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Why I saw this movie

I saw this movie for 1 reason: Russell Crowe. Not only can he act, he's my age & he's gorgeous! This movie was not the best ever made, but it was fair better than most critics said it was.

A melting pot of love, drama, and most impotant, HOCKEY!

This film has something for everyone. This story of the Saturday Game in the small town of Mystery, AK unfolds into a wonderful story, not just of a pond-hockey team playing against the New York Rangers, but of the pride of an entire town. It is full of light hearted humor, but this movie is no joke. You become a citizen of Mystery as you not only laugh, but also cry and of course, cheer. Mystery Alaska has enough hockey to keep any sports fan entertained. The movie also has plenty of action and drama to please the crowd that asks "Wayne who?" It truely is a movie for all. If you are a hockey fan, I am here to tell you, this is the new "Slap Shot".

Hockey is greatly portrayed in this Movie.

this is the best sports u have and will ever see. It is mixed comedy, drama, romance, and plenty of action for the sports players.

Funny, Sentimental Rocky-esque feeling Movie

This is an excellent movie for just about everyone. Men will love it for the testosterone driven hockey action, and women will love it for...well, the testosterone. Lot's of good lookin' fellas in this one! Especially a yummy looking Russell Crowe. Besides that, it's a wonderful story that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling (in more ways than one!) I really enjoyed it and I will watch it over and over again when it comes out on video.

see this to restore your faith in D. Kelly after Lake Placid

after seeing lake placid, i was weary about trying another one of his featured films. However, I was pleaasnatly surprised. I actually really cared about the characters and to see the NY Rangers fly in by helicopter was a great and cool scene. The ending was great although unexpected. Worth a rental!

Likeable but overly long

This is a likeable film using the hackneyed "obscure underdog" storyline. David E. Kelley tries his hand at writing another feature film after the bizarre `Lake Placid'. This is certainly better than that abomination, but the plot presents us with nothing new or fresh and meanders around town doing random character studies on unimportant characters. Still, it's hard not to like a film where a small town hockey club roughs up the New York Rangers.

The story revolves around the small town of Mystery, Alaska where the only thing to do or talk about is hockey. John Biebe (Russell Crowe) is the sheriff and a veteran of the Saturday hockey game, which is the focal point of Mystery's culture. As a result of an article written in Sports Illustrated, the NHL and the NY Rangers think it would be a good promotional gimmick for the Rangers to play this scrappy bunch of amateurs. So now the town is in a tizzy over this defining moment in their history.

Kelley's script expands this film to be much longer than it should have been. He spends far too much time following the gossip of who's sleeping with whom among ancillary characters, and not enough time in character development of the players other than Biebe. Director Jay Roach does a good job, however of keeping the viewer engaged through the use of excellent hockey action shots that take you right onto the ice. Also, how can you not love the majestic mountain backdrops in just about every outdoor scene.

Once the film at long last gets to the game, it succeeds at accomplishing what the formula intends, that is, it gets us to pull hard for the underdog.

For Russell Crowe, this was much less intense than his roles in `The Insider' and `Gladiator'. He did a nice job of portraying the old warhorse, giving the character steadiness, dignity and determination. I wonder where a guy from Australia learned to ice skate so well. Colm Meaney gave a good performance as the mayor but Burt Reynolds was a little stiff as the judge (maybe it's rigor mortis).

Though there is a lot to criticize about this film, it is still entertaining and for those who love hockey, it does a good job of providing some up-close action footage of the game. I rated it a 7/10.

Great Hockey Movie - Exciting and Inspirational!

This is a terrific movie for any hockey fan to own. Until now I have watched the very old "Youngblood" with Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze over a dozen times this hockey season alone. Is it real life? Of course not! However, it is a movie that inspires you as any true sports movie such as "Rudy" or "Brian's Song" or "Bull Durham" or "Tin Cup" does. This is a fantastic film that easily fills the gap in anyone's sports film library. Why didn't I give it a 5? I always leave room for improvement not matter what I am rating...

Pleasant Movie

I wanted to see this movie for one reason only. I wanted to see Ryan Northcott, who portrayed Stevie Weeks. He also played Carl Wilson in a Beach Boys TV miniseries a few months ago, and I had read that "Mystery Alaska" was Northcott's debut movie. I was prepared to like this movie though, since it was described as a "feel good" movie.

I hate to say that I thought the movie was sort of silly. As I was watching it I thought to myself more than a few times that it should have been a made-for-TV movie. It just didn't have that big screen feel to me. And the idea of the New York Rangers going to Alaska to play a small town hockey team struck me as pretty ridiculous.

There are some very good performances in it though. Russell Crowe - I can understand why he's so hot now. He definitely has the charisma and talent. Ryan Northcott plays Stevie Weeks, the young, fast, new hot shot hockey player. He has a fresh-faced innocence and vulnerability besides being a good actor. I hope he goes far with his career. The actors were good overall. I just found the plot somewhat unbelievable. It seemed like the producers couldn't decide whether to make a silly movie with jokes, or a serious one. Or they just weren't very good at combining both.

One last thing, watching a movie where its freezing, gray skies, and snow 24/7 on the ground doesn't do much for me either.

A movie about friendship, not hockey

If you were looking for a movie about hockey, sorry. This movie is much better than that. It is about friendship and the bonds people form when they spend their lives together. The small town atmosphere is so true. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this movie was. I laughed and I cried. Russell Crowe is a great actor. This is a movie to watch anytime with your friends and the ones that you love!

Hockey was great, but inconsistant overall.

The last 30 minutes of this film really saved it for me. It has action packed hockey, and moving drama. In the last 30 minutes, I finally sensed the bond and brotherhood theme of the movie. Unfortunately, the first hour and a half are not as good. The story doesn't go deep enough into the characters, there is an inconsistant mix of drama and comedy, and, even though gratuitious sex can be fun in some movies, it really hurt this one. My main point is, this movie was supposed to be about brotherhood and hockey, and it shows in the last 30 minutes, but the first part of the movie could have been better. Also, the gratutious sex and select language is why this movie got rated R. It would have been a great PG-13, and still would have got its theme accross without the gratuitous stuff. As for the DVD, you get a small ammount of features: a trailer and a 5 minute featurette.

Small town sports at its best

I figured Mystery, Alaska would be an okay movie, something to see with my wife on a Saturday night but nothing to write home about. I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying Mystery, Alaska; it's actually a very well-edited, well-written film which overcomes its cliches through good acting and an unusual plotline.

Anyone who has lived in a small town and experienced small town sports will immediately find a soft spot for this movie. Much like the boys in Hoosiers, the heroes of Mystery, Alaska are the over-achieving yet mysteriously talented local boys who play an entirely different brand of hockey than the glitzy millionaires from New York. Yet the millionaires don't get villified; the movie isn't about them at all. This is a movie about community more than sports.

One of the most effective elements of the film is the opening credits. The stunning visual imagery of a young man skating a frozen river in the middle of nowhere is just plain cool, in my humble opinion!

Mystery, Alaska is a movie about friendship and support in adversity, and how you can always forgive one of your own when they set off for "bigger and better things." I would highly recommend Mystery, Alaska for anyone who sometimes just wants to go home again.

Get Ready To Root For The Underdogs

I am a woman, and yes I love hockey, and yes I love this movie. The cast is made up of loveable and endearing characters, not the least of which is Russell Crowe, who love hockey so much they play every weekend on their small home pond. Crowe gives a strong performance as the elder statesman of the group whose position on the team is threatened when a former resident (Hank Azaria) returns to stage a challenge of the Mystery, Alskan team agains tthe New York Rangers. All the while, Crowe is left feeling vulnerable because of the success Azaria's character has acheived, and he wonders if his wife longs for her former love.

Burt Reynolds is great as a former hockey coach who refuses to help coach the Mystery team because of personal issues.

If you love hockey you will love this movie. It's charming, inspiring, and entertaining.

Remember slapshot this is not

If you wanna see a good hockey movie rent slapshot because this one was weak

An Inspiring Flick

This film was well directed and acted. Crowe is quickly becoming one of my favorite versatile actors. The characters in this film were highly likeable. I had the privalege of seeing this on a screener from a distibuting company. On the case it says "the Rocky of Hockey". Thats just what this is, regular joes who play with heart, get a chance to play against the pros. Mike Myers has a cameo role in this film as a see sawing sports analysist. Great for any DVD collection.

An excellent movie

Russell Crowe is an excellent actor. This movie was a fun hockey film about a rag tag team from the little town of Mystery who have a chance to take on the New York Rangers. Don't take it too seriously, and you will have fun.

Great Movie!

For all of you who didnt like this movie you are nuts! I live in a small town in Alaska where hockey is one of the main sports. This movie was fun to watch and it had players that reminded me of our Hockey Team 100% Its a great movie for any true hockey fan.

If you are a sports fan and like sports movies, you'll like.

Okay, if you're trying to be a serious critic and looking for serious drama and deep story lines, you won't like this movie. But, if you're a sports fan (especially if you ever played Hockey) you'll like the show. Sure it's pretty predictible, but the actings decent and the underdog story is good, albeit typical. This isn't as good as Hoosiers, the Longest Yard, Major League or Slap Shot. But it's better than the Program, North Dallas Forty, and the Natural.

The best hockey movie next to Slap Shot

I'm a big hockey fan and I for one loved Mystery, Alaska. SlapShot will always be the best hockey movie of all time but I thoughtMystery, Alaska was great. And so did all of my hockey friends.

Worth The Price of Admission

I'll admit to having been dragged, kicking and screaming, by my roommate to see this film in the theatre. Imagine my delight when I found myself *enjoying* this movie. It might be cliched, as many have pointed out, but it is also well written, well portrayed, and very enjoyable. I can't wait till May so I can have my own copy.

Binghamton?

Being a fan of the Hartford Wolfpack since the team moved herein '97, I was a bit dissapointed at the end of the film. Go 'Pack!