Without a doubt, most of us take our limbs and our ability to use them for granted. It's not surprising, and probably not something to be ashamed of. The guys who play "Murderball" wouldn't hold it against you, after all, one of them says that he does "more in a wheelchair then he did able-bodied." Still, when we come across someone with a disability, our minds tell us to feel sorry for them and try to help. But the guys in "Murderball" make it clear that they do what they have to do to go about their daily lives, and they won't let their disabilities get the best of them.
This is a solid, and at times powerful (though only in a few spots is it hard to watch), documentary, but it is not a sports movie. Instead it's about how people whose lives are suddenly altered cope with it and overcome the odds to become independent. Sure it deals with Wheelchair Rugby, aka "Murderball" ("It's called 'Murderball,' but you can't really market that to corporate sponsors," jokes one of the players).
It's good about demonstrating how they live their lives, but it doesn't go on for too long about it. The directors seem to be in the same mindset as the men the film is about: we can do the same things you do, we just have to do it a little differently. This is the best aspect of the film because it makes it clear that that is how people with these disabilities want to be seen as: different, but still independent. The part where they discuss having sex when disabled is pretty funny; everyone gets an instructional video (the movie includes some clips), but nothing is graphic enough to warrant the R rating the MPAA gave it. That's a shame, because the film provides a valuable lesson for everyone. I also liked the story about the guy whose accident was very recent, and how he slowly begins to cope.
However, it's awkwardly directed. It gives background into the lives of some of the players, but sometimes it loses focus. Take the Canadian coach, Joe Bishop. He's an interesting person, but since the movie is primarily about the TEAM USA players, spending so much time on him doesn't seem necessary, especially because he doesn't present any information about the topic that we don't (or couldn't) get from someone else. Additionally, some of the dialogue feels scripted, instead of coming naturally. I guess the directors were trying to do too much, which is curious because of the relatively skinny 88 minute running time.
The worst part is the ending. It skims over the big game (that is obviously going to come at the very end-that's a given in a sports movie), and there's no dialogue in one of the most potentially powerful scenes, when Mark Zupan meets up with the guy who drove the car that paralyzed him. At this point I felt sort of gypped.
Still, it's a great movie, and a valuable learning experience for all.
This is a solid, and at times powerful (though only in a few spots is it hard to watch), documentary, but it is not a sports movie. Instead it's about how people whose lives are suddenly altered cope with it and overcome the odds to become independent. Sure it deals with Wheelchair Rugby, aka "Murderball" ("It's called 'Murderball,' but you can't really market that to corporate sponsors," jokes one of the players).
It's good about demonstrating how they live their lives, but it doesn't go on for too long about it. The directors seem to be in the same mindset as the men the film is about: we can do the same things you do, we just have to do it a little differently. This is the best aspect of the film because it makes it clear that that is how people with these disabilities want to be seen as: different, but still independent. The part where they discuss having sex when disabled is pretty funny; everyone gets an instructional video (the movie includes some clips), but nothing is graphic enough to warrant the R rating the MPAA gave it. That's a shame, because the film provides a valuable lesson for everyone. I also liked the story about the guy whose accident was very recent, and how he slowly begins to cope.
However, it's awkwardly directed. It gives background into the lives of some of the players, but sometimes it loses focus. Take the Canadian coach, Joe Bishop. He's an interesting person, but since the movie is primarily about the TEAM USA players, spending so much time on him doesn't seem necessary, especially because he doesn't present any information about the topic that we don't (or couldn't) get from someone else. Additionally, some of the dialogue feels scripted, instead of coming naturally. I guess the directors were trying to do too much, which is curious because of the relatively skinny 88 minute running time.
The worst part is the ending. It skims over the big game (that is obviously going to come at the very end-that's a given in a sports movie), and there's no dialogue in one of the most potentially powerful scenes, when Mark Zupan meets up with the guy who drove the car that paralyzed him. At this point I felt sort of gypped.
Still, it's a great movie, and a valuable learning experience for all.