Having taken what the previous posts said into account, I STILL think that the plot was muddled, character development was nil and that the overall message was syrupy and childish. It also delivered that same old tired message, that blacks, in order to be sympathetic characters that whites can "relate" to, must be these superhuman, angelic characters. "Titans" indeed! The movie also dealt with the black/white issue as if both sides were coming from positions of power, and that blacks were somehow wrong for "forcing" the poor whites to accept a black coach, integrated school and the like. And once again, as with many popular films, the white guy of the buddy flick team has the most redeeming moral qualities, since he bravely "accepts" the black coach and some of the adversity that he faces as a result of being "tolerant." Am I supposed to be excited because some ignorant white people can now "accept" black athletes who win accolades for their town? Why? I wonder what the state of the school system is in this town now? What about the state of race relations? Give me a freakin' break?
Besides, DON'T do a period piece if you can't get the time period right. From my screen name, you know that right off the bat I'm concerned with all things 1970s. Looking at family photos, I feel I have a good handle on what the general styles of the times were. It's not hard to recreate, especially since so many of the 70s' looks are now in fashion or have been in recent years. And, even if the players were conservatively dressed for team events, parents, other students and the players themselves would have been dressed differently at other times. Can I get a wide tie? A bellbottomed pair of pants? An AFRO?
I really felt like I was watching something more appropriate for a 5th grade civics class whose teacher was introducing a civil rights segment into the course. I guess I like my movies to be more historically accurate and more well-thought out than that, Denzel or no, "positive message" or no. It takes a better narrative than that one to make me suspend my disbelief for two hours. IT STUNK UP THE THEATER, in my opinion.
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