After a nail biting India-Pakistan match, the adrenaline continued to rush and then something dropped in my notifications that got me even more hyped. Creed II official trailer dropped in and Rocky Balboa was back. The hype got me watch all those movies that build a sense of motivation, hope and fill emotions in a time where everything seems not working in your favor. So here are some of the flicks, I pick that you must watch before the final bell rings. After facing some disappointments while watching FIFA, there was no other way to shut that depression transmitting, LED-fitted TV and finding a way a get solace over losses and then something dropped in my notifications that got me hyped. Creed II official trailer dropped in and Rocky Balboa was back. The hype got me watch all those movies that build a sense of motivation, hope and fill emotions in a time where everything seems not working in your favor. So here are some of the flicks, I pick that you must watch before the final bell rings.
1. Rocky (1976) – A small time boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), gets the chance of fighting an unbeatable heavy weight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to claim his name and become somebody from nobody. Watch out for this flick if you lack conviction or motivation in yourself. The Oscar-winning movie has got the perfect blend of nail-biting action, emotions enough to get weepy and a crisp filmography.
2. Chak De India (2007) – India’s best Centre Forward is accused of betraying Indian Men’s hockey team during their finals against Pakistan. Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) makes his comeback after 7 years of accusations to prove his loyalty towards his nation but this time as a coach of the Indian Women’s hockey team which runs not on team spirit but on ego, social issues and game politics. Watch out for Shah Rukh Khan as he shows off his best acting skills as a broken, torn, frustrated yet loyal coach. This film did bring back India’s National sport, Hockey back into limelight and talents from the nation were recognized globally. Don’t just play the game, live and enjoy the game for that 70 minutes.
3. Iqbal (2005) – A deaf and mute bowling aspirant, Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade), born in a land where cricket is more than a religion, wants to score big and fulfill his ambitions of becoming a bowler for Indian cricket team. A brother-sister, father-son and a student-teacher drama that takes you on a journey of motivation, emotions, victories and enthralling wickets.
4. The Fighter (2010) – A true story of boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward’s unlikely rise through the ranks of the WBU (World Boxing Union) light-welterweight title. Mickey’s story would have been a conventional sports film if not the presence of his half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainerWhose life was screwed up by crack addiction and the pretty crimes associated with that life. A heart wrenching performance by Christian Bale of a drug addict Dicky Eklund makes it a worth-while watch.
5. Dangal (2016) – Former Wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, is willing to win a Gold medal for India once in his lifetime and so he trains his two daughters Geeta and Babita Sigh Phogat into wrestling. Despite being groomed into manners of a typical Indian village, Geeta and Babita fight the narrow mindset of the society, arena of male wrestlers, their fears, their egos and their losses just to fulfill their father’s desire. This film broke all the box office records and gave women’s wrestling people’s glance. Watch out for Amir Khan’s performance of a strict yet a tender father cum wrestler in this father-daughter struggle saga.
6. Lagaan (2001) – Ever thought playing cricket to get freedom? Yes, Bhuvan (Amir Khan) decides to challenge the Britishers in a game of cricket to free him and the rest of the villagers from paying double Lagaan(tax), already imposed by Jack Russel and his British goons. This is the story of resilience shown by the Indians when they were under the British Rule. This film was an official entry to Oscars, so it is clear to visualize in what scale the film was made and what impact the film would have given to the world and to the game of cricket.
7. Creed (2015) – A spin-off and sequel to Rocky series. The film focuses on Adonis Johnson (Michael B Jordan), son of Apollo Creed, who died in Rocky IV, decides to step into his father’s shoes and follow his legacy but he does fall short. Before his bone and self-confidence breaks, enters Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), his father old friend and rival and mentors Adonis and together they hope to get a tittle job to face even deadlier opponents than his father. An impressive direction and story by Ryan Coogler, this film surprised everyone with its aesthetic and a nomination at the Oscars. If you lack a bone to stand up, watch this flick and tell yourself, I am worth the fight.
8. Warrior (2011) – Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy), haunted by a tragic past, enlist his father, his former coach, to train him for an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Tournament awarding the biggest prize in the history of MMA. While Brenden Conlon (Joel Edgerton), Tommy’s elder brother, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a school teacher, decides to step in ring once again to provide for his family. An estranged past that keeps Brendon raging against his brother Tommy and his father must now confront forces that tore them apart. Who will win? A brother? Or a Warrior? The Oscar nominated film showcased MMA in such way that you won’t mind dropping a few drop of blood but rather kick some ass.
9. Karate Kid (2010) – 12-year-old Dre Parker has moved to China and finds himself like a fish out of water. He befriends a fellow classmate, Mei Ying, only to make a rival, Cheng, who starts to bully and attack Dre. Soon, Mr Han, the maintenance man of Dre’s apartment, fends off Cheng and his friends when they are attacking Dre and signs Dre up to fight in the Kung Fu tournament in return for the bullies laying-off of Dre. Dre realizes Mr. Han is much more than a maintenance man, when he’s revealed as a master of Kung Fu and Dre soon learns that Kung Fu is about self-defence and peace, instead of violence and bloodshed. Watch out for the climax.
