GENERATION IRON (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Stars ìììì

Generation Iron—a body building documentary—does not have the grit or enjoyment factor that other physical training documentaries such as Pumping Iron include. This film is too much about the lives of body builders rather than about body building. It tends to show body building as not at all fun, but a competitive bullying sport that focuses on devising ways to beat the opponent rather than establishing camaraderie within the sport. Unlike the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger Pumping Iron documentary that shows hard work and dedication to body building while balancing that work with a genuine love of the game, this film seems to focus on virtual egoism where real fun is lost to competition.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The film shows how several bodybuilders live, how they survive, what they do to pay the bills, and how they come together to compete for the 2012 Mr. Olympia Championship.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director and Writer Vlad Yudin. Thank you to Executive Producers Robin Chang, Jerome Gary, David J. Pecker, Eric Welder, and Jim Manion for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Himself), Mickey Rourke (Narrator voice), Michael Jai White (Himself), Lou Ferrigno (himself), Busta Rhymes (Himself), Ian Mercer (Himself), Kai Greene (Himself), Valery McCaffrey (Herself), Phil Heath (Himself),and Dennis Wolf (Himself).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It does what a documentary is meant to do—provide information.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers