Real, la película (2005) User Reviews

Good movie about the best soccer club in history

[jjabenza-1 · 7/10 · 26 August 2005]

Real Madrid is the best soccer team in history. It has won 9 times the European Championship, 3 of them with the new name of 'Champions League'. Even FIFA named it as the best team of the 20th century.

But this film is not about the history of Real Madrid. It's all about feelings. There are 5 short movies inside the movie which are set in different places of the world: Senegal, New York, Tokyo, Caracas and, of course, Madrid. Each one of them tells you a story of people who love Real Madrid and how this feeling is important in their lifes. So, we have a young girl in love with Beckham in Tokyo, a young woman who wants to play soccer in New York more than anything, a little boy in Senegal who loves Real Madrid by his father but has never seen a match and, in Madrid, a school teacher who discovers what's Real Madrid. The most intriguing story is the Caracas one, where one of the characters keeps a great secret. Moreover, during the movie we can see the true Real Madrid preparing a soccer match against his biggest enemy in Spain, Barcelona, and finally the highlights of the match in a very interesting cut with an incredible soundtrack. I'm sure you won't have ever seen highlights like these on TV.

The soundtrack is very good, with very funny moments as the 'Mazinger Z' theme in the Japanese story and specially the soundtrack during the final match. And of course, the Jose Merce's (flamenco singer) version of the Real Madrid anthem.

I think this movie can be seen by anybody, and will like to any soccer fan in the world, specially Real Madrid's, but any other who love soccer . Real Madrid has many of the best players in the world: Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Casillas and others who have left the team just now but can be seen in the movie: Figo, Owen, etc...

I suppose there will be many fans from other teams who hate Real Madrid because they don't understand soccer is only a game to enjoy and be better not to make enemies. You'll read many of these here, but you can be sure they won't have even seen the movie. Don't give any importance. See the movie by yourself and, if you don't like, then say it.

Who hasn't seen any of the movies with Pele? Think of this movie as a soccer movie but not about an only player, but about a whole team. It's a good movie, it's funny, it's very well done, has a nice soundtrack, a great photography and, of course, Jessica (the girl in New York) is very pretty. :)

In-depth sights from the world's most popular sport and its most famous team

[r_amerigo_t · 7/10 · 9 September 2005]

If we accept that soccer is the most popular sport throughout the world, and if we assume Real Madrid is the most famous soccer team, then we can infer that Real is the world's most famous team.

That assumption alone is what prompted this project that has been recently premiered. A film that is mainly aimed at transmitting what it means to be a Real Madrid supporter ends up showing the world what's like to be a soccer fan instead.

The film develops in five little separate stories that have one point in common, Real Madrid and soccer. They are based in five different continents and offer a view of how it is being a Real lover all over the world, from Tokyo to New York to Senegal. The African story is specially telling, as some kids there are not even able to catch the matches on the TV and just let their imagination flow to follow their far away heroes. In the end it all gathers up at the Real Madrid stadium, Santiago Bernabeu, where a big match is played (Real Madrid vs. Barcelona).

"Real, The Movie" is a good film/documentary if you like soccer, because it offers in-depth views and senses from what it's become now one of the most professionalized sports in the world, and the most followed one. You don't have to be a Real Madrid fan to like it, while the only ones who should stay away from it are anti-Real Madrid fanatics that hate the team. All in all, nice sports film.

A Nutshell Review: Real: The Movie

[DICK STEEL · 5/10 · 30 January 2006]

Goal! probably gave football fans a reason to cheer that there is finally a movie worthy of the sport, never-mind the teams that were featured in it. It got the right moments of excitement, joy, trials and tribulations that most football fans could identify with in players and their clubs. However, Real: The Movie takes the genre two steps backwards, even though you know it's like a congratulatory pat on the back of the club itself.

Partly produced by Real Madrid CF, Real attempts to weave fictional narratives into a plot which glorifies its players (not that it does a good job anyway), and also to point to the fact that it is the most successful, recognizable football club in the world, with fans all over the place, able to connect with one another through the club's sporting ambitions.

The first narrative is that of a school teacher who arrived in Madrid, and staying a stone's throw away from the revered 80,000 seater Santiago Bernabéu stadium. He's like the chorus, trying to sniff out the reasons why Real Madrid permeates through the life of the city, and are worshiped by crazed fans.

Then there's Tokyo, which is hot on the heels of Beckham-mania, with the story putting focus on the relationship between a teenage couple interrupted by the girl's fixation on Beckham. Relatively short, and not much meaning to it. If you dislike Beckham, you'll probably puke at the various shots of his mug up-close.

Speaking of Beckham, there is a narrative thread which copies Bend It Like Beckham, having feature a teenage female footballer from New York. We follow the story of Megan, a hotshot footballer who suffers a career-threatening injury. The reason why this plot line is included, is to tie it into Ronaldo's comeback from injury. But the execution is weak, and we see probably the worst piece of acting from an eye-candy.

Perhaps the best story is that set in Senegal. We see up-close how remote villagers experience the events of a football game, by having the dad travel on foot for a total of 4 days, round trip, to watch the game on television, and return to the village to recount everything he saw to wide-eyed children. This is perhaps the most heartwarming of it all, one which demonstrates a father's love for his child.

And on a similar premise, and the weakest, is that set in a Venezulean town, about a young boy and a strange old man who happens to be quite a footballer himself. At the end of the day, it's nothing much except for a community sitting down together, supporting different teams, one camp Real Madrid, the other camp Barcelona.

With of course, the expected build up to the huge game of the movie, that of arch-rivals Barcelona of course. However, this is no Goal! with fictional figures inserted into the game. Rather, it's like watching a re-run of the season 04-05 game on a large screen, with dramatic moments only, which they won (naturally) 4-2.

The separate narratives are, well, separate. Which makes it seem like little short stories stuck together. Though there are some redeeming features, like the little nugget of facts done Hitchhiker's style, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the large club prepares itself for games with its meticulous planning. For those who have not been to the stadium, we're also granted a sneak peak into the high tech locale, but unlike Goal!, we didn't see the entire dressing room.

In case you're wondering if this review is biased as I'm an Arsenal fan, no. If you don't believe me, don't tell me that you've wasted time and money watching this. If anything, this movie is suitable only for Real Madrid fans only, not football fans in general.

And for that, I'd wish the Gunners win the home and away legs of the Champions League against the Galacticos come Feb/March. Go Gunners! And hang in there for the sequel to Goal! set in erm, Real Madrid.

what??????

[oakley098 · 3/10 · 8 August 2007]

Being a fan of the great game myself, I decided that the movie Real: The Movie, was worth a shot. Seriously, how could live action of the Real Madrid soccer team not be cool?!?!?! But that was about all there was in my opinion. The live action from the games seems like a great basis for a film, but thanks to terrible directing, and mediocre acting (to be generous), this movie was a total letdown for me. The entire idea itself was actually pretty interesting, but nothing was made of it. Do not walk into this movie with high hopes, or hopes for it at all. Look for good live action from some of the greatest Futbol players in the entire world, but don't look for a terrific movie.... at all. FOR ALL THE SOCCER FANS OUT THERE! IF YOU WANT A PRETTY GOOD SOCCER MOVIE (that is a feature film) GOAL: THE DREAM BEGINS is your best shot.

Sorry, but Real the Movie only gets a 3 out of 10.

Good, if you like Real Madrid

[[e-mail] · 9/10 · 26 August 2005]

I just saw the movie, unlike bizz-2 who didn't even saw the movie and only wanted to say bad words about a football team and a city like Real Madrid and Madrid.

Please, i encourage you all to ignore that kind of comments, comments of wrath, of ignorance and disrespect. Talking about Nazis, fascist and that kind of stupid stuff. Madrid is more than that and everyone who came here knows that :) Basically it talk about histories in all the continents linked to Real Madrid, feelings, problems, life, linked to a football team. You also can see football from other perspective.

I recommend this movie to all Real Madrid fans, but also to the people that does not hate Real Madrid.

A good movie

[deckcob-1 · 8/10 · 26 August 2005]

Real is the most successful club in the history of soccer/football, has won 9 champions leagues, 29 Spain leagues,... for that reason was named by FIFA and other sport associations the best club of 20th century, while Brazil was name best NT team.

But the film isn't simply about the club with probably more prestige and supporters around the world.

The movie speak about the passion for this beautiful sport, relating the story of five persons with different problems, using RM as a link between the stories.

The stories are mixed, you don't see the end of the stories until the end of the movie. The stories are really good, specially the story of the African supporter.

It is a entertaining movie, with some touching moments. And I think that can be enjoyed by any soccer or other sport supporter (except by hooligans that hate Real Madrid), because the movie speaks about feelings that are shared by millions of soccer/football or other sport supporters around the world, the passion/love for your team ...a team that can be Real Madrid or any other.

Good film

[senador · 10/10 · 2 September 2005]

I have seen the movie, or I must say documentary film?, I do not know exactly how can I describe it. My first surprise was that I did not expect a movie like this. Of course it is soccer but it is also fiction (based on real facts as they say). The African story is beautiful and the Japanese one very funny, but what it is really beautiful is how a match is shown.

Madrid's story is just fine, but it is not like the others. Please do not forget the conversation between Beckham and a supporter in an elevator, and the speech coach Luxemburgo gives to the players, it is just brilliant.

If you like sports you have to see it, but if you like soccer you must see it.

Best regards S.

Great Movie and bizz-2 comment

[javierw · 10/10 · 26 August 2005]

bizz-2, I'm pretty sure you haven't seen the movie, and I'm absolutely sure you don't know anything about what happen when Franco was ruling Spain. In the 40's and 50's, the time when Fanco power was stronger, the team who won more Leagues in Spain was Barcelona!!! Real Madrid has won more since Franco died, the only place where they could compete without Franco interfering was in Europe competitions and there Real Madrid was the best. Since Real Madrid has been the strongest team in Spain and Europe since then, there are other team sympathizers making stories like yours. About the movie, is about 5 stories based on real life stories, and also they follow the team showing things you don't usually see. Is a very emotional movie, with great cinematography and a superb music score, I really recommend it to all Soccer Fans.

Totally shocked

[igracia2000 · 10/10 · 26 August 2005]

I thought that IMDb was a professional movie market organization, but reading above comment, done before a movie has been released and talking about politics, is is something terrible. Please some one from here, I do not know, a webmaster or so, check this out and please re-conduct this comments to the purpose of this web page.

I do not know if everybody knows what Real Madrid is, but I must say that it is a 103 years old sport club, born before even the fascist movement was even in its beginning.

I do honestly like this web page, it is beautiful, but please do not let political demagogy go.

a movie about los merengues

[tomemiprozac · 10/10 · 21 February 2006]

it's not a good movie based on what good movies should be based on, plot, acting et cetera, but for fans it's a must have. 5 stories, one funny, one motivational, one touching, one educational can stand alone and still have a head and tail. but the one that envelopes them all is all these, the galacticos.

the essence of the movie, if you can call it a movie, is all about passion for the football team, it makes fans like me delve deep inside and ask 'why do i love them?' at the end of the day there's no answer, just like how there's no answer to why some people like vanilla and others chocolate. this movie made me realize that it is not love i feel but passion. passion for the sport, passion for the brilliant displays of talent by the stars, passion for the team, the shirt, the crest etc.

at the end of the day, the movie still tries to resemble it's namesake, with mini plots that were pretty insignificant when compared to the actual match that was played, especially to fans. one thing i didn't like about the movie was that not all the players were featured, some were given more air time than others, other than the introduction of all the players at the beginning of the movie (which is an outdated list) they were basically left alone.

raul's injury, and zidane's, the comments by the players themselves, luxemburgo's speech before the finale match played, little nuggets of facts that were inserted in various parts of the movie (one spoken exceptionally fast), the players themselves, the nerve-wracking finale played without commentator but accompanied by music (that almost made my heart jump out of my skin), the world famous home jersey, the crest of the club...

it is a movie based on a club after all, you can definitely expect biasedness. all in all a movie for the fans, the neutrals, the haters (if only to throw popcorn at the screen) this movie makes us recall the glory of the club, the magical journey ever since march 6, 1902, the honor of being associated with the club, and most importantly cements our passion and love just a little bit more.

catch it for it's soccer, or for the stories, even for David beckham, it's a movie not to be missed.