American Flyers is on NBC Sports right now
06-10-12, 11:27 PM
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I own it. Better than a lot of movies, and at least it's about cycling.
06-10-12, 11:37 PM
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I actually have a copy, too. It's on a 2 movie disc with Breaking Away, but I've never managed to watch it.
But I have watched Rae Dawn's wheel change on you tube about 1000 times.
But I have watched Rae Dawn's wheel change on you tube about 1000 times.
06-13-12, 01:26 PM
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The wheel change might have been the best part of the movie. I'm actually glad I wasted two hours last night watching it, so now I can silently nod my head in honest agreement whenever someone posts about how bad it was.
06-13-12, 01:33 PM
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It was a different time, man. Rae Dawn must be in her 50s now. Lots of things have changed.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 06-13-12 at 01:34 PM. Reason: Add a thought
06-13-12, 01:53 PM
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Are you kidding? It's great. It shows realistically how as an amateur racer you can just sign up for the same race as the 7-11 guys and some olympic champions, and if you have the natural talent and a good heart, you can win.
06-13-12, 01:57 PM
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06-13-12, 03:01 PM
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Thought it would be better. I'll never get that time back.
06-13-12, 03:07 PM
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American Flyers is one of those movies that's so bad its good. Lot of fun one liners to throw around in group rides. (Up Dave, up.... 
)
Best cycling movie? Hmmm - maybe Breaking Away?
)Best cycling movie? Hmmm - maybe Breaking Away?
06-13-12, 04:09 PM
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I see Breaking Away being just as cheesy as American Flyers. I enjoy both, though. I just watch them with the understanding of what they are. In reality, you can take many movies from that time frame and get a similar quality. It's pretty consistent with the level of movies then.
06-13-12, 04:50 PM
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06-13-12, 04:52 PM
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06-13-12, 05:48 PM
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I see Breaking Away being just as cheesy as American Flyers. I enjoy both, though. I just watch them with the understanding of what they are. In reality, you can take many movies from that time frame and get a similar quality. It's pretty consistent with the level of movies then.
Btw, I liked American Flyers for the cycling, but mainly for the cheesy awesomeness. I found myself laughing at, what I'm sure were, all the wrong places.
06-13-12, 10:49 PM
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06-13-12, 11:05 PM
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LOL, +1, 'post of the year'.
06-15-12, 07:00 AM
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I see Breaking Away being just as cheesy as American Flyers. I enjoy both, though. I just watch them with the understanding of what they are. In reality, you can take many movies from that time frame and get a similar quality. It's pretty consistent with the level of movies then.
Last edited by roadwarrior; 06-15-12 at 07:11 AM.
06-15-12, 07:59 AM
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i had heard about american flyers for years, but never saw it until nbc started running it this past week. i watched the opening scene and bust out laughing. why is this guy wearing a cowboy hat and riding a bike and what was the deal with that awkward interaction between the cyclist and the guy that got splashed with water? bizarre. i made it a little further before having to change the channel.
06-15-12, 10:18 AM
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I have always wondered whether Costner was a cyclist (on the side/hobby) or whether he only rode for this movie.
I think my favorite thing is how they (brothers) can be flying along at horse galloping speed but then the closeup shot of the rear cassette (same they use entire movie) and they are in hill climb crawl gear, always with room to shift down..."Oldest trick in the book!" Lol....wow.
Just the same, given the sheer lack of cycling movies of any type (or time) I enjoy seeing this pair of old flicks (along with BA, who incidentally was the same director IIRC)
I think my favorite thing is how they (brothers) can be flying along at horse galloping speed but then the closeup shot of the rear cassette (same they use entire movie) and they are in hill climb crawl gear, always with room to shift down..."Oldest trick in the book!" Lol....wow.
Just the same, given the sheer lack of cycling movies of any type (or time) I enjoy seeing this pair of old flicks (along with BA, who incidentally was the same director IIRC)
06-15-12, 11:15 AM
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Ha ha..I understand exactly what Breaking Away is and love it. That doesn't make it a good movie, and the movie is chock full of cheese. A better sign of a good movie is when anyone can watch it and enjoy it a great deal without being interested in the subject that much. Non-cyclists view these movies much worse than we do.
06-15-12, 11:33 AM
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Ha ha..I understand exactly what Breaking Away is and love it. That doesn't make it a good movie, and the movie is chock full of cheese. A better sign of a good movie is when anyone can watch it and enjoy it a great deal without being interested in the subject that much. Non-cyclists view these movies much worse than we do.
06-15-12, 01:10 PM
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I'm open ears to what it is all about, then. Please, enlighten us all.
06-17-12, 04:31 AM
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It still cracks me up to see Daniel Stern way back then.
"That's OK Cyril...I understand..."
I was in the bike racing aprt of the movie...it was fun to see what was a small budget film with young actors like Dennis Quaid and Stern and how it all turned out. Some only see the edited version. There's a whole scene where Mr. Ray Stoller takes Dave to the limestone quarry.
This was Stern's first film ever.
Hart Bochner (Rod,the swimmer) was also Harry Ellis in Die Hard ("Hans...bubby...I'myour white knight).
Last edited by roadwarrior; 06-17-12 at 04:35 AM.
06-17-12, 04:31 AM
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Ha ha..I understand exactly what Breaking Away is and love it. That doesn't make it a good movie, and the movie is chock full of cheese. A better sign of a good movie is when anyone can watch it and enjoy it a great deal without being interested in the subject that much. Non-cyclists view these movies much worse than we do.
I also know the guy upon which the Dave Stoller character was based.