Tokyo Olympiad

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Kyle M @RT77296778 Jun 2, 2026 Capitalized on the lingering sensation afterwards at the time with a more intimate coverage than your ordinary broadcast, yet it’s aged more exclusively to those who engage themselves on the Olympics stemmed from their sporting interests. In other words, this lengthier documentary’s only functional, and interesting, insight is the beginning buildup, while the rest glamourizes the symbolism with utter hollowness that melts its purpose. (C+) See more William L @RT77267842 Jan 22, 2021 Olympia gets the lion's share of the credit (and infamy) when it comes to innovative sports documentaries. Belive me when I say that Tokyo Olympiad is head and shoulders above the Riefenstahl films, not only in the added benefit of more than a quarter century of technical innovation, but in its approach to its subject - Ichikawa focuses as much on the atmosphere of the Games, the genuine reactions of the attendees, as he does on the athletes, who he provides with compelling human-interest backstories. Some of the shots are so crisp, they look like they haven't aged a day; check out the wordless pre-fight prep for a young Joe Frazier. Perhaps the most interesting (and entertaining) aspect of Ichikawa's depiction of the games is the tone, at various times serious, uplifting, intense, and sometimes downright comedic; huge props for making fun of racewalking (which had a Monty Python-esque soundtrack over it, and is the dumbest sport ever created). The japanese women's volleyball coach who, after watching his team win gold, looked as if his dog was hit by a car just before the medal match. But it all blends perfectly and makes the runtime fly. The use of slow-motion, freeze-frame, and adding relevant context all were pivotal in establishing the form of sports broadcasting as it is known today. And Ichikawa's financiers made him edit it down to something far more propagandistic and typical. (4.5/5) See more s r @ScottR Nov 11, 2020 1001 movies to see before you die. A time capsule of the Tokyo Olympic a in a very well made format. I'm contrast of the other famous Olympic films, this one has new tales on sport and athletes. Saw on HBO. See more Mar 21, 2013 One of the greatest documentaries ever made. It has all the important elements that go into being an athlete or a spectator in the Olympics. I say IMPORTANT because what Ichikawa's documentary contains is all the gritty suffering, all of the joyous relief, all of the celebration and all of the human solidarity that the Olympics provide. Others are more concerned with records and actual statistics, but that's not at all what the Olympics should be about and Ichikawa masterfully expresses that with beautiful widescreen presentation where every shot seems like a perfectly prepared photograph or painting. It's a truly remarkable feat. See more Jan 4, 2012 Kon Ichikawa perfectly captures the entire 1964 Olympics in all its glory - human spirit comes to fore to give us a glimpse of utopian world peace, every four years. Brilliant narration with the occasional slow mo adds a layer to the biggest sporting event - the Volleyball finals and Marathon are worth watching. See more May 10, 2011 It might be the most influencial sports documentary ever made, but I just couldn't get into it. There was too much narration for me, and I thought looking at athletes competing without any context was dull. I'm not even remotely a sports person, so that could be the problem. See more Read all reviews

Tokyo Olympiad

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