Everybody's a critic - 'Miracle'

Four stars (out of four)

"Miracle" is an exceptional movie about a heroic moment in history. This movie leads you through the highly emotional but true story of the USA's glory ride to the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics.

From the opening credits, the emotions of the movie begin to reel you in. The backdrop is set with the Cold War, gas rationing, Watergate, inflation, and skyrocketing interest rates. Americans needed something to rally behind. The Olympic hockey team beating the Soviets in hockey was the last thing anyone thought would unite a country.

Kurt Russell (Herb Brooks) puts in a gripping performance. The lack of other star power only enhances the fact that the players were a group of unknowns and unlikely heroes. I found myself on the edge of my seat, intently watching the drama unfold.

This is the best 135 minutes of storytelling that I have seen in a long time. Feel free to take the entire family to see this movie. My only guess is that this movie didn't get a G rating due to the "violence" of the hockey scenes.

- Anson Rinesmith, Internet operations manager

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Four stars (out of four)

Hockey fan or not, you've got to see this movie. "Miracle" is the story of how the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team upset the seemingly invincible Soviet Union squad to capture the gold medal. Kurt Russell does an incredible job as coach Herb Brooks, who puts together a squad of amateurs and teaches them how to excel at European-style hockey, and more importantly, how to be a team.

"Miracle" is a very authentic, realistic sports movie. They used real hockey players and taught them to act instead of the other way around. It took 24 years to make this movie, but Disney got it right -- they pegged everything from the historical/cultural setting right down to the details of every hockey pass, shot and save. It was a terrific movie that was very faithful to the actual events, yet didn't add all the Hollywood drama that the studios sometimes think they need to add.

- Mike Shupert, minister

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Four stars (out of four)

The Olympics happen ever four years as we all know, and each one has tense moments when we are all pulling for the U.S. team. 1980 was the year that the U.S. hockey team beat the undefeated USSR team to win the gold.

Disney's latest hockey film, that is if you are counting the "Mighty Duck" films, focuses on this triumphant time during the Cold War. Kurt Russell stars as coach Herb Brooks and delivers an excellent performance. With a nice blend of sports action and drama, "Miracle" is a great film that is well worth the time and money spent to go see it. For anyone who remembers the 1980 Olympics or just somebody that wants to see a good movie about the underdog trying to do the impossible, "Miracle" will deliver and leave you smiling and wanting to see it again.

- Key-V Williams, psychiatric aide