Throughout the movie, there were quite a few themes which the movie was trying to portray. Firstly, the movie was trying to portray violence and the use of bad language. The basketball players in the team were quite abusive with their language use. For example, when they met their new coach, Coach Carter. They labelled him the preacher man with his tie on and a nigger. These words were very abusive and should not be used as others may be insulted. Before Coach Carter took over the team, the team always fought with other teams and there were many conflicts between the teammates. After Coach Carter took over the team, he enforced certain rules like being punctual for classes and trainings etc and made the players sign contracts. The teenagers slowly changed for the better and had a better attitude.
The theme of brotherhood was also brought up in this movie. When one of the players, Timo Cruz, was banished by Coach Carter for severe misconduct and was kicked out of the team, Timo wanted very much to re-enter the team but Carter meted out a severe punishment of physical work. Timo could not finish in time and was not allowed back into the team. However, the others wanted very much to have an extra player in the team and so as a team, they helped Timo complete the rest of his punishment for him to get back into the team. "One person struggle, we all struggle. One person triumph, we all triumph." was what one of the players said which made all the others follow him and help Timo. This is a great example of team bondedness and brotherhood.
The theme of "sex" was also brought up. In this movie, one of the basketball players was hooked up with a girlfriend from his school. They behave intimately and later the girl was pregnant. The player was responsible for his actions but he supported the idea of an abortion as he was enlighten by his basketball coach and knew that this was not the correct path as they were still very young and would certainly have no means of supporting the baby. I feel that his decision was very mature as compared to his past actions with the girl and it should be better if the baby was aborted as the time was not right.
There was a quote in the movie which really caught me. "Our deepest is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frighten us. Your playing small does not serve the world there was nothing enlighten about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine like children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same as we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others."
The scene was really heartwarming as all his players stood up for him although the coach was fired from service. Timo finally realised what his mistakes were and what his coach had been trying to teach him, to teach the whole team. He says that everyone has an equal chance and when you are succeeding, you are also giveing others the opportunity to do the same. Although they were very notorious in the past, they were still special and shone like all children do. The link to this video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkdgK3adrmw
'Coach Carter' is one of my favourite movies and really has a lot meaning to this film. I really encourage everyone to watch it as you would really be very touched and I hope to have a chance to showcase this movie to my classmates.
