Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Today, I watched this documentary movie titled 'Bigger, Stronger, Faster' and liked it enough to recommend it. It's about the pressure of being successful, which is endemic to the American culture, that leads people to take to anabolic steroids and performance enhancement drugs.

So, you'd been relentlessly exercising all these years to get that Arnold or Sylvester Stallone physique, whom you grew up watching, and promised yourself as a kid to emulate. But you hit a dead-end after months or even years of rigorous workout. And then came the big shock when you realized that the protien shakes your hero had been coaxing you to buy, that supplement that he endorsed was not the reason for his success; it was anabolic steroids. Your adulation is betrayed. The hero you had enshrined in the altar of your heart, who you worshipped with ardent fervour, who you held in the sanctimony of your devotion, it just turned out, wasn't larger than life as you imagined. He was an ambition-obssessed rat who cheated.

In the fullness of time, the relics of the impulse that led you to this crude betrayal overwhelm your bereavement. The pressure of winning and the shame of losing, the prospect of endless opportunity that the American dream promises for those that lay it all on the line to the chase for victory justify all means. After all, it's just a few 'go pills' to help yourself. It's not murder, so you say to yourself.

Anyone remember the 1988 Seoul Olympics? Ben Johnson, who came first, was disqualified and disowned of the title within 24 hours after the race, when his medical examination proved he had taken steroids before the race. Carl Lewis, who came second, was awarded the winner's title. What wasn't reported was that Carl Lewis had also failed the drug test, and so had 20 other atheletes, but it was all covered up. Ben Johnson was scapegoated to save face.

This documentary features many such stories with interviews of doctors, health professionals, porn stars, pilots, the fitness fiends, your regular American students, and musicians, to quote a few groups that are a victim of drug abuse.

I also wish to warn you about the acting skills, or lack thereof, of Indian Bollywood cinema actors. In the light of my warning, please feel free to skip watching the forthcoming movie 'Shantaram'.

Believe me, Indian actors can't act to save their lives.

Hi,

How many Bollywood films have you seen?

CC x

I have watched quite a good number of them, ChilledChicken. But 'Shantaram' isn't a Bollywood movie. It's an upcoming Hollywood movie with a few of Bollywood's celebrated superstars in it.

Brad Pitt and Johny Depp are co-producing it, and a parallel-cinema/art-cinema director from India, Meera Nair, who's made some sensible films, is directing it. Johny Depp is also acting in the movie.

The movie is based on the book with the same name, one of sarabee's favourite books, if you go back to my 'Your reading lists' thread.

With the few Indian actors' names attached to it, I assume it will turn out to be the mother of all travesties.

"it just turned out, wasn't larger than life as you imagined. He was an ambition-obssessed rat who cheated. "

Even with juice you know - it still takes (not in any order), genetics, diet and hardwork to even begin to achieve that kind of build.

Doubtless it does. I never meant to suggest that Arnold sat over his ass all day injecting syringes into his backside to get where he is. My point, and perhaps that of the film, was to highlight that gullible people who aspire to be like their heroes are misled. And it is becoming so common in America, and elsewhere in the West, for people to justify taking drugs in order to perform better because there's enormous societal pressure to succeed.

I forgot to mention, the website for the movie is: http://www.biggerstrongerfastermovie.com/

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigger,_Stronger,_Faster*

IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1151309/

There's also an interview with a guy Greg Valentino who apparently took an overdose of synthol and screwed up his arms. He was hospitalized, and then thrown into the jail for drug abuse.

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sex_news_sports_funny/the_most_hated_man_in_bodybuilding

There's just one thing I have to disagree with you on, and that is your belief that you have to be genetically suited to have a great body. I think there's enough proof to falsify that. Have a look at Vince Del Monte, a canadian guy. They used to call him Skinny Vinny. In 6 months, he gained over a 100 lbs and got on the men's cover magazine. He's a fitness model and he doesn't take steroids. He also disapproves of supplements. He didn't have the bodybuilder genes but he did it, and he did it in 6 months flat. Just with determination, eating the right kind of food, and sleeping a lot (to restore the testosterone levels).

Greg Valentino is the guy whose biceps literally 'exploded'. I've seen the documentary where he is draining the fluid from his arms. If anything that video should be shown in all gyms to put people off taking steroids.

Yeah! That's the guy.

eeuuuwww, its doesnt sound attractive (to me).

ive always thought that bollywood fellas couldnt act, but also i didnt think that it was particularly relevant if they could/couldnt, i thought whether they were attractive was the more emphasised part, have i got it wrong?

i'm not terribly keen on bodybuilding, but ive met some people who are, including women where it became more of an obsession which they couldnt ditch.

i havent read shantaram (i think i said in your thread est that i intended to read it), i rarely rate films, books, in my opinion generally are far better, much more left to the imagination. i like to put off what i hope will be a great read until i am really hankering after some major stimulation. tonight is the night.

Oh Sara, what a shame we're so far apart...I could do with some major stimulation myself.
Do you do phone sex?

You can use hygienic wipes afterwards.

i dont do phone sex, but i could read you particulary interesting parts of the book if you like.

It just wouldn't be the same...I could google any amount of porn, but it would lack the personal touch..or sound, as in our case.

Perhaps you could practice a sexy (and convincing)voice, then read me the sexy bits.

I don't want a half assed apology of a breathless porn phone call.

You know how boring that can be...I remember you complaining that dirty phone calls aint wot they used to be

you'll have to refer me to that, chapter & verse, as i dont remember it.

however will have to forgo everything else as ive just started this book & its good, if not great ... telephone sex is nothing in comparison.

I made that bit up, poetic license...I'll leave you to your book...your reputation secure.

That guy doesn't appeal to anyone, Sara. To say he's ugly would be handing him out a compliment.

Most Bollywood actors, I like to think, are mere rich flukes. Sure they are rich, and they look just fine, they are super stars and celebrities, but they are not actors. Most wouldn't pass an audition in Hollywood for a scene where they had to stand in a crowd. The Indian cinema industry churns out one formula film after another and there's very little incentive for any original thinking. The very climate of film making in India doesn't promote acting. A lot of it has to do with culture, and some of it with the history of Indian film making.

Just like any other industry, there's a tonne of money to be made, and sadly enough, talentless hacks are at the helm making it. You don't have to be talented to be rich. It's easy to earn money.

Personally, it may seem otherwise because of some of the posts I've made here, but I am quite against this wave of people obsessed with body building and trying to look good. I do wish to continue to look good, probably like everyone else, but that's all that there is to it. I just want to stay as I am. I don't want a six pack (for a short while I was fascinated with the idea). I go to the gym everyday, I've been going for the last 3 years now, and mostly do cardio because I want to stay in the frame I am in right now, and because in about 10 years or less, I will be 40, and I don't want all kinds of body aches and back pains, etc. when I am that age. Because of that reason, I started to research into the subject of body building a few months ago, in which time I have read a couple of books on the subject and seen a few videos.

I did remember clearly that you said you were recommended Shantaram by someone but you hadn't read it yet. I just thought since I was only making a passing reference, that I didn't need to be absolutely factual.

I agree with you about books being better than films. That is because of many reasons. When reading a book, you do it at your own pace, which isn't true when information is thrust upon you. Reading a book is a more individual and introverted activity than watching a movie and so it is natural for it to bring greater joy. The impression is longer lasting than the one from watching a movie, the duration of the read is usually longer than the duration of a movie. As you rightly said, reading leaves it to your imagination to visualize.

I recall being utterly disappointed watching 'Ahmak', an Indian art film based on Dostoevsky's 'Idiot' that I had read and held extremely dear to my heart, when I was a boy in my 12th year in high school. So it was with Dostoevsky's White Nights and watching the french movie Le Notti Bianche despite great performances.

Hi, if you are erm the bloke who kept getting banned then you are now a much more appealing version of him!

For a moment my paranoia kicked in, then I realised you weren't talking about me. Sara thinks I'm wonderful too ( poetic license)

I'm reading what you say, and look forward to reading more.

Keith (no x as I'm a bloke)

] For a moment my paranoia kicked in, then I realised you weren't talking about me.

Soon after having hit the 'Send' button on my previous post, I thought you would. Like you, perhaps, I gave up on trying to make any conversation on this website soon after having noticed the sort of posts made here. That was the reason for my behaviour that upset people. I was probably trying to make a point without saying it.

Even now, I rarely say what I want to, or like to reveal what I am, except for the few occassions when I am absolutely sure I don't care whether people would reply or not. I write to please myself.