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Goal! [2005]
![Goal! [2005]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NGS8D2E3L._SL160_.jpg)
It wouldn’t be much of a film if he chose the former, and truthfully, you’ll not find too many surprises where Goal is concerned. It sticks fairly rigidly to the sporting movie template that’s been set down since the days of Rocky, and, given that this is the first in a trilogy, it’s hardly surprising that it doesn’t take too many risks. And yet, as a piece of entertainment, it works absolutely fine. From the suitably convincing football action, the inevitable distractions of a footballer’s life and unintentionally hilarious cameos from the likes of David Beckham, Goal is fun, pure and simple. The trailer for the sequel, included on the DVD, promises even more of the same. Bring it on…--Simon Brew
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £4.83 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Within a matter of minutes, you know how this one’s going to play out. Goal tells the tale of Santiago Nunez, a Mexican living in Los Angeles. His family are poor, his father has ideas for what he wants him to do, and yet he has an incredible football talent. So when a British scout sees him play, and cobbles together a trial for him at Newcastle United, he has to choose between his father’s plans and the chance to play football thousands of miles away.
THE BEST IN THE FRANCHISE
Review date: 2007-09-29 Rating: 8 out of 10
GOAL...WHAT A GOAL BY SANTIAGO MUNEZ,OH WHAT A WICKED PLAYER HE IS WISH HE WAS REAL FOOTBALLER,IF HE WAS REAL NEWCASTLE WOULD WIN THE PREM AND I AINT CHATTIN,I HAVE WATCHED BOTH GOAL AND GOAL 2 AND TO BE HONEST...GOAL IS THE BEST BETTER THEN GOAL 2 BY A LITTLEBIT
Similar Products
- Goal 2 - Living The Dream [2007]
- Goal! 2
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- Hot Fuzz [2007]
- Music and Lyrics [2007]
Reviews
I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD THIS IS
Review date: 2007-08-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
G-G-GOAL!!! I'm so pleased that there's finally a decent movie about soccer, a sport which for the longest time, doesn't seem to get movie producers excited to put out on screen. Having FIFA sanction this film means getting some realism injected, and lending to the authenticity of is the English Premier League club Newcastle United, together with a host of real life soccer superstars like Beckham, Zidane and Raul.
While the settings and the game results are real, we follow the fictional story of an illegal Mexican immigrant to Los Angeles, Santiago Munez, street footballer extrodinaire. He gets his lucky break when an ex-Newcastle United player turned scout, Glen Foy, chances upon his games, and invites him over to England for trials.
For a guy who's struggling to make ends meet, this presents the perfect opportunity to take a stab at his dream. But tension builds as his father disapproves and is skeptical at both the chance as well as his son's gift to make it big. So he leaves his real dad and family behind, to follow in the footsteps of Foy, his surrogate father in England.
The highlight of the movie is not the real football games that the actors get seamlessly transplanted onto, but rather the many trials and tribulations that Munez goes through to earn his rightful place in the squad. His disastrous first appearance almost made him take the first plane home, and I'd bet many in the audience thought it would be a breeze actually for him to make it to first team. Thankfully, the focus was on his sheer determination to overcome the lack of niceties towards newcomer rookies like himself, and the difficulties and temptations which fill his 30 days trial that Foy literally begged for.
What you read in the papers of the decadent lifestyle of footballers are all in here - the booze, the parties, the clubbing, the women, even video games (taking a stab at David James maybe?). Munez gets introduced to these by fellow teammate and cocky new German acquisition Gavin Harris, whose partying lifestyle takes a toll on his game, and becomes the Toon Army's boo-boy. It's fantastic how these two characters contrast each other, and help each other along the way.
For non-fans of the beautiful game, fear not, you're not gonna be alienated in this movie, as it doesn't sink into technicalities like the dreaded offside rule. You'll enjoy the movie simply because of the strong human drama weaved into the story, as well as the familiarity of easily identifiable themes of hard work, right ethics, living your dreams and fulfilling your aspirations.
Newcastle fans however, will rejoice, as the hallowed grounds of St James Park gets put on the silver screen. For fans without the opportunity of visiting their beloved club, they can gawk at the dressing room, the gym, the dugout, the pitch up close, the city neighbourhood, and "mingle" with fellow fanatical Geordies. Club captain Alan Shearer makes appearances too, as do the many other first team players. But the screen version of the club manager looks uncannily modelled after Arsenal's Arsene Wenger. Fans of Fulham, Chelsea and Liverpool can also see their heroes on screen as well.
Santiago Munez is played by a relative newcomer, Mexican actor Kuno Becker, who was put on real soccer training to improve his skills and make him look credible and natural with the ball at his feet. At certain angles with his short crop, he looks like Michael Owen, who now is playing for Newcastle (he wasn't when this movie was filmed).
I so dig the soundtrack, especially the guitar piece which opened the movie, and track from the trailer which also made its way into the movie - Kasabian's Club Foot, and various pieces by Brit-band Oasis. A pity it's only out in the stores on October 16 (based on Amazon), but I'll be there to pick it up when it hit the shelves.
The ending, even though it wrapped up all the pieces nicely, is a bit abrupt, but I guess it would lead directly into the planned sequels of a trilogy, which involve Real Madrid and the World Cup. This is one movie which can spark someone's interest in soccer, and I'd recommend it to both fans and non-fans alike. Don't let this movie dribble past you!
scores highly
Review date: 2007-04-13 Rating: 10 out of 10
A great film for any football fan (especially if you support Newcastle United). The whole family enjoyed this very entertaining film with plenty of footie action, a rags to riches storyline & a touch of romance.
Much better than I thought it would be
Review date: 2006-10-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
I wasn't expecting a great deal from "Goal!"; the title sounds a bit naff and the football movie hardly has a glittering and proud heritage. Actually when you look at it there haven't actually been too many films about the great game itself; "Bend It Like Beckham" was really a romantic comedy, "Green Street", "Football Factory", "ID", The Firm" about hooligans and the likes of "Shaolin Soccer" and "Escape to Victory" more parodies of other genres. So, probably "Goal" can only be compared to two films that I can think of, the execrable "When Saturday Comes" and the brilliant "There's Only One Jimmy Grimble" - happily "Goal" is almost as much a success as the latter. The film treads familiar turf; a genius without a penny is discovered by a mentor with something to prove and everything ends up rosy, fortunately the road to rosy is pretty well realised and surprisingly enthralling with good performances almost wherever you look (except Sean Pertwee - oh gawd why?!!). It helps that there is some realism injected into the proceedings with a Premiership club involved in making of the film (the fictional success here must taste slightly unreal to the average Newcastle United fan) and a host of genuine Galactacos giving slightly embarrassed cameos (Zidane, Raul, a weirdly plastic looking Beckham and the 2004/5 Newcastle squad). Other positives include a bouncing rocky soundtrack (Oasis feature heavily) and a snappy, humorous script. The only criticism I have is the ending; things get a bit rushed in the last 15 minutes and as a result too many loose ends are tied up either unnecessarily or in an excruciatingly sentimental way, a shame because until then I was well impressed. Apparently "Goal 2: Living The Dream" is imminent and will feature Santiago Nunez transferring to Real Madrid, so more plastic fantastic from Becks, Excellent! Presumably the third film in the trilogy will feature Nunez weighing up whether to play for USA or Mexico, before going on to win the World Cup with one. Fingers crossed its Mekiko. Can't wait.
Wouldn't be in my top 11...
Review date: 2006-08-07 Rating: 6 out of 10
I watched Goal! Knowing partly what to expect - watching the lead character achieve his ultimate dream to play for a top professional football club. (Whether that is Newcastle United remains to be seen?) Naturally one can predict the somewhat obvious twists and turns in the story, the stubborn characters who get in the way, the temptations that reveal themselves, watching the lead role constantly being given more and more last chances to prove himself and so on.
However this is done with a bit more taste than so many other underdog stories and is easy viewing - hence why it gets 3 stars. There are a couple of cameos in the film, David Beckham is appalling - see for yourself! However if you aren't interested in football or soccer (as it is annoyingly referred to on several occasions) you might want to stay well clear.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Alessandro Nivola
Anna Friel
Kuno Becker
Stephen Dillane
Marcel Lures
Creators:
Kuno Becker (Primary Contributor)
Anna Friel (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
EAN: 8717418078553
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-03-06
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)