🎥 The First Slam Dunk (2022) 🏀㊗️
I am not a huge fan of Japanese anime, and I have never seen an episode of Slam Dunk, although I knew that it was a big name in the sports genre. Furthermore, I am a basketball fan — Go Warriors! — But I don’t know enough about all of their techniques or strategies to be motivated to watch this movie.
I was thrilled about the premiere of The First Slam Dunk on streaming. I had a sense that it would be exceptional, and I was not disappointed. It is truly remarkable.
The film is approximately 120 minutes long and focuses on a match between the college team of Shohoku High School and the talented Sannoh High School, who are currently undefeated champions of the tournament. During four quarters, we learn about Ryota Miyagi, the team’s point guard player, beginnings, struggles, and reasons. Under the shadow of his brother, he joined the team with the goal of being a great basketball player and finding a meaning in his life.
The animation is outstanding, especially in the exciting and detailed gameplay of the match. As the match nears its glorious conclusion, you can feel the ferocity, sweat, anguish, and weight of the plays.
The movie is very emotional and goes beyond sports. It talks about things like family, duty, teamwork, and being determined. It’s a must-have for everybody, not just sports fans. Slam Dunk is a fun and exciting way to learn about basketball.
⭐ 9/10. Netflix.
📺 Welcome to Wrexham (2022-…) ⚽🥅
Wrexham AFC is a Welsh football team that was acquired in 2024 by Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Rob McElhenney (Always Sunny in Philadelphia) with the purpose of supporting the club and the enthusiastic community that surrounds it. The documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham” is already in its third season, and we’re immersed in the incredible journey of the new owners, their members, and their surroundings.
This documentary gives us, in chapters of 30 minutes each, the promotion in the competitive league, its organizational process, team configuration, its challenges, problems, and decisions that come up week after week at the club level. We meet the people who surround the team, the people in town, the fans, the players, and of course, the fun encounter of Hollywood glamour and fame with a more real, challenging, and fresh world.
The experience of Wrexham and its ascendancy through the English Football League captivates us, moves us, and prompts us to join as followers of an intriguing sports bet and an excellent marketing action, where everyone benefits.
⭐ 8/10. Disney+
📺 Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019-…) 🏎️🏁
Years ago, I remember having the impression that there was no sport more boring than Formula 1. In fact, I made fun of people who spent hours watching fast cars do the same lap 60, 70 times to win a race. I got the impression that it didn’t have depth, was considering it monotonous and without enough value to be worth following. All this changed abruptly when I decided to watch “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” The Netflix docuseries.
Right from the start, the series introduced me to the teams, drivers, team leaders, and an environment that I had never considered existed. And in this, a series with intent, of course, in favour of spectacle and drama. In each chapter, it presents us with multiple challenges, friendships, rivalries and a gigantic mix of variables that are influenced by both the technical skill in the operation of the car. If not also in human capacity and unexpected microsecond decisions that drivers constantly make race by race.
However, Formula 1 drivers are superheroes who are not afraid of extreme speed. On the other hand, they are young people who live in a spirit of improvement and constant threat. Competition is everything, and they must be willing to go to the limit to reduce obstacles and show themselves constantly.
Furthermore, I understood that not only does one get excited about the tournament leaders, like Redbull or Mercedes-Benz, but also about the stories of improvement, the simplest teams that have their arcs, challenges, triumphs, and defeats. After watching the series, the experience of watching race after race live is very intense, entertaining, and fascinating.
