Customer Reviews

The Junction Boys

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first watched this movie while working as a Behavioral Health worker with borderline criminial Adolecents age 12-17. A fellow co-worker brought the film in as a suprise "treat movie" for the kids.

In all my years (there have been many) I have never seen a reaction to a film from this population in all my life. The story of the team and Mr. Bryant and how it wa portrayed in this film made the kids begin to think of their own lives , and how they could do better for people.

It was a strange reaction to this film, but it truly moved them and myself.

As far as the film itself goes Berringer is great as is the support cast and the studio did an excellent job. I have heard the book is even better.

The extra features on this disk are well worth the price but the movie itself is full of holes. Too much is left out. Paul Bryant comes out looking like a bad guy here which I'm sure doesn't sit well with many college football fans. The extra features however are excellent. The ESPN presentations of Sports Century and The Real Junction Boys alone make this a worthy addition for any football fan. If you are interested in this story buy the book. It's much more informative and portrays Bryant in a much better and understandable light. Was he mean? Yes! Was he ornery? Always! But you will understand why he became this way at this point in his career.

This movie really shows the tough practices at Junction with Bear Bryant. It was a very good movie and the story was great. The book is alot more descriptive, and the movie and book both share a story that will be remembered for a long time.

There is nothing about this movie that sugar coats what happened at junction in 1954. Even coach bryant knew that he went too far and was too rigid with his rules and standards. So rigid that even players who were sick and injured from the ordeal were not allowed to stay on the team if they couldn't practice. After A&M lost their first game in a blow out bryant said "that one was on me" because the players were too beat up. That 1-9 season was bryant's only losing season ever! Understand the historical significance? The greatest college coach ever had a 1-9 team because of junction!

We need to have a historical perspective here. First of all texas a&m was not a small school. It is a big time major football school with a long history of winning. Back in the 1950s and even into the 60s it was not uncommon for coaches to work their players half to death in searing heat with no water. They believed then that it toughened them up. Read about bud wilkinson at oklahoma and you see the same thing. Also at that time you had a lot of walk ons. Students who played high school football but didn't get a scholarship trying out for the team. These walk ons were treated very cruel as a means of thinning them out quickly. That happened here but it happened everywhere.

This is a movie about survival under incredibly tough circumstances. The fact that those circumstances were forced upon them doesn't change that. Bryant loved those 35 men because he knew he pushed them too hard; because he knew he went too far. That is why he wore that ring to his grave And most of those 35 men loved him. The movie depicts a legendary 70 year old coach nervous like a school girl ready to meet these men 25 years later. He doesn't know how many would be there or how they would respond to him. Most were there and most were successful in life and credited junction with preparing them for that success.

It is uncertain how bryant's legendary status effected the opinion these men had of him 25 years after the ordeal. We do know that junction is not just an "appalling" story. It's a story worth telling.

A lot of people have asked me how I liked this movie. ESPN debuted the movie on my book back on December 14, 2002. The budget was only $3 million, so you couldn't ask for "Hoosiers'' or "Cinderella Man.'' But I liked it overall. I suggest that you read my book before you watch the movie. You can purchase "The Junction Boys'' on Amazon.com for 10 bucks with free shipping. If you don't like it, I will personally refund your money. Adios.

This is a truly great football story. It was an interesting inside look at the Bear and reasons why he would be a great coach and also why he would be very difficult to play for. His philosophy was to beat his players down and then build them from the ground up. For any football who hasn't seen this movie, it is a good one to check out. It was also be a good gift.

Excellent service. The movie arrived in great shape and within a week of ordering it

I have looked for this DVD everywhere and was grateful to find it. It came wrapped and was in GREAT condition.

I read the book and really liked it so I wanted to see the movie. It did not disappoint.

I had pretty low expectations, but this movie was very entertaining. It's not a blockbuster or anything, but it is now one of my favorite movies. Made for tv, and under the radar, but another sports movie classic.