I try to keep the content on each of my blogs unique, but I am submitting a post from one of my movie reviews today since the movie related to health and fitness.Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a documentary about steroid use in the United States. The director is Chris Bell and he explains how disenchanted he became when he realized that most of his role models and heroes were "on the juice." I related to his experience since I looked up to many of the same athletes and movie stars when I was younger. This movie features Hulk Hogan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Barry Bonds, Carl Lewis, and many others who have been idolized by society yet accused of steroid use.
Bell interviews Olympians, professional athletes, movie stars, power lifters, models, high school students, body builders, Air Force pilots, the most prolific steroid abuser of all time, and even features his own family member's struggle with steroids. This movie gives time to both sides of the issue and addresses the different reasons why people use anabolic steroids. Aside from obvious strength and size issues these include enhanced performance, improved appearance, quicker recovery, self confidence, and in several cases legitimate health benefits.
This documentary takes an honest look at this issue as it exposes those who have used steroids, but surprisingly by the end of the movie I didn't feel steroids were as much of a danger as I previously had. The proponents of steroid use make many valid points that deserve some attention. Seeing these different viewpoints made me rethink my opinion behind the controversy. Was this documentary a wolf in sheep's clothing that is actually promoting steroid use? I'm still not sure but I loved it.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster does much more than blow the whistle on steroid users. It analyzes the ethical issue while pointing out the hypocrisy and double standards in American culture. This film was very entertaining and it made me think which is something that few movies do. I highly recommend it and give it 7.8 out of 10 stars.
1 comment:
What a movie! I loved it and learned so much from it. I especially liked the bit where he was talking about anual deaths due to abuse. Alcohol had something like 4000 where as steroids had 3. Kinda puts it into perspective a little.
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