in.
• Burnout: About 44m in, Borg talks about how tired he was of playing and his loss of motivation to win.  At 55m, Borg sells his trophies.  About 50m in, McEnroe actually uses the word "burnout" to describe what he was feeling when he took some time off from tennis.
• Intrinsic Motivation: A few minutes in, Borg discusses how he fell in love with tennis when he was young.
• Parents/Family: About 9m in, McEnroe discusses his parents and how they pushed him the right amount.
• Routines: Great example of Borg's pre-match routine about 20m in.  He traveled the same route, used the same towels, and had the exact same preparation before his matches at Wimbledon.

Youngblood

Youngblood is about a young hockey star with no propensity towards fighting who must try to make it on a minor league team.

Release Year: 1986
Rating: R
Length: 110m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Slap Shot

Slap Shot is about a failing hockey team that uses violence to create fan interest.

Release Year: 1977
Rating: R
Length: 123m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Rollerball

Rollerball is about a futuristic sport that is brutal and violent.

Release Year: 1975, 2002
Rating: R
Length: 125m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database (1975 and 2002) and Rotten Tomatoes (1975 and 2002) or purchase it from Amazon.

The Program

The Program is the story of a college football team facing the pressure of winning and balancing life. The team has players from all walks of life, and they need a winning season so the program can survive.

Release Year: 1993
Rating: R
Length: 112m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Shown through the desire to win and one player's use of steroids, which caused him to become very angry and aggressive.
• Anxiety: There was a lot of pressure on the team to win, otherwise their program would be cut. Plus, the quarterback came from a family of alcoholics, so he was always on edge and nervous, and ultimately ended up going to rehab for drinking.
• Parents/Families: Girlfriends and families played a big role. Alvin wanted to get his family out of poverty, the QB wanted his family to support his playing, and the running backs were battling for a girl's heart and approval.
• Cultural Differences: The team was made of players with very different backgrounds and the team had to try and blend everyone together for their success.

The Longest Yard

The Longest Yard is about former popular professional quarterback Paul Crewe who is sent to prison.  He decides to create a makeshift team of inmates to face off against a team of prison guards in a game of football.

Release Years: 1974, 2005

Rating: R (1974), PG-13 (2005)

Length: 121m (1974), 113m (2005)

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database (1974 and 2005) and Rotten Tomatoes (1974 and 2005) or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Both the inmate and guard teams are extremely aggressive towards each other when playing.
• Coaching: Paul (played by Adam Sandler) coaches the inmates despite many of them not knowing much about football.
• Motivation: Paul uses a variety of tactics to motivate his team, but none is more motivating then the mean prison warden.
• Substance Abuse: A major alcohol problem at the beginning of the movie was the reason the quarterback was imprisoned.
• Teamwork: The inmates helped each other in many ways to pull off the win against the prison guards.
• Underdogs: The inmates' football team is clearly the underdog in the movie; at first they don't even believe they have a chance at winning.

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes is a made-for-television movie based on the book about gymnasts and the extreme difficulties they encounter at the upper echelons of competition.  Elite gymnastics results in many sacrifices for all involved, both physically and mentally, but how how much is too much?


Release Year: 1997
Length: 96m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase the book from Amazon.


Aggression: Aggression is depicted in a few ways throughout the movie: both in the parent-to-parent relationships with one another while viewing their daughters and in the coaching style with the athletes.

Anxiety: The coach tries to put them under constent anxiety so they will cope better with it, and some handle it better than others. The girls are constantly reminded of who is at the top and that if they are there, they may not be remain for long.

Commitment: The girls are reminded on a regular basis about how much effort that they need to put into their gymnastics to pursue their goal. Parents make a huge commitment to follow their children in their efforts.

Confidence: In one of the last scenes the coach yells at Katie for not attempting the Yurchenko. You can not bail out on skills; you must have the confidence or you will get hurt.

Eating Disorders: Katie reduces the amount she eats. She says that she won't eat her dinner and if she does, she will just throw it up because losing three pounds means gaining a foot in height in her tumbling.

Goal Setting: The coach puts a lot of outcome oriented goals on the athletes: win or else that's it.

Going for your Dream: All the girls hope to make it to the Olympics. They give up much to pursue their dream, including leaving behind their home and family.

Injury: In the end the star athlete has a career ending injury, which in turn leads to the thought that Katie was being pushed too hard.

Keeping Sport in Perspective: When they decide to go home Katie's mother realizes that her job is to be a mother. She does not want Katie to become hurt in order to be win in a sport. Her life is more important.

Parents/Family: In order for Katie to move her entire family must make a sacrifice and do so. However, her relationship with her family is part of the key to her success.

Substance Abuse: The girls put their bodies through so much and in turn suffer pain they must push through. Dana Parker, the star athlete, offers Katie prescription medicine to help her battle through pain.

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid is about a young boy who learns from a master the physical and mental aspects of karate.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG
Length: 126m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore is about a hockey player who turns his slapshot into an amazing tee shot.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: PG-13
Length: 92m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Braveheart

Braveheart is the story of William Wallace and Scotland's fight for freedom in the 13^th century.

Release Year: 1995
Rating: R
Length: 177m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen is about an army major who is assigned to lead a team of misfit inmates into an elite unit during World War II.

Release Year: 1967
Length: 150m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Days of Thunder

Days of Thunder is about a young and talented driver who finally has his chance to compete at the highest competitive level.

Release Year: 1990
Rating: PG-13
Length: 107m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Boxer

The Boxer is about a boxer who attempts to leave the Provisional Irish Republican Army after being released from prison.

Release Year: 1997
Rating: R
Length: 113m

For more information, view its pages on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Any Given Sunday

Any Given Sunday depicts the pressures and violence of modern day American football.

Release Year: 1999
Rating: R
Length: 150m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.