The idea of cinema is one of the most idealistic, visionary movements, which humanity has been able to convey. Whilst before the moving picture could come to be, people would convey stories through theatre, books, or music, but one could agree that the advent of the film brought one a way to convey the story in its rawest form.
Cinema: Transporting Messages, Themes, and Character
It’s a form of entertainment that one can’t really get anywhere else, one which is its own unique experience. An experience different from what one can find in a song, or a book, it is a delivery of emotion through situations that you can see right on the screen itself.
From dealing with pressing issues such as Drug Abuse in films such as Trainspotting, or detailing the life and times of some of the world’s most prominent figures, in biopics such as Jackie, The King’s Speech, and the recently released blonde, or delivering over-the-top action films to keep the audience enraptured, such as The Matrix, Die Hard and John Wick.
One of the most popular genres in the film, however, is those relating to sports. There exists a multitude of movies that have a sport as their main plot point and deliver their message through the use of different sporting games. But where does their popularity stem from?
This article will be detailing some of the main reasons why sports-related movies still retain a strong degree of popularity today.
Films In Relation To The Sports Betting Market
The sports betting market is as versatile as it is volatile, being affected heavily by a number of factors. Films are one of these factors which may affect the sports betting industry, as a popular sports film may generate hype and may cause people to flock to some of the best betting sites on the market, to bet on the sport in question.
Relatability
One reason why people love sports-based films is that they usually give the viewer a character to who they can usually relate. An underdog so to speak, one who starts the film off at a low point, and sees them progress not only within the sport but as characters and as people.
Two of the biggest franchises which have done this throughout the decades and which have stood on their own two feet as a result of this are the Rocky Balboa/Creed Films, and The Karate Kid/Cobra Kai series. These film series all provide the viewer with relatable protagonists who go against the odds to reach their goals in their respective sports.
The Rocky films, present the titular protagonist as a lower-class, down-on-his-luck loan shark who tries his luck at boxing, and ends up going to great lengths to defeat a number of tough as-nails opponents, from the flamboyant Apollo Creed, the Bloodthirsty Clubber Lang, and “Siberian Express” Ivan Drago, with each film showing him averting the odds.
The sequel film, known as Creed, gives us a similar protagonist, the illegitimate son of Rocky’s Enemy-Turned-Friend Apollo Creed, as he deals with his complicated family dynamic, the possibility of becoming a father, and in the sporting ring, even having to face the man who led to the death of his own father, all under the mentorship of an older, more seasoned Rocky.
The Karate Kid films have been designed to resonate more with the younger audience, with the protagonist, Daniel, being a fish-out-of-water adolescent, who moves to California and falls into a rivalry with a number of characters. The films portray him at his lowest, yet always show him beating his antagonists, with each film developing his character more and more.
The sequel series, known as Cobra Kai, continues to develop this notion, bringing back a variety of the original characters, as well as a plethora of new characters, and lets us, the viewers see them grow, through major character arcs, and organic storytelling.
The primary point that I’m trying to make here is that these movies have a connection to individuals of all ages and stages of life, from teenagers to adults, by providing us with human characters to whom we can identify, and see grow.
Instilling Values Within Its Viewers, Through Characters
Some of the most impactful movies in regard to sports, sometimes put sports on the back burner to tell a story about characters who throughout the films, grow as characters to go against the odds. With these apparent character growths, the viewers gain a number of values and not only learn them, but gain a first-hand view of them.
In the 2009 film, Coach Carter executes this perfectly, by portraying a team of disgruntled, delinquent, yet highly talented high school basketball players, who are taken under the wing of the titular Kevin Carter, played expertly by Samuel L. Jackson. Throughout the film, Carter displays strict, yet fair conditions for his team, such as making them hold their education to a certain standard, showing respect when it is given to them, and most importantly, working as a unit, rather than as individuals.
Throughout the film, the characters progress through their passion for the game, and through carter’s leadership, and when watching this, the viewer would see these characters change for the better, but what they’re also doing is seeing the message of the film, understanding it, and giving them the capacity to include it within their own life.
The values of the film can influence the viewer and as a result, give them an organic blueprint on how to attain certain goals. One of the stand-out quotes within the film itself is “Winning in here, means winning out there”, which does not only apply to the characters but to the viewer themselves.
