MovieChat Forums > Cool Runnings (1993) Discussion > Disservice to the Germans, etc.

Disservice to the Germans, etc.

posted 9 years ago by NamelessinNewJersey
10 replies | jump to latest

I've always had a soft spot for this film and still can't help smiling over parts of it, in spite of myself. But if it's true what's said in the "trivia" section - that the Jamaican team was actually welcomed with open arms - it seems unacceptable that the movie portrayed rival teams and the Olympic Committee as stodgy, intolerant, and probably racist. If I were German, I'd be furious.

This seems like the kind of thing you couldn't get away with today. If someone were undeservedly portrayed as a villain, there would be an instant social media protest to tell everyone the movie was bunk. In 1993, however... the backlash might have been too slow to really catch on.

Regardless, it seems shameful to paint whole Olympic teams and institutions as bad guys just for dramatic effect. I'd hate to think some people see this as the "historical record," but no doubt many do.

[–] bobbiekaye69 9 years ago

If, in the movie, the Jamaicans had been welcomed by all with open arms, well, then there wouldn't really have been much of a movie, would there?

I intend to live forever.
So far, so good.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

If I were German, I'd be furious.

It's the East German team that you're jumping up and down about and with their record of institutionalized doping across a wide range of sports, before the country reunified, I wouldn't be the slightest bit worried about them being painted as villains. BTW, this is a Disney family film and I think the East Germans were the first to clap the Jamaicans at the end, making them rather pleasant villains. 🐭

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

So besides portraying them as bigots, it's also okay to portray them as doping cheaters, even though there isn't evidence for either? Don't forget there was a real East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics. And even though the characters in the movie were fictional, people might believe that these East-German athletes actually behaved like that in real life. Just like people seem to believe the rest of this movie is completely truthful, which it definitely isn't. These athletes acted like professional sportsmen, there's no need to demonize them.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

... it's also okay to portray them as doping cheaters ...

Well the film didn't portray them as such. Do you actually know what you are talking about? IRL doping in East German sports was rampant.

... even though there isn't evidence for either?

I can't believe anyone would be ignorant enough to make such an uninformed comment.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/east-germanys-forgotten-olympic-doping-6949436 [url] [url]https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/exclusive-shirley-babashoff-breaks-30-year-silence-on-east-germanys-systematic-doping-of-olympians/

http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_frauds_in_sports_history/east_german_womens_swim_team.html?state=stop http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/the-state-sponsored-doping-program/52/

And even though the characters in the movie were fictional, people might believe that these East-German athletes actually behaved like that in real life.

Stiff! Most films have their villains. This time it was the East Germans turn to pull the short straw and I think I said ultimately they made pretty pleasant ones too, this being a family movie.

Just like people seem to believe the rest of this movie is completely truthful ...

Another dopey statement! Where's your researched evidence to allow you to make such a silly claim? Back to the sand pit with you. You need to do more growing up.🐭

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Well the film didn't portray them as such. Do you actually know what you are talking about? IRL doping in East German sports was rampant.

So that's why we should accuse just anybody of using doping? I could just as well accuse the Soviets and Swiss of using doping since they beat the East-German team. I didn't say the movie portayed them as such, but you did do that in your post.

I can't believe anyone would be ignorant enough to make such an uninformed comment.

I don't see the names of the bobsleigh athletes who took part in the 1988 Olympics.

It's not logical or reasonable at all to assert that these athletes can be portrayed as bigoted just because there's a chance that they've used doping. There's no relation between the two.

Most films have their villains.

I don't see how this movie needed a villain. But it would've been different if it wasn't actually based on a true event. There's no evidence whatsoever these East-German athletes were bigoted or disrespectful.

Where's your researched evidence to allow you to make such a silly claim?

The OP's statements for starters. There are also other threads of people who were surprised to find out that this movie is highly fictional.

Back to the sand pit with you. You need to do more growing up.

Yeah, because you're being SOOO mature.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

So that's why we should accuse just anybody of using doping?

What are you talking about now you thickhead? It's an established historical fact that there was rampant institutionalized doping carried out throughout East German sports. LOL! It's light years past the accusation stage. The movie didn't understandably deal with those issues, but they occurred with sickening regularity and therefore IMO, justifies the East Germans being depicted as (mild) villains.

I didn't say the movie portayed them as such ...

Yes you did! I quoted it. It's there unless you go back and try and alter it.

you did do that in your post.

No I didn't. It's not there. You're either feeble-minded, dyslexic, or a poor liar. Likely a bit of everything.

The OP's statements for starters.

... is your researched evidence??? LOL! This post of yours is getting funnier by the sentence. You know, I'd like to ask you how old you are, but I'm not convinced you can count that high.🐭

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

It's an established historical fact that there was rampant institutionalized doping carried out throughout East German sports. LOL!

Yes, very LOL... It is not an established historical fact, however, that the East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics used doping.

but they occurred with sickening regularity and therefore IMO, justifies the East Germans being depicted as (mild) villains.

There is a difference between being a disrespectful bigot and using doping. And again, there is no evidence that the bobsleigh team was using doping. Should we just assume all American cyclists use doping because of Lance Armstrong and his teammates?

Yes you did!

Uhm no, I didn't, it's interesting that you accuse ME of being dyslexic or a liar. In response to your post I asked you:

"So besides portraying them as bigots, it's also okay to portray them as doping cheaters, even though there isn't evidence for either?"

The movie portrays them as bigots, YOU portrayed them as doping cheaters.

No I didn't.

Yes, you did. You brought up the association of these athletes with doping out of nowhere:

"It's the East German team that you're jumping up and down about and with their record of institutionalized doping across a wide range of sports, before the country reunified, I wouldn't be the slightest bit worried about them being painted as villains."

... is your researched evidence??? LOL!

I wasn't aware that this was an academic publication. At least there are posts from the OP and others here for everyone to see. You still haven't provided evidence that the East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics were doping cheaters...LOL!

You know, I'd like to ask you how old you are, but I'm not convinced you can count that high

To use your extremely mature words: LOL!

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

Yes, very LOL...

OMG! It's funny? Institutionalized, state-sponsored drug programs in sport is funny? That says a great deal about your character, or lack thereof.

It is not an established historical fact, however, that the East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics used doping.

Classic straw man argument. I never said that they did.

You brought up the association of these athletes with doping out of nowhere

Out of history actually. You're the one making the no where, no way claims.

You still haven't provided evidence that the East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics were doping cheaters...LOL!

Another straw man produced, as you desperately try to obfuscate. Your concern about the manner in which the East German bob sled team is portrayed in a fictional film is noted as being admirably sycophantic.🐭

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

OMG! It's funny? Institutionalized, state-sponsored drug programs in sport is funny? That says a great deal about your character, or lack thereof.

You apparently thought so...

Classic straw man argument. I never said that they did.

How is that a straw man? The OP mentions the East-German bobsleigh team being portrayed as unfriendly and your response is that it's okay because other East-German athletes used doping. If you're not suggesting they used doping themselves, then why is it fair to judge them for the actions of others?

Out of history actually.

And what did that have to do with the East-German bobsleigh team at the 1988 Olympics? The movie never mentions doping nor were they ever accused of using doping in real life.

Another straw man produced,

Again, how is that a straw man? You say it's okay to portray them as villains because they were part of the East-German team of which other athletes used doping. Why is that okay, if there's no evidence they used doping? Why is it okay to portray them as disrespectful bigots just because they might have used doping?

Your concern about the manner in which the East German bob sled team is portrayed in a fictional film is noted as being admirably sycophantic

How is that sycophantic? Who am I trying to flatter here?

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

I agree with you, OP. It's something that has always annoyed me about this movie. It was totally unnecessary (I completely disagree with the other poster that there wouldn't be much of a movie without such characterizations) and pretty offensive to the real life athletes. And many people seem to believe this movie is a true story, while most of it is actually made up.