ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996 TAG: 9607300119
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GISELLE GOODMAN COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE TELEGRAPH
There are three ways to experience the rush of the Olympics this summer.
No. 1: Win the lottery, buy a plane ticket to Atlanta and pray for a hotel room somewhere in the state of Georgia.
No. 2: Put in a back-yard pool, do your best synchronized swimming routine and have your friends cheer for you. Finish by awarding yourself the gold medal. (Aluminum foil makes a lovely silver medal if you are modest.)
No. 3: This is for the more practical and/or budget-minded type: Rent a movie - specifically one of the many movies that specialize in the tear-jerking, heart-wrenching, conquer-the-world feeling of an Olympic athletic competition, as seen through the eyes of Hollywood.
Even if a movie isn't technically about the Olympics, you can find almost every Olympic event on film, from equestrian to ice-skating. There are even movies about other countries, if you are into the competition.
Most of these movies can be found for $3 or less, depending on where you rent them. Talk about your cheap thrills. Add a bowl of popcorn and a soda and you're still way under the Atlanta budget. You won't have to fight any crowds, either.
Here is a list of just a few thrill-of-victory/agony-of-defeat movies to get your torch burning for the summer games:
* ``American Anthem'' (1986): A somewhat cheesy tale of a gymnast struggling to fulfill his dreams while struggling with bad family problems. True-to-life Olympic gymnast Mitch Gaylord adds his athletic charm to this movie. In the style of most late-'80s B movies, this film is shot with the music-video approach to drama.
* ``American Flyers'' (1985): Two brothers, one who is dying, enter a grueling bicycle race. A sweet movie that leaves the audience rooting for the good guys. The movie stars Kevin Costner in one of his earlier performances.
* ``Chariots of Fire'' (1981-British): Academy Award winner for best picture, this warm, quiet movie jumps into the lives of two extraordinary men who ran in the 1924 Olympics. It is a fascinating, in-depth study about the men, their motives, their struggles and their accomplishments. It's got an unforgettable soundtrack, too.
* ``Cool Runnings'' (1993): Starring the late John Candy, this warm, uplifting film profiles the first and only Jamaican bobsled team. The team is composed of four witty and personable would-be runners who fight their way from the sands of Jamaica to the snows of the 1988 Winter Olympics. No snow in Jamaica? ... No problem!
* ``Ice Castles'' (1979): One of the better known and more dramatic Olympic-style movies, this film is the story of an Iowa farm girl and her skating career. Blinded by a freak accident, the girl struggles to get back on the ice. It comes complete with a love story, too.
* ``The Jericho Mile'' (1979): A prison lifer works at becoming the fastest runner in the world and aims for a spot on the Olympic team - all while trapped behind bars. The film is offbeat and gritty but thoughtful.
* ``National Velvet'' (1944): Starring the dazzling Elizabeth Taylor and her sweet sidekick, Mickey Rooney, this is a must-see for any horse lover. It is an outstanding family film about a girl who is determined to enter her horse in an Olympic-style event. You'll walk away teary-eyed, thrilled and ready to build yourself a brand new barn for that horse you now simply must buy.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor star in the 1944by CNBclassic ``National Velvet.''