Sonicsgate (2009) User Reviews

engaging sports documentary

[dongsong · 9/10 · 12 October 2009]

I wasn't expecting this feature to be so well-made and intriguing. I decided to glance thru it just to see the contents. But one minute into it, i was truly engaged.

the filmmaker does a great job giving the sports history of the City of Seattle and the history of the Sonics. It made me understand why the citizens of Seattle loved their basketball. Being a fan of the Sonics' bitter rival, the Portland trailblazers, i found myself becoming a fan of the Sonics and a fan of the Sonics' fan. In saying that, i found it heartbreaking to see what happened to the organization, the city, and the fans.

I couldn't give it a full 10 stars just because it felt a little too biased. Some more perspective from the NBA and Bennett would have been nice, but i guess since they declined to be interviewed, we're not able to see that. Overall, a very excellent doc! PS. I hope Seattle does get another NBA franchise, and hopefully not at the expense of another struggling city.

Amazing. Heartbreaking. Captivating.

[Spielbergian · 9/10 · 28 December 2009]

Sonicsgate is a film about how Seattle lost its beloved NBA franchise, the Seattle Supersonics. It shows how a series of events like Shawn Kemp & Gary Payton's departures, the ownership of Howard & Bennett took the Sonics away.

This movie is beyond spectacular. It is heartbreaking. It is so sad, that a team can have 41 years of love and adoration by fans. 41 years of great history. A championship and numerous other title. How can a team have all this, and be robbed from their city? Well, it can, and it does happen to Seattle. One of the saddest and hardest moments to watch is to see the pain in Sherman Alexie. That man, to me, is the sum of all sports fans. He is the love of all sports fans. And to hear his last quote, about how the only way they'll get the Sonics back is by taking another city's team. That is beyond heartbreaking.

Now, for my experiences. I'm a Milwaukee Bucks fan, but my other favorite has been the Sonics. I loved them, especially since Ray Allen was traded to them. My favorite time of the basketball year, was when the Bucks went to Seattle to play. Now, being in Wisconsin, the game would be on at 10 PM on school nights, and I would stay up no matter what just to see the game. I loved the Sonics just like they were the Bucks. And it rips my heart out to see that they're no more.

I give this film two thumbs up, 10/10, four stars, all my love. It is a beautiful film. It's cinematography, soundtrack, art direction are all fantastic. It is on a level of my other favorites, like Spielberg's films. Seriously.

I love this film.

Great Movie

[zane-3744 · 10/10 · 3 January 2010]

I am a fourteen year old boy who saw a link to this documentary and was just going to take a glance.

However, once i started watching this, i was hooked! Sonics Gate accurately explains how the Sonic's franchise was STOLEN from Seattle.

Even if you are a Yankee's fan or you don't watch basketball, this documentary is a MUST WATCH.

Please take a little time to watch it!

It is my second-most favorite documentary of all time after Tupac : resurrection.

With love,

Zane; Faithful Sonics fan

Great Film That All Self Respecting Sport's Fan Should Watch.

[ice_berge_12 · 10/10 · 15 October 2010]

When I first heard about this movie I didn't really feel like watching it, I felt it might have been to quickly made, poorly written and above all very biased towards us Sonics's fans. However once you get past the history of the franchise, which reminded me why I was a Fan in the first place (Counting to Ten for Malone at the free throw...classic), it really became a very factual and very well made movie.

Considering what they had to work with (no David Stern, Clay Bennett, Howard Schultz), they had a very well made, neutral documentary on the downfall of my beloved SuperSonics. This move teach's fans of others cities the greediness of the NBA, the heartlessness of the NBA and shows that no team is safe.

Never Again Shall I hear "Your Seeeatle SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPERRRRRRRR SONICS!" At least I have this movie to remind me why and keep the memory of this once great franchise alive!

A Heartbroken City

[Claytin23 · 10/10 · 4 December 2010]

This films in depth look at what really went on both publicly and privately definitely gives the viewer the insight for the "Sonics Scandal."

The amount of energy and pride that our city had when the Sonics were in town proves that we (Seattle) deserved a team.

The pain is like your wife cheating, taking the kids, moving across the country, and then getting re-married to the man she cheated on you with.

If your a big sports fan, please watch this movie. Think about if all this happened to your most beloved sports team.