Why so much hype?

Don't Believe the Hype

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Whenever I view a film, afterwards I ask myself the question, "could I have made a better movie at the time?" The answer for me, for "Vision Quest", is no! Vision Quest has a fantastic script, a bunch of talented actors, and smart direction. I'm not sure why it is ranked so mediocre on here, but that's a serious mistake. This is a GREAT film, that is especially poignant for older adolescent viewers. I highly recommend you watch "Vision Quest"!

Vision Quest is a movie I can relate to because I wrestled and graduated in 1985. It is a movie which is not perfect, there are flaws, but it covers the gambit of the stereotypical 80's jock who is trying to win the heart of an older woman, dealing with school and also attempting to wrestle the state champ of a weight class two classes below him.Matthew Modine is also one of my favorite actors. He plays the lead part of Louden Swain, the high school wrestler. Then there is a cast of famous and infamous people, including Madonna (lounge singer), Linda Fiorentino (love interest), Michael Schoeffling (Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles), Ronny Cox (RoboCop), Forest Whitaker (too many to list), and many more.The other thing is the soundtrack. I purchased the cassette tape and played it until it was worn out. Journey, Sammy Hagar, Madonna, Dio (Ronnie James Dio), Don Henley, Foreigner, John Waite, Style Council and Red Rider. Then it also has small cuts from popular songs, such as Berlin (No More Words), Quarterflash (Harden My Heart) REO Speedwagon (Time For Me To Fly), It is the simplicity of the movie that I like the most. The young male character who is a virgin but thinks he knows what women desire, the young girl going to California to find a future, the good friend who has a drunk father, the challenge that no one thinks you can accomplish.There are no special effects and no unbelievable stories. It's down to Earth with a story many people can relate to, with real characters, in a city which isn't big or glamorous.

This film, which features Madonna about the time she hit it big, stands as the only major studio work about high school or collegiate style wrestling. The film tells the story of Louden Swain, a high school senior who has been wrestling for barely two years. Because of his "balance" and natural gifts, he's already a state champion and the best in his weight class. But that's not enough. The tall and lanky wrestler, played by Matthew Modine, decides that the path to glory is to starve and sweat himself down two weight classes so that he can challenge the unbeatable 3-time state champion, Brian Shute. Shute trains by walking up and down stadium bleachers holding an 18 inch wooden telephone pole.For Swain, making weight is a long and arduous process, consisting of constant running and frequent nosebleeds. Swain's sanity and competence are questioned by everyone else in his drab suburb of Spokane, WA. Meanwhile his only inspirations come from a beautiful, feisty 20-something wild flower named Carla, played by Linda Fiorentino, who drifts into town and bunks with Swain and his dad for a while.All in all there are a lot of problems with this film. First off, the writers have little understanding of Wrestling as a sport. Matches end for no reason and scoring is inconsistent. In one scene, the home team forfeits the match simply because the away team has taken the lead, meaning the last couple wrestlers forgo their matches. Anyone who knows Wrestling remotely knows that this doesn't happen. Imagine your hometown baseball team is down 10-0 in the 3rd Inning. Even the Cubs would finish that game.Also, like with Chess, champions in Wrestling are never made in a matter of two seasons. But inaccuracy and uninformed fantasy aside, there's more.When not starving himself and risking his health to reach his goal, our "hero" is babbling on about virtues and character. Yet in one scene he tries to force himself sexually on his house guest/love, Carla, before she punches him in the face (prompting nosebleeds, again), only to have it brushed under the rug when she shows up to cheer him on at his wrestling meet.In the end, boy wins girl, boy beats the unbeatable champion, and returns to high school and a normal diet. But Vision Quest will leave you and anyone who's not an anorexic, nerdy, sexually deviant excuse for an athlete wondering what the hell you've just watched for two hours.But social issues and hang-ups aside, Vision Quest is just a bad, bad film.written by Andy Frye, MySportsComplex.blogspot.com

This is a classic 80's movie that's actually quite enjoyable. The acting is a little uneven, but not enough to ruin the film. The monotone performance of Linda Fiorentino contrasts with Matthew Modine's child-like wonderment persona, yet they still somehow have chemistry. The character, Louden Swain, is a die-hard optimist who has big dreams for the future. Matthew Modine does an inspiring job in becoming this character. Bottom-line, this movie is all Modine. He carried this film and it would never have worked without him. Whenever I call in at work, this is my "go to" movie that I pop in to pass the time. It's a fun movie that you can watch over and over again. Yes, parts of it are quite cheesy but that's what makes it even more amusing. Great 80's soundtrack too! Enjoy!-RM