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Reviews
Canada Russia '72 (2006)
Perfect!
In reality this movie was made for those of us who remember. The Writers were passionate about this Series and the fans who remember will absolutely love this film. What is perfect? In any movie certainly everyone has their own opinion of what they would like to see and if they could make changes they would. I would change nothing about the film. In 4 hours it captured the essence of Canada's cockiness, the players over confidence, Individuals personalities such as Dryden, Esposito, Cashman, and Gary Bergman. The Russian calm demeanour and moving from role of underdog to an imposing force. They did not sugar coat the series or make it better for TV. The feel of the 70's was there and it takes me back every time I watch it (In double digits now).
Key moments were beautifully captured such as Mahovlich's short-handed goal, J.P. Parises run in with the referee's and of course all of Henderson's magical moments.
1972 was about a group of cocky over confident hockey players that were going to kick another nation into the dirt with very little regard of their talent, getting beat badly and suddenly becoming scared and embarrassed in front of their country and wondering what went wrong. They re-group after beatings in Canada and go into Russia with a renewed sense of confidence only to be tore to the ground with a gut wrenching loss in Game 5 leading 4-1 with 10 to play. These men could have packed it in with their tails between their legs and this would simply be remembered as the rise of the Russian Super Power. However they fought back overcoming fatigue being out of shape and they began to play as a team and for each other. Were they chippy and dirty YES! put yourself in that position and see what you would do. It showed what Canadian hockey players have and what the series was eventually won by and that was HEART! Bobrov was not the disciplinarian that Tarasov was and his players started to relax and become over confident. They even left training sessions to be with their wives something that had never been allowed in the past. This movie captured it all and what it didn't capture I could fill in the blanks with my own memories. The movie is PERFECT for those of us who lived in that special time and to this day I am a fan of both sides. Tretiak, Kharlamov, Yakushev, Petrov, Mikhailov and Maltsev are still some of my all-time favourite hockey players. Thanks to Barry for a job well Dunn!!!!