The Final Season (2007)

One of the good movies to watch on Video

My wife taught in the Benton county school district for 19 years. The actual school district that merged with Norway and not Madison. There is no Madison county in Iowa. But for some reason the name was changed. The events around the merging were already in place when we moved from the area. We knew Norway had always had good baseball teams. But I never knew how good until I saw the film. I knew that pitcher Mike Boddicker had played for Norway before becoming professional.

I thought the screen play was pretty good overall. Mitch, the son of Burt Akers played by Tom Arnold, may be ficticious, but it worked okay. Of course Tom Arnold is a native Iowan. Sean Aston played a good coach in the film. Our son played baseball all through school and Aston did a good job.

Whether there was as much tension between the school district board and towns people I wouldn't know. Many of the scenes were filmed in the area and in nearby Cedar Rapids as was the final championship game that was supposed to be in Des Moines. I don't think the Des Moines Register would assign a reporter to cover the Norway baseball season. The Cedar Rapids local newspaper would be more likely to cover area schools.

I like this movie for as much as it shows my native state and areas where I grew up and know. But I also like the story of the team that won it's final season as state champions before merging its school with another district. I think the film is a good film. November 26, 2008

Should Be an Insipiration to Players AND Coaches!

When it comes down to it, not everybody is always looking forward to the latest in baseball movies, regardless of how funny or hilarious they might seem to be. The last great one I'd seen turned out to by my favorite, and that was 61*. So when I heard of "The Final Season," through a radio station, it caught my attention. But since my wife and I were on our way to work, we quickly forgot about it. That is, until we saw it in the store, and we both said, "We heard of that!" And we jumped all over it.

This is the true story of Jim Van Scoyoc, Kent Stock, and a very special baseball team located in Norway, Iowa. Championships were piling up, one more and it would be 20 even, and baseball was everything to this small town! But to the local school board, a merger is more important, and everything precious to the town of Norway is in jeopardy. And while Jim Van Scoyoc steps down, Kent Stock steps in to finish what was started. And being a girls volleyball coach in the past, Stock is immediately faced with doubts, and some heavy adversity. Is this guy really the right man for the job? Is he a championship coach like the legend, Van Scoyoc? Even a player or two thinks this just might be a lost cause, and they let it be known. But with hard work, and dedication to what this team deserves, Kent Stock is ready to turn some heads and to win that 20th championship.

There isn't much goofy stuff that goes on in this movie. Small town America means everything to those who live in small towns. And the whole movie just kept my attention to the end! My personal favorite scenes were the infield practice, to get into the other teams' heads! And in the end, there just wasn't anything to complain about. Plus there is a lot of good baseball action through the course of the film.

When you pick this up, don't just look for the flash. Look for something special that goes beyond the glory, look for something that inspires. Because as one who used to play baseball, it inspired me. And if I were a coach, it would get me going even more! November 14, 2008

Don't overlook this gem!

First let me say that while I appreciate sports, I am not a sport's fan. None the less, I do love movies that incorporate sports with relationships and many other things as they tell a good story. This movie was based on a true story that I'm glad was told.

There is plenty of baseball for the sport's fan and plenty of drama, values, romance, and other things for those that aren't. It is a "feel good" movie that inspires one to believe and strive for their full potential even when the deck is stacked against you.

Final season develops around a small town in Iowa and a team that lives and breathes baseball. This town supports their players as heroes. Even after many hours of hard farm work, the team still manages to pull off championships against the bigger schools. However they are faced with a school merger that gives just one season left to add to that history. The school board even forces the successful coach to retire and the final season is played with his assistant coach that the board hired hoping that he wouldn't inspire the team to win.

Watch to see all the characters bond together and find themselves as much as the love of the game. September 27, 2008

The Last Season

Thought it was agood true story. Norway has since become a ghost towo as sorts. Most stores are closed down so thay used our town to shoot most town scene. Enjoyed the movie even though it was not big on the big screen. June 5, 2008

Feel good movie

This is a great, simple, feel good movie. Can't go wrong---baseball and small town America! Must see. May 30, 2008

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