Battle Athletes

The Cutting Edge - Gold Medal Edition

As far as ice-skating movies go (or those that prominently feature the cold-bladed sport), this romantic movie is one of the best, thanks to utterly charming performances by underrated actors D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly. The couple play, respectively, a washed-up hockey player and a prima-donna skater who end up in doubles figure skating together at the Winter Olympics. Of course, the mismatched pair fall in love. In between, there's a lot of verbal sparring, talk of toe picks, and surprisingly skillful directing by Paul Michael Glaser (Kazaam, The Air Up There). Direction here is critical--unlike in Flashdance, where the dancing was done in the shadows, face and feet obviously shot separately--and credibly highlights the actors and their professional stand-ins. This is such a fun, sweet story that the facts the film takes liberties with--including the alacrity with which a hockey player takes to Olympic-level figure skating--are easily forgivable. --N.F. Mendoza

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Media Type: DVD
Artist: KELLY/SWEENEY
Title: CUTTING EDGE
Street Release Date: 01/09/2007
Domestic
Genre: DRAMA

The Cutting Edge

As far as ice-skating movies go (or those that prominently feature the cold-bladed sport), this romantic movie is one of the best, thanks to utterly charming performances by underrated actors D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly. The couple play, respectively, a washed-up hockey player and a prima-donna skater who end up in doubles figure skating together at the Winter Olympics. Of course, the mismatched pair fall in love. In between, there's a lot of verbal sparring, talk of toe picks, and surprisingly skillful directing by Paul Michael Glaser (Kazaam, The Air Up There). Direction here is critical--unlike in Flashdance, where the dancing was done in the shadows, face and feet obviously shot separately--and credibly highlights the actors and their professional stand-ins. This is such a fun, sweet story that the facts the film takes liberties with--including the alacrity with which a hockey player takes to Olympic-level figure skating--are easily forgivable. --N.F. Mendoza

Moira Kelly (Dangerous Beauty The West Wing) and D.B. Sweeney (Roommates Memphis Belle) star as polar opposites who unite on the ice for a shot at Olympic gold in this inspirational romantic comedy from acclaimed director Paul M. Glaser (The Running Man). Brimming with wit charm and plenty of breathtaking sports action The Cutting Edge is a real winner!She s a rich and refined pairs figure skater whose prima donna attitude has her skating solo. He s a brash blue-collar hockey champion with a new injury and no future. With nothing in common but their dream of reaching the Olympics Kate and Doug are each other s last resort. Reluctantly they join forces but it s not long before the barbs and sparks start flying as the unlikely pair skate towards the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance at a medal...and a chance at love.System Requirements:Starring: D.B. Sweeney Moira Kelly Roy Dotrice Terry O Quinn Dwier Brown Chris Benson Kevin Peeks and Barry Flatman. Directed By: Paul Michael Glaser. Running Time: 102 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG UPC: 027616857743 Manufacturer No: 1001454

Pat and Mike

Kate plays Pat Pemberton, a college physical education teacher who excels at just about every sport there is. She's also a great athletic competitor, except when her overbearing, worrywart fiancé, Collier Weld, is around. (As Weld, William Ching does an admirable job in a thankless role.) All Pat has to do is see Collier's face on the sidelines and her golf swing loses its power; her tennis game goes haywire. It takes crooked sports manager Mike Conovan (Spencer Tracy, of course) to recognize Pat's outstanding talent. He takes her on as his most important client and handles her with the same loving care that he gives to his favorite racehorse. Naturally, Pat and Mike's relationship is destined to overstep its professional boundaries. The mutual attraction grows from the moment they meet. Watching Pat walk away, Mike comments to his partner, "Not much meat on her, but what's there is 'cherce'."

The film carries a powerful feminist message, especially considering that it was made in the early 1950s: Pat is undone by Collier, who would rather have her stick to being "the little woman" and forget about succeeding. But with Mike in her corner, Pat can have a great career. Her union with him is a true partnership; everything is, as he says, "Five-oh, five-oh." In the end, he's secure enough to be comfortable as "the man behind the woman." The film features terrific comic performances by Aldo Ray as a bone-headed boxer, a young Charles Bronson (before he changed his name from Buchinski) as a small-time gangster, and Our Gang's Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as a high-strung bus boy. --Laura Mirsky

Battle Athletes Victory, Vol. 1: Training

Its the University Satellite entrance exams! Akari Kanzaki must beat the competition in order to make it to the Great University Satellite, where all the best athletes train to have a chance to become the next Cosmic Beauty! Fortunately, good friends and constant practice are a sure remedy for bizarre plots and insane athletic competitions! Contains Episodes 1-4.

Battle Athletes, Vol. 3: Go! [Region 2]

The adventures of teenage girl athletes have been standard fare in manga since the late '60s, with anime following. Battle Athletes is based on a video game set in the year 4999. Promising girls are sent to a special satellite to train to compete for the coveted title of "Cosmic Beauty," a contest that grew out of the settlement of an interplanetary war 1,000 years earlier. The daughter of a former winner, 16-year-old Akari Kanzaki arrives at the satellite hoping to match her mother's performance. "Chronicle Beginning" sets up Akari and the major supporting characters. Akari is assigned to a team with Kris, a confident, spiritual girl from a back-to-nature commune on the moon, and the terminally shy and whiny Anna. Tanya, an ebullient, food-obsessed African girl, lends comic relief and the icy Mylandah supplies heavy-handed villainy. Training begins in earnest in "Oath Entrant," as the girls compete in zero gravity lacrosse matches: Kris plays skillfully, Mylandah cheats, Tanya hollers, Anna snivels. Akari, who's new to the game, is frustrated by her poor showing but eventually learns the importance of teamwork, patience, and friendship. These lessons mix rah-rah innocence with cutthroat competitiveness and suggestions of lesbianism. Despite the presence of genial headmaster Grant Oldman, the girls get very little formal training. They compete against each other and the high-tech machinery, but the animation is too limited to convey running and the other athletic feats convincingly. --Charles Solomon

Battle Athletes - Go! The battle for the title of Cosmo Beauty is on, but this futuristic beauty pageant isn't about cheesecake swimsuit competitions or boring talent shows! At the United Space Sports Academy, the young women compete in full contact sports events that test their strength, skill, agility, and, most importantly, their will to win. The strong character drama of Battle Athletes is interlaced with humor and set in a sci-fi arena to present a celebration of spirited athleticism. Don't miss this exciting conclusion to the OVA series as the treachery of a fellow athlete endangers the competition and Akari is shown the true goal of competition!

Best Ranger

Join the Army's top athletes as they battle dozens of extreme challenges -- and each other -- in a grueling elimination-style athletic tournament. Their bones will break. Their spirits may be crushed. Less than half will even finish. But the promise of yearlong bragging rights -- and an engraved 9mm Beretta for the winning team -- drives them on. This is the ultimate Armed Forces Olympics the Best Ranger Competition.Part 1 Twenty-three two-man Ranger teams descend on Fort Benning Georgia for the start of a taxing three-day competition. As the men prepare for the first day's events -- including marksmanship a spot jump contest and a PT test -- a passionate crowd of family friends and fans gathers to cheer them on. And while each man wants to get off to a fast start the key is to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the competition's 60 continuous hours.Part 2 It's Day Two and the original 23 teams have been whittled down to just a dozen. With the conclusion of the grueling 21-mile road march the men prove their mental acuity in a series of tactical tests including weapons assembly a medical first responder grenade assault course stress shoot and the infamous Prusik climb. But each of these pales in comparison to the second day's final event: the land navigation and night orienteering course.Part 3 The final day of competition is here. After the conclusion of the 12-hour land navigation and night orienteering event the remaining teams take on the sprawling 26-obstacle Darby Queen course. From there it's time to make a splash in the water events -- including the helo cast and water confidence test. Finally the teams put everything they have left into the two-mile buddy run.System Requirements:Running Time: 150 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 014381394122 Manufacturer No: DIS3941DVD

Battle Athletes Victory, Vol. 5: No Looking Back

Akari and her teammates have struggled to win enough events to qualify for the Cosmo Beauty competition, but fortunately, they are finally coming together as a team. Meanwhile Lahri, the reigning Cosmo Beauty, crushes Jessie, Akar's old rival, during the competition! Jessie's body can take the punishment, but can her spirit? Not everyone can make it to the next level, so there is no time for regrets!

Battle Athletes Victory, Vol. 7: The Last Dance

The broadcast version of the adventures of champion athlete/Cosmo Beauty winner Akari reach their conclusion in these episodes. The Nerilians, the evil aliens mentioned at the beginning of the series, suddenly arrive. This gang of interstellar warriors challenges the inhabitants of other planets to athletic contests, then enslaves them when they lose. Headmaster Grant Oldham persuades Akari to reenter competition to save the Earth; together they recruit the other Cosmo Beauty competitors--Ichan, Jessie, Kris, Lahrrie, Mylandah, Tanya--to form a special team, with Mr. Miracle as their trainer.

Although the Nerilians are half-human, half-machine hybrids, the Earth girls hold their own in the initial events. The plot takes a decidedly weird turn when the aliens bring Akari's mother, legendary Cosmo Beauty Tomoe Midoh, back from the dead--as a 17-year-old! Akari must face her mother in the final race, the 4,000-meter relay. Naturally, she comes from behind to win the day for humanity.

With her racing days behind her, Akari settles into life on Earth with a reborn mother her own age and Mr. Miracle, who turns out to be her father, Daizaemon Kanzaki. His morning newspaper announces the mysterious disappearance of Oldham, so a sequel may already be in works. (Ages 13 and older, due to minor violence and suggestions of lesbian relationships) --Charles Solomon

Cosmo Beauty Showdown! Lahrri's mechanized training method gives her a perfectly consistent performance which is quite the opposite of Mylandah's method of unleashing her awesome rage. However, both of them enjoy a comfortable lead over Akari and Chris in the semi-finals. Fortunately, Chris reminds Akari to relax and to try harder, so they renew their efforts. With this new confidence, their skills improve drastically and they experience a resurgence! The winners will face the final event - the 100 meter dash. Who will claim the final crown?

Battle Athletes Victory #2: Doubt and Conflict

Akari can't handle the pressure! Her mother's record setting legacy is a crushing burden, so when Akari is humiliated by Jessie in a race, she folds and resigns from school. However, Itchan refuses to let her friend give up! Can Akari handle the truth when it is thrown in her face?

Battle Athletes Victory #3: Tragedy & Triumph

There can be only three! Nearly 200 girls attend the athletic prep-school with hopes to attend the University Satelite Sports Academy, but with only a trio of openings, the competition is brutal! Ichi-chan had been training Akari for the final event, the triathalon, but Jessie and Ayla are clear favorites - leaving only one position open! With Ichan gone, Akari flounders and cannot focus on the goal - who will step up to the challenge?!