Vision Quest (1985)

Vision Quest

Great classic coming-of-age movie. We have wrestlers in the family. They loved it. November 10, 2008

Loved it

I loved this movie. I may be prejudice because I am from Spokane where it was filmed. The story is great for a boy determined to prove to himself that he can do what he sets his mind to at all cost. The school sport programs are like that in Spokane to build self confidenance and to challenge their students. August 5, 2008

Best wrestling movie ever (but we all know Chute would have won)

This is easily the best wrestling movie ever made, and it will probably never be topped. Louden Swain (Matthew Modine in a role he'll never top) is a high school senior on the wrestling team. By all accounts his life is relatively normal for a rural community. School, work, wrestling practice, friends, and helping around the house are daily occurrences. It is only when he decides to take on the biggest challenge of his young life - with a little inspiration from his best friend masquerading as an Indian, and a nubile Linda Fiorentino as Carla - that he truly finds out about his inner strength.

Shortly before Louden's senior year of high school, he decides that he is going to change weight classes and take on the best wrestler in state, Chute. Now, Chute is basically one or two steps to the left on the evolutionary chart, a hulking, neckless, monosyllabic, Neanderthal wrestling machine who likes to watch his opponents bleed. Unfortunately, Louden's weight loss has left him depleted, and he has been experiencing nose-bleeds since he began his drastic preparation for the state meet.

The rest of the movie is an inspirational journey from adolescence into manhood, where Louden not only has to train at a breakneck pace to get himself ready for the state championship (e.g. exercising with a suit that causes extreme sweating, doing countless strengthening drills, running like Forrest Gump), but he also prepares himself psychologically by confronting his issues of fear and failure. Along the way he also experiences his first real crush, and first genuine interaction with a woman.

The drama is believable, the wrestling is credible, and the soundtrack is phenomenal. The requisite 80s-movie montage is absolutely perfect. Linda Fiorentino has never looked better, and her presence doesn't turn a sports movie into a borderline chick flick. It is the quintessential, formulaic sports movie. If you aren't inspired, touched, or excited by this movie, then I suggest that you check for a pulse. May 28, 2008

Excellent movie

Great movie. Wish there were more movies out there about wrestling. It is a very dedicated sport. It takes a lot of self sacrafice to maintain where you want to be. May 21, 2008

Awesome wrestling movie

Vision Quest is a must have for any wrestler or mixed martial artist. It is all about cutting the weight baby. If you ever done it then you can relate to the movie. Great show of determination, will and the desire to be the best. May 5, 2008

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