Ladies & gentlemen, hope you all enjoyed your weekend! Well, here’s to another week, eh? Well, today, we are diving into the Wonderful World Of Disney for the second to last time for a while. Oh, but this is not your ordinary Disney film. The very film that we are reviewing today most likely became somewhat, if not fully, revolutionary for the Disney company. The reason why is because this film is based on real life events from many years ago. Because of this film’s success, this movie began it’s own library of other films that were based on real life events, namely events involving sports. Movies that were included in this library were films like The Rookie, Invincible, Secretariat, and McFarland, USA to name a few. Presenting to you guys, the very first of this group of Disney films, Remember The Titans!
Plot: The story is set in West Virginia, in 1971. Of course this was a time when racism was rather prevalent in the US, particularly in the South. During this time, two coaches that are from two completely different ethnic backgrounds by the name of Bill Yoast (Will Patton), and Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) form a football team together that consists of white football players, and black ones working together. Did these teams succeed in their willingness to not only play football together, but also to work together as a team in the end?
Okay, first off, I must confess that I was originally planning to review this film for my 350th film review earlier this year. However, as I’m sure many of you may know, because of Easter coming around at the time, I decided to change plans, and review Passion Of The Christ instead. Then, I thought about saving Remember The Titans for my 400th review. However, because of the times that we’re living in now, and this film being relevant to even today, I decided to go ahead and review this film sooner rather than later, and give the 400th review to a different film review. Man, after rewatching this film recently, much like 1994’s Iron Will, I was surprised by how thought-provoking, and inspiring this film was in the end. To begin, let me ask you guys something! If you were to think of a Disney movie, many of you would probably think about animated films like Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, or The Lion King, or even live-action films such as Mary Poppins, or Jungle 2 Jungle, would you not? If many of you said yes to that question, then let me ask you guys something else! If you guys were honest with yourselves, how many of you would also think of films like Remember The Titans, or The Rookie when thinking about, or talking about a Disney movie? My guess is maybe not quite as many of you, am I right? Please correct me if I’m wrong about that. Now why do I bring this up, you may be wondering? Well, the reason that I do so is because of how, unlike possibly many other films that were animated, or live-action that were made by Disney before this film, Remember The Titans is most likely one of the most mature, and more adult films in the overall Disney film library. Here is a true story about a time in the US when, especially in the southern states, our nation was dealing with issues like racism, segregation, bigotry, and quite a few other topics that didn’t really seem to be tackled in a family film to this extent. That is, at least not at this point in time. Not only that, but for a family film like this, there are some areas of this film that could have easily been sugarcoated. And yet, that was not the case. As a matter of fact, you have some of the most intense, and possibly scariest moments in this film ever that, let’s just say that you’re more than likely to see in a PG-13, or even R-rated movie rather than in just a PG-rated one. Okay, am I saying that Remember The Titans should have been given either of those more mature ratings? No, absolutely not. However, what I am saying is that that’s how bold Disney was to step out of their more kid-friendly comfort zone. Oh yes, there is still some kid/family friendliness in this film. It’s just that this film does an excellent job of being so bold of being mature by really capturing what life was like back in the 1970s. It’s also great to hear some Christian references here and there like a Bible verse from Isaiah with those trusting in the Lord soaring high on wings like eagles, “Amazing Grace” briefly being heard, and things like that. Now, is it possible that this film may have still left out some Christian aspects from this film? Perhaps! However, if that was the case, at least it wasn’t like with the Tolkien movie (which was made by Warner Bros., not Disney) from last year, in which all the aspects of Christianity, or Tolkien’s faith, were cut out period. At least here, Remember The Titans keeps in some of the Christian aspects. Additionally, Will Patton, and Denzel Washington have some of the most superb acting. In fact, you can tell that they were doing their best to immerse themselves in this movie, especially Denzel Washington. The rest of the cast is great too, from Craig Kirkwood, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, and everyone who lent their roles to their respective characters. As for the characters themselves, these are most definitely some of the most genuine, and sincere characters that you could see in a film, Disney or not. They’re also as real as can be. Now that’s great writing there. Finally, Remember The Titans has one of the best themes ever about how we need to come together, and have respect for each other. Much like with the theme from Johnny Tsunami about learning to embrace, Remember The Titans is excellent with expressing the message about how we need to truly come together, set aside our differences, and have respect for each other, regardless of our skin color, our religious beliefs, and/or whatever else.
And that, my friends, is my review for the 2000 Disney film, Remember The Titans. This film is such an awe-inspiring film that is so well done. It does a fantastic job with not sugar-coating things, at least not by much, if at all. It does well with showing life as it truly was back in the 1970s, develops it’s characters well, and has some of the most timeless messages that you could see in any film period. If you are one of those rare to few people who has not seen this movie yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? It is such a great film. Also, we must be grateful for the fact that Remember The Titans was basically the Snow White, or Toy Story of love-action Disney films like these that started a string of other Disney films that were based on true stories like The Rookie, Miracle, and McFarland, USA to name a few. Too bad that this seemed to only last for a little over a decade, and we may not see films like these for a while, ever again! Well, at least we have memorable movies like this one that can be remembered for generations to come!
Final Grade: A+
P.S. Happy 20th anniversary to Remember The Titans come September 29th of this year!
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 