There are some authenticity issues with this, such as the coach marching with the team at the opening ceremony. I don't think that occurs. Not a bad running/Olympic film though following 4 athletes: -The Brit is seen as he is running whilst delivering milk by a runner at which he is then invited to run for a club. -The Australian sub plot is about some blokes in the outback who see an indigenous person running, realise his fast and race him with the intention to make money. -The Czech/USSR runner is retired but is then pressured to come out of retirement for political superiority as his world record gets broken by Michael Crawford's character. -The American is just a cocky runner played by Ryan O'Neal who doesn't at all have the build to be a marathon runner.

A bit predictable given that you know Matt Damon is a star so is obviously the Private Ryan that they are looking for. So for example, the result from the scene where they tell the other Private Ryan that his brothers had died is foreseen. While they are extremely well done, long war scenes like the couple in this and similar war films also aren't my greatest moments on film.

I'd been meaning to watch this for a long time and it didn't let me down. Ray Allen doesn't do a perfect job as an actor, but at the same time for a basketballer, it is more than admirable. Denzel does his thing and is great in this along with other cast members. The running time has been criticised but a part from a few scenes being too long like the ones involving Milla Jovovich I didn't feel it dragged on too much. The script does a great job of mixing the drama of life with the basketball as well. To cap it off, Public Enemy did an amazing job with the title track.

I was thinking 3/5 for much of this movie, and I felt that I've seen it before, maybe the beginning is similar to one of the other Dirty Harry movies I've seen or I caught this on TV years ago and I don't remember. However, the engaging final 30 minutes earnt it some more.

This whole movie is like 25-30 minutes of lead in setting the plot, and then 60 minutes of non stop action. I'm not sure why it has such a worse rating than the first. I enjoyed both about the same amount. Lots of action and never boring. Those kidnappers do some stupid things though.