More Than a Game

Loved this documentary. The way the community helped the James family was inspiring and so was his giving nature, never say die attitude on and off the court. Watching a promising high schooler turning into the GOAT in real time is incredible. Ms Gloria has an incredible spirit as well. Kids can learn a lot from this documentary.

This documentary follows Lebron James(NBA superstar) and childhood friends....from the earliest part of his life. From grade school friends, to youth travel ball, to playing at St Mary's High School, to being drafted in the NBA. When four tight buddies become five...off the court as well. Almost a biopic...but not. Amazing what an Akron-Native with time and a camera could accomplish following around "King James".

Although this film follows a professional basketball players rise to fame, it is more about the friendships and loyalty involved in the process. You can't become a star without having trust and faith in others around you. Turns into a great study of professional athletes, what it takes at all ages, but also the emotion and friendships that shape the human....we fail to look at these stars as normal guys like ourselves...and we shouldn't. You will understand just who and what they are through movies like this.

It's 2003. LeBron James, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, and Willie McGee are preparing to play the National Championship Game. The documentary takes a look at these five teenagers in Akron, Ohio growing up and rising up to be one of the best high school teams. They were a shoe-string unknown team playing in the AAU tournaments with teams from across the country. In 1999, they lost the championship game by two points on a final miss by LeBron. LeBron is the future NBA star dubbed the Chosen One. Dru is the undersized kid with a chip on his shoulder. Romeo is the angry addition in the sophomore year. Dru Joyce II takes over after their coach abandons them for a college job.

This is more or less for fans of LeBron. It has his cooperation. It's mostly basketball with some personal revelations. The most important aspect seems to be their close-knit friendship and loyalty of belonging to the group. It has some insights and drama even for non-fans of LeBron. It doesn't really have anything too dramatic with the exception of LeBron's suspension. More than anything, this is about LeBron's nature and his connection to his home town.

What a stroke of luck to undertake a basketball documentary about a grade school team that includes the undiscovered future NBA star LeBron James!

Using film and game video footage interspersed with computer effect enhanced photographs, excellent editing and well-mixed music we get a compelling revealed story about four boys turning into men under increasingly intense public scrutiny.

I particularly liked the way the director "animated' photographs by extracting layers and changing the focus. This was probably a necessary technique to extend limited early footage, but it brought in a dimension that many documentaries are lacking

Many people probably watched "More Than a Game" for LeBron James. I admit that that was A reason for me, but not THE reason. Fourteen years prior to this movie I watched "Hoop Dreams" about a couple of high school basketball players. "Hoop Dreams" was a better documentary and it didn't have the benefit of of a LeBron James. So, I still would've watched "More Than a Game" regardless of the name of the athlete featured.

"More Than a Game" was an interesting contrast to two other basketball documentaries I watched: "Hoop Dreams" and "Hoop Reality." "Hoop Dreams" had two players who never realized their dreams. "Hoop Reality" featured Patrick Beverly who made it to the NBA even if he's not a household name. "More Than a Game" featured a person who not only realized his hoop dream, but also became a mega-star.

I remember when I first heard all the LeBron James talk in early 2003. I didn't pay a lot of attention to it, but it's significant because I live in California. To be hearing about a high school basketball player all the way here in California means that he was a big deal. "More Than a Game" chronicles that as well as less headline making news from his younger years.

I like documentaries in general, so I'd recommend it anyway. And for you basketball fans, and especially for you LeBron fans, this is a must.