Documentary Movie Reviews
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Generation Iron (2013)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
2/15
2/15:
Pumping Iron was long considered the go-to bodybuilding documentary.
However, the arrogance and made-up stories were its bane. I hadn't seen another since then until
Generation Iron came along. There are prominent differences between these two.
Bodybuilding has come a long way since the days of Arnold Schwarzenegger as there's a dramatic shift in the look of physique.
Back then, bodybuilders had a refined, chiseled build that looked natural to the eye. But today, they're bulky, veiny, and
plain massive. There were bodybuilders during the 70's and 80's who were easily identifiable, thanks to the lure of
Hollywood. And today? I have zero idea who they are. Everybody in Generation Iron is news to me.
As far as actors go, there is and will always be one Arnold Schwarzenegger because nobody can capture the uniqueness
he brought to the table. Sylvester Stallone comes in a close second despite not having a career in bodybuilding even though
I tend to think of him in this category. However, I like Generation Iron more than
Pumping Iron
because it presents clear information of what it takes to excel in the "sport" including steroids.
Yet points are docked from my rating due to the lack of frank discussion about side effects of PEDs in the world of
bodybuilding. I say it because of the misguided ideal that countless impressionable male teenagers look up to.
In fact, I once thought doing pushups was all it took, but I never knew the truth for many years and had come to
full realization, thanks to the internet, that it's impossible to get there without steroids. Hence, the
information was never disclosed in bodybuilding magazines.
Furthermore, most, if not all, bodybuilders are unhealthy because of the damage their muscles and organs including the
heart, kidney, and liver have endured by being forced to withstand the massive amount of calories they consume daily.
Let's not forget to mention the expenses steroids have inflicted on their wallet which can range anywhere from $1,000 to
$2,000 a month. That's why some of the stars in bodybuilding can afford it while everybody else gets by only
to make ends meet.
During the Mr. Olympia show, I admit Phil Heath has better physique than Kai Greene, and it's not even close.
Therefore, I'm surprised by the announcement there was a one-point difference in the final scoring. Elsewhere, it's
amusing to hear Branch Warren talking about how tough he is and then seconds later, he gets bucked off a horse, injuring his
leg and telling the cameraman to quit filming. What a fucking tool. The casting scene with Dennis Wolf is terrible.
If I were him, I would forego acting altogether as a viable career.
All in all, Generation Iron is a good, if overly dramatic, documentary about bodybuilding but makes the fatal
mistake of not addressing the usage of steroids and other PEDs in order to be successful in the "sport."