Customer Reviews

Cool Runnings [ Region 2]

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Everytime I watch Cool Runnings, I still feel the magic and excitement of the first time I watched it. This movie is exceptional. Everything about it works.
The acting is powerful, the story is both exciting and moving, the comedy is fresh and enjoyable, and the soundtrack is perfectly suited to support the mood of the movie.
Cool Runnings is a perfect family film. People of all ages will be drawn to it and enjoy cheering for the Jamaican Bobsled team. There is some mild use of profanity, but it can be overlooked in favor of the moving story, and the morals that children will pick up along with it. Cool Runnings shows the value of pride, tolerance, and persistance.
Throughout the course of the movie we see the team prove to the world through their persistance that they are just as good as any other team, regardless of where they come from. They learn to become a team, learn to take pride in their culture, and do a lot of self discovery.
This movie is one of the few that is sure to touch you and to uplift your spirit.

I always wanted to see "Cool Runnings" since I first saw the previews on tv. I finally got to see it after a few years while I was in Texas with my family and it was even better than I thought it was gonna be. Since John Candy is in it, I thought it was gonna be just another great comedy. But I was wrong, parts of it are funny, but it's more of a great drama movie.

Three Jamaicans who are dying to get to the '88 Olympics run track and are on their way to the Olympics for sure until all three of them trip. They decide to start a new trend in Jamaican history by trying to become the first Jamaican bobsled team to get to the Olympics. But on their way, they find out that all the runnings aren't cool. The other teams such as East Germany laugh at them because they don't have a top notch bobsled and because they don't think they belong in the Olympics. John Candy is a 2-time Gold winner of the Olympic bobsled team of about twenty years ago and he must coach the crew of four Olympic hopefuls in order for them to have a chance to qualify for the '88 Olympics.

"Cool Runnings" is a great story that is based on real facts of the '88 Olympic Jamaican team. This is one movie I recommend everybody to watch any day of the year.

`Cool Runnings' is one of those movies I can watch over and over again and never get sick of it. Based on a true story that is both touching and inspirational, Jon Turteltaub does a magnificent job of infusing enough humor and wit into this script to make it one of the most entertaining movies I've ever seen. The story is about a young group of Jamaicans who are vying for a way to the Olympics. Derice Bannock (Leon) has dreamed of running in the Olympics all his life. His father was a famous Olympic runner and he dreamed of doing the same. Junior Bevil (Lewis) lives under the strict watch of his wealthy father who humors Junior's fantasy about running in the Olympics but doesn't wholeheartedly support it. And then we have Yul Brenner (Yoba) who lacks a good education but makes up for that with brute strength and arrogance. On the day of the tryouts Junior takes a fall and trips up Yul and Derice ending all of their chances to make it to the Olympics.

That is until they meet Irving Blitzer (Candy), an ex-bobsledder who knew Derice's father when they were in the Olympics together. Irving had always believed that runners would make the best Bobsled team and now he had the opportunity to try that out. With the help of Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug) they form the first Jamaican Bobsled team and head off to Canada to compete.

They are met with serious scrutiny, not only because they are Jamaican but also because their coach, Irv, is hated among the Olympic community. Irving was disqualified back in his Olympic days for hiding weights in the front of a sled to make it go faster, thus disqualifying, and humiliating his country, his teammates and his coach. Thus, they don't like him very much and because of that the Jamaicans have to work extra hard to make an impression. The film has plenty of funny scenes but it also has plenty of heart and by the end of the movie you'll be wiping away the tears and pushing through with a smile. They don't make many movies like this one, so when they do we need to grab them and never let go. `Cool Runnings' is definitely a one of a kind film, a film that's entertaining and suitable for the whole family, and one that any DVD library would be incomplete without!

Just great- Just great!
Movie about 4 jamaican guys entering bobsled racing (started with push cart racing)- totally unrealistic I know- but happened incredibly 1988 winter olympics calgary canada with jamaica improving in subsequent years. Great comedy by these actors and the late john candy, you will never forget the name 'sanka coffee' again. Own this for your collection and you will not be sorry. Show it to friends and family for a laugh, give it for a gift. Cool runnings- yah man!

What a great comedy this is. The humour it has is timeless and gives you some really heartfelt laughs.

Most of all what an important message it has in this dope infested world of sports! This film in a masterful way shows that what matters is not the victory but just being there and participating. These movie should be shown to the kids that participate in sports in all schools colleges academies . Not to leave out the parents that sometimes push their kids in an unreasonable way.

Finally this movie shows in a very eloquent way that regardless of what your circumstances are you can fulfil any goal you set and pursue in an elaborate way.

Really clean family entertainment with John Cndy in one of his best roles. I highly recommend it to everyone.

This is one of my favorite movies. It all starts out with a Jamaican man by the name of Derice Bannok, whose father was a famous Jamaican runner in the Summer Olympics. Derice practices running and could run just as fast as his father, but at the try-outs for the Olympics, he gets tripped and doesn't make it. But he doesn't give up there! He goes to the president of the Department of the Jamaican Olympic Team, and tries to get him to re-run the race, but he says no. Derice still wants to go to the Olympics, so, he tries to get together the first Jamaican Bobsled team. He tries to find Irving Blitzer, a man who used to be on the American Bobsled team, but got kicked out for cheating and went to Jamaica to get away from Bobsledding. Mr. Blitzer keeps refusing Derices offer, but then finally agrees to coach his team. I cant' tell you anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you. This movie is an instant comedy classic that anybody would love, and, it has great music, plus, it's based on a true story so it's very realistic. Five stars from me!

A Jamaican man has the dream to make it to the Olympics, and while he is the fastest runner in the Island nation, he is tripped and unable to win.

He finds out that there is another opportunity, and that is for a bobsled team, something Jamaica has never attempted because... who would ever dream of a team from a Caribbean Island that competes against the best of the best... they don't even know about snow!!!

John Candy is a retired Olympic gold medal winner and he lives in Kingston. The team enlists his services and soon we find ourselves witnessing a rather funny story of a group of athletes going to compete in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where cold is something beyond every conceivable idea of this group of four great athletes.

Simply, don't' miss this fun Caribbean story of the struggle to achieve greatness.

I just love Cool Runnings, it's the funniest and most heartwarming comedy I know, I'm glad I own it on DVD because I have watched it many times, and every time it makes me laugh and I have to admit I usually shed a few tears at the end because it is so moving. And it's a great family movie - I even know 2-year-olds who watched it and enjoyed it!

Christmas should be a time for reviewing Christmas things. Whatever...

Cool Runnings is one of the greatest films. It has something for everyone.

The story begins in November 1987 where Sprinter Derrice Bannock (Leon) is hoping to join the Olympics. However when he enters the trials to go, Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis) trips up Derrice and Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba). Derrice is depressed until the Jamaican President talks about Bobsleds. Derrice gets the idea to get a Bobsled team. He gets his best friend, Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug), to join and former Bobsled Champion Irving Blitzer (John Candy) to be their coach. Eventually Junior Bevil and Yul Brenner join and everything starts there.

Reasons to enjoy this film:

1. It's Humour (Espically Sanka).

2. It is telling people about the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.

3. The acting is great from the main actors, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy.

4.The film length lasts for at least and hour and a half.

5. The soundtrack (Which I want to get).

However, this DVD doesn't contain any Special Features. Other than that a great DVD.

If you like the sound of this movie, then on the 30th December 2005, it will be on BBC 1 at 1:30pm-3:05pm. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Jake Potts

... of this mostly fictional account of the trials and tribulations of the Jamaican Bobsled Team in the winter of 1988. No matter that it's mostly fictional, it's a wonderful, uplifting story. With a terrific performance by John Candy as the coach and a great supporting cast as the team this movie tells a story of triumph, redemption and personal achievement. Billed as a comedy, it has it's chuckles in the first half as the team is formed and begins training in the warm Jamaican climate, but once the boys reach Calgary and are confronted with their obstacles, it becomes very serious. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds to not only qualify for the competition, more less have a chance at a medal, this movie outRockys Rocky. Unless you're made of stone, the heart-warming scene following the crash combined with the stirring music will at least cause a lump in your throat.

Whenever I feel down, I throw this movie in the VCR and 1-1/2 hours later I feel much better. It's great therapy. Try it.