In the world of birds, there are many fascinating and mesmerizing species. One such captivating bird is the magic bird, a creature known for its unique abilities and stunning appearance. A magic bird documentary would delve into the lives of these extraordinary creatures, shedding light on their behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts. The documentary would begin by introducing viewers to the magic bird species, providing an overview of their physical characteristics and the regions they inhabit. With its vibrant and iridescent plumage, the magic bird is truly a sight to behold. From its shimmering feathers to its enchanting songs, these birds are renowned for their mesmerizing displays.

User Reviews

As a basketball fan and knowing that HBO does an excellent job with documentaries, I had high expectations for this, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Born in 1981, I never fully appreciated the rivalry as it was happening, but this certainly put it in perspective. It covers every intricacy of both the rivalry and the two men as individuals. After viewing it I'm not sure that there is any story in the history of sports that's as unique and special as Bird and Magic.

It started in 1979 with the NCAA championship and continued on to the NBA for several years.

On one hand you have Bird, the introverted type-A personality from Indiana; on the other you have Magic, the happy-go-lucky extrovert. The two men couldn't be more different personality-wise. So naturally in the early stages of the rivalry they had every reason to dislike each other. Yet as things progressed and as they found out more about each other, the relationship softened. For all their differences, they were eerily similar on the court and because of that there was a deep-rooted respect. Things really started to change when they got together to shoot a commercial for Converse at Bird's home in Indiana. And when Magic first announced he had HIV, Bird was one of the first people to reach out to him. It's obvious how much that meant to Magic.

I believe that every professional athlete can learn so much from both of these guys. The respect they have for the game and for each other represents the greatness of sports. It's really what it's all about and this documentary captures it like nothing else I've ever seen. Brilliantly done.

I also found it amazing how much pain Bird was in during the latter stages of his career. Yet he kept toughing it out game after game, season after season. You'd be hard pressed to find any one who'd do that in today's game.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (2010)

Exceptional documentary covering the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The film covers their first meeting in high school, their battle for the NCAA National Championship and then their battles in the NBA. Throughout their battles on the court we get to see what made the two men who they become, what different things they were doing off the court and finally what brought the two of them together as friends. If you're a sports fan then you already know this story but it's really amazing what this HBO documentary is able to do because it's just so excellent that it really makes you forget what you already know and it makes you feel as if you're hearing these stories for the first time. The documentary is just so much fun and so touching that you can't help but get caught up in the excitement in these two men. The documentary starts off talking about Johnson and Bird's early lives and we learn where they got their drive to try and become the greatest of their era. This strong passion forced both of them to see the other as the rival and it's just fascinating seeing two people with so much passion and fighting for the same thing. If you know the story then you know many of the stuff discussed here but it's still very entertaining. This includes their first shot at a friendship while shooting a commercial and then there's the story of Johnson's announcement that he's HIV positive. Sport fans are really going to be impressed with this documentary but the film is so strong that even those who don't know Bird and Magic will still find this entertaining. This is certainly one of the most energetic and touching documentaries that's out there and it's well worth watching.

What a lovely and well done documentary. I didn't plan to watch it all but the story just made me sit back and soak it all in. I wish I could have seen these two play. I started following the sport when I saw Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.

If you are fan of these two great basketball players and want to know more about them and their lifes this is a really good one to get that. You will end understanding how great was that era with these two legends and how amazing they were.

It's avaiable on You Tube in TheNBAHistorian, an Official channel!

. Some may think one hour and a half of documentary about a rivalty in basketball would drag in some point but it doesn't and that's mainly because Aaron Cohen and Charles Olivier built a brilliant narrative. There are funny, dramatic, emotional and tense moments, we feel the roller coaster that is an athlete's life and these two have very interesting experiences. The film explores everything about Magic and Bird and shows how different they are personaly and professionaly. It covers their childhoods, their teenager years, how they got in the professional basketball, their careers and hobbies and when and why they retired. Always in order to make audience understand their personalities and choices in life. Nothing in the documentary is out of place. Magic is extrovert, really charismatic and fits the city life, Hollywood, fame, while Bird is very shy and simple, more apart from media. There is also an attention to the historical context in which they reached stardom, the Civil Rights era, when the different color of the players used to matter a lot to the fans and was a reason for fights inside and outside the court. Moreover, the material they have: pictures, match and advertising videos plus interviews is fantastic and beautifuly gathered by Charles Olivier. I loved the documentary because I fell in love with Magic and Bird and their incredible stories and relashionship so I can't recommend this film enough to anyone that enjoys sports and documentaries.

For all my youth, Magic was the one, with even ever seeing the man play, but after seeing this Documentary, ewrything changed, and Larry Bird became my favorit Sports Star. This is the one Documentary, and the one Sports Rivalry that Towers above any one in Sports History. Its a Must watch.

If you grew up watching basketball in the 80's then you knew all about the Magic v. Bird rivalry. My brother is a Lakers fan to this day because of Magic and the Showtime Lakers, and I'm sure there are many Celtics fans out there because of Bird.

This documentary chronicles their upbringing and their rivalry that began in college. There are interviews from pros, fans, and analysts about the two. Their rivalry may have been exaggerated for the sake of the NBA, but it wasn't a myth, and the world benefited as a result.

Well, this basketball documentary about Bird & Magic tries another approach than the amazing, fantastic, incredible comments from the NBA production. Here, it's more psychological with less highlights and more interviews! But, finally, I found it boring and as much « false » : it's like basketball which is a team sport can be reduced to only one player, even if he has extraordinary skills. All the more i must say that Magic exhausts me with his constant smile and laughs and i prefer without hesitation Bird who does his job and quits. The documentary is however interesting about their early career (rare footages) and make understand how those 2 players just fit with their city. Just imagine if Bird had played in LA and Magic in Boston . The other thing that we can understand is how their competitiveness and thirst for victories can never be quenched .

For basketball fans this is amazing. Spectacular simple and easy to understand. Only thing lacking is that it is maybe not perfect for people like me who never watched a single game. You get the basics and understand their life story and how important they were to the game. Yet the doc never tries to hype them up or explain smaller things like tactics or NBA history. Rather we just follow their careers. Some pundits here claim that Magic and Bird saved NBA which is what I have heard too. Yet it is never explained. We just see them compete and then talk about it in 2010. No monetary deals are mentioned, no team history, no win streaks explained, no team profit margins revealed. It's just 2 great athletes. Which is a shame because if they did save NBA then surely that part is essential to their stories. Instead it looks like any doc about any good athlete. They played well, got sick, stopped. What did they influence?

Also, while Magic is presented as an amazing player Bird is kinda at times presented as just this White guy who is good at basketball who was hyped up for being White. They for example only mention he was good at shooting by having a teammate explain how he saw it in training. But Bird is still one of the best 3 point shooters of all time and clearly did this stuff in games. From the doc it was not clear what he did or what his playing style was. With Magic they go into greater details. Also, it did seem like Magic was a much bigger star overall which at times they didn't explain so it seemed like he was a way better player. Bird didn't like to give interviews or meet new people so Magic was a bigger showman overall and maybe Bird alone would not have saved NBA as he would just be a boring good player. The fight with Magic made him an essence of NBA. A showman by just playing.

Honestly if you know what they did to NBA already and how much profit they produced and how they popularized the game then this is ideal for you. You will not see how famous they were or are just that they were great players with many fans. Maybe having modern players and coaches talk about them too would have made this clear. Like modern Celtics and LA Lakers players and fans. That would illustrate it all to people who don't follow the teams. It would make it clear that they changed the game. Instead you just have to know this before watching it.

The story of how these complete opposite personalities became friends is fascinating. And watching them interact, and describe their different perceptions of various social situations is really entertaining.

From its shimmering feathers to its enchanting songs, these birds are renowned for their mesmerizing displays. The documentary would then transition into exploring the behavior and lifestyle of magic birds. Viewers would witness their impressive courtship rituals, which often involve intricate dances and vocalizations.

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Magic bird documentary

The saying in boxing is that "styles make fights." It means that two elegant matadors like Muhammad Ali, or two rampaging bulls like Joe Frazier, wouldn't have contested the classics fought by one Muhammad Ali and one Joe Frazier. The saying is true, and its truth extends beyond boxing to all sporting rivalries.

And, just as "fights" is not limited to boxing matches, "style" is not limited to physical methods of competition. "Style" includes styles of speaking, styles of thinking, styles of living. And, of course, "style" also includes skin color.

"Magic & Bird" is available from Netflix, Amazon Instant and iTunes.

At the time it most needed it, the NBA hosted a rivalry between two men who were stylistically so opposed but so similar in ability that they seemed like the creations of a hack screenwriter. Both were 6'9". Both were brilliant. One shone on the West Coast and the other on the East. One was black and the other white. One was extroverted even by the standards of Hollywood, which welcomed him; the other seemed introverted even by the standards of French Lick, Indiana, the "one stoplight town" where he grew up. Together, they ignited their sport.

"One of my pet peeves is when people say, 'Oh, Michael Jordan saved the NBA,'" says the sportscaster Bryant Gumble in Ezra Edelman's 2010 documentary "Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals". "Bullshit!" he adds, repeating the expletive for emphasis. "Magic and Larry saved the NBA."

Many sporting rivalries occur between two players who dislike each other, and begin because of a violent clash, a disputed result or an outburst amplified in the media. These rivalries are generally perpetuated by the athletes involved, whom society allows an ugly petulance it expects the rest of us to leave in childhood.

A better class of rivalry occurs between two players from competing teams who happen to be simultaneously noteworthy. These rivalries are generally perpetuated by the press, who have to report something besides score lines and statistics.

But the great rivalries are different. They occur between two exceptional players who, ironically, do not need anyone else to push them to compete and force them to excel. The players involved come to resent not just their opponent but the rivalry itself, which alters them, overwhelms them and intrudes on their sense of self. These rivalries seem ordained by fate and perpetuated by some universal law of inevitability. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had that kind of rivalry.

It began in the final of the 1979 NCAA Championship, when Bird's Indiana State met Johnson's Michigan State in the most watched game in college basketball history. Indiana lacked major talent besides Bird and so Michigan deployed two players to flank him wherever he went, like guards from a maximum security prison transporting a serial killer. Johnson was not similarly encumbered, and Michigan took the title. Round 1 went to Magic.

The next year, in his first season in the NBA, Johnson played superbly. But Bird was better, and was named Rookie of Year. Round 2 went to Larry. Bird's victory upset Johnson, who went out to play against Philadelphia in the sixth game of the 1980 NBA finals desperate to prove himself the better player. What followed is a legend that scarcely needs repeating: after an injury to Lakers linchpin Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, a point guard, started at center. In a spectacular display of all-court artistry, he played in all five positions and won the LA Lakers the NBA title. Bird, whose Boston Celtics had lost in the conference finals, had to watch on TV. Round 3 went to Magic. And so it went on.

It's still going on. "They talk about it every day, somewhere," says Bird in the opening moments of Edelman's movie. "If I go to a foreign country, it's 'Magic! Magic! Where's Magic?' It's the same everywhere." Bird seems sullen and hopeless, as if he is suddenly realizing that the documentary is only going to strengthen the association and worsen the situation. He looks as if he'd welcome an intrusive enquiry about his sex life just to change the subject.

Johnson, as ever, is more upbeat: "You know you got this tight bond with this cat, and you don't have to see him for a year or two, but you always going to be linked to him."

That "you" is interesting: it's a conversational tic, but it's also a polite attempt to involve us in a situation we can never share. Johnson doesn't mean "you". He means "I." "You" suggests that you or I could ever know what it is like to be indisputably one of the best basketball players of all time and yet always prevented from being indisputably the best basketball player of your time by the same one man.

Edelman understands this. Where films like "Magic & Bird" often fail is that they attempt to show us something we can never see. This film knows that, no matter how many analysts it enlists, how many confidants and commentators it includes to explain and contextualize its subject, those contributors will, like us, always be outsiders. Only Magic and Bird can ever understand what it means to be Magic and Bird.

Films like this one also often fail because their directors are simply so spoiled with good footage that the films become just extended highlight reels. Edelman avoids this: he knows that, used well, archive game footage can illustrate his story better than any talking head interview, even when the head that is talking belongs to Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.

The best footage in the film comes from 1978, before Bird and Johnson made it to the NBA and before they even made it to the NCAA Championship game. The infamous adversaries played with each other before they played against each other, when they were both chosen for Team USA. When they weren't on court, says Johnson, the US lead in a game would hover around 10 or 15 points. When the coach brought Bird and Johnson off the bench, the lead would zoom up to 25 or 30. When he called them back to it, the lead would sink back to 10.

In one scintillating improvised attack, we see Johnson flick the ball to Bird without looking. Bird collects it and glides like a ghost through two opponents before passing it back to Johnson without even glancing in his direction. The ball reappears in Johnson's hand, and he eases it into the basket. This all seems to be one motion, the product of one thought, as if the two players were somehow the same player standing in two places at once.

The others on court are irrelevant: Johnson and Bird are light years beyond them. The clip encapsulates what the rest of the film reinforces: athletes as elite as Johnson and Bird have an innate understanding of each other and occupy a place inaccessible to onlookers.

That unique kind of familiarity can breed a unique kind of contempt. Each man was infected with an unshakable obsession with the other. Bird would search the newspapers for Johnson's statistics after every Lakers game and measure himself against them. If he finished training for the day and hadn't made 500 shots, he would torture himself with thoughts that Johnson was sure to have reached that mark.

And when he beat Johnson, it was bliss. "I hope it hurt him. I hoped it killed him," says Bird of Boston's victory over LA in 1984 NBA finals. "He made some bad plays. and nobody was happier than me. [It's] not only winning the game [that] makes you feel good. It's knowing the other guy is suffering."

This is not unnecessary unpleasantness. It is simply an honest description of what it means to make your living by being one of the most competitive men in the world.

But, just as a connection like that between Bird and Johnson can initially breed a unique kind of contempt, it can eventually breed a unique kind of affection. John McEnroe spent his early tennis career wishing his only equal, Bjorn Borg, would just disappear. But when Borg did disappear, when he retired abruptly at 26, McEnroe was disconsolate. At times, he wanted to retire too: he saw little point in playing if Borg was not around to play against. So it was with Bird and Johnson.

After the press conference at which Johnson announced his retirement because he had contracted HIV, Magic was happy and hopeful. But Bird was engulfed by depression. He felt as bad, he says, as he did when his father died. He played on for another season, "but it wasn't the same." He stopped checking the newspapers for stats. He stopped trying as hard. There was no need to better himself, now that there was no need to better Magic Johnson.

When people think you're about to get AIDS and die, says Johnson, your friends thin out pretty quickly. It is only then, he has learned, that you truly see who cares for you. When Johnson caught HIV, Bird called him to tell him that he cared, and that he cared very much. Johnson weeps as he tells this story. That phone call was, he says, just "the greatest moment."

"Magic & Bird" is a straightforward, 90-minute HBO TV movie. As an evocation of a culturally significant sporting clash, it cannot match up to "When We Were Kings" and, as a basketball documentary, it is hardly "Hoop Dreams." But, in those moments when it reveals how a great rivalry can enrich a man as much as a great romance, it becomes a wonderful film.

There is, however, another reason it is so affecting: it satisfies an urge felt by all of us who are ordinary.

Throughout Ron Shelton's "Cobb," Al Stump, the sportswriter played by Robert Wuhl, is abused by Ty Cobb, the greatest of great baseball players, played by Tommy Lee Jones. In one scene, Stump is asked why he spends so much time with Cobb, who is an appalling person, a vicious, violent, drunken criminal. Stump looks as if the answer should be obvious--and then, when he realises it isn't, he says simply, "He knows what it is to be great."

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson know what it is to be great--and it is that, as much as its intelligent retelling of their rivalry, that makes Edelman's film so appealing. "Magic & Bird" does not let us understand what it is to be great. But it lets us be around greatness. And that is always irresistible.

Scott Jordan Harris is a British film critic and sportswriter. He is editor of the books World Film Locations: New York and World Film Locations: New Orleans. He is on Twitter as @ScottFilmCritic. https://twitter.com/#!/ScottFilmCritic

Scott Jordan Harris

Scott Jordan Harris is a film critic from Great Britain. Formerly editor of The Spectator's arts blog and The Big Picture magazine, he is now a culture blogger for The Daily Telegraph; a contributor to BBC Radio 4's The Film Programme and Front Row.

HBO Documentary Revisits Magic Johnson-Larry Bird Rivalry That Saved Basketball

Magic and Bird. Bird and Magic. They were the two iconic figures of the NBA in the 1980s, the two men who saved the game and the two men who kept it alive for a generation of fans.

On the floor, they were similarly great players — team-oriented guys who made everyone around them better and would stop at nothing to win. Off the floor, they could not have been more different. They were the yin and yang of the NBA, the gregarious black superstar in Hollywood and the quiet, introspective white guy dubbed the "Hick from French Lick."

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the two subjects of Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, a made-for-TV documentary that premieres March 6 on HBO. The film, directed by Ezra Edelman and produced by HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, goes inside the lives of the two NBA legends, examining both the players and the men who epitomized basketball in the 1980s.

The story of Magic and Bird begins in 1979. That's when Magic's Michigan State Spartans and Bird's Indiana State Sycamores, the nation's two best teams led by the nation's two biggest stars, met in the NCAA Tournament final. It was the highest-rated college basketball game in history and it was a game that would forever alter the landscape of basketball in America.

The game catapulted Magic and Bird to even more attention on the national stage. Magic reveled in that attention; Bird shied away from it. But both went on to become immediate superstars in the NBA, as Magic went No. 1 overall to the L.A. Lakers, and Bird went to the Celtics, who drafted him the previous year.

Magic became caught up in fame and stardom in Hollywood — he went to countless parties, met countless women and became a superstar in every sense of the word. Bird was the complete opposite. He was gritty, hardworking and relentless. He dove into scorers' tables for loose balls. He was quick to fight with opposing players. He went about his business — he showed up, he won and he went home. He would rather be seen mowing his lawn outside his rural Indiana home than partying on the town.

But it was their difference in race that was magnified by the political climate in America in the '80s. Bird shied away from the issue; he hated being called the "Great White Hope" of the NBA. To all outward appearances, he was the only man in America who really just didn't see race.

The film captures all of these psychological and cultural contrasts between Magic and Bird in living color, but more importantly, it chronicles their historic rivalry on the court. Between 1980 and 1989, every NBA Finals featured either Magic or Bird. Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met head-to-head three times, in 1984, '85 and '87. You see all the key moments, from Bird's heroic performance in '84 to Magic's famous "baby sky hook" that sank the Celtics three years later.

For all the great moments on the floor, there were traumatic moments off it. Bird endured a childhood of poverty, with fighting parents and an alcoholic father dealing with post-traumatic stress after a tour in Korea. His parents eventually split up and his father committed suicide.

Magic's lust for life caught up to him. His diagnosis with HIV in 1991 brought his career to a halt and made the world realize his mortality. Magic was 32, and his reign as one of the greatest players of all time had been tragically cut short.

But his legacy lived on, as did Bird's, despite a multitude of nagging injuries that kept him from playing on into his late 30s. Both men are remembered as saviors of a game that had lost its place in America's hearts.

There's a great moment toward the end of A Courtship of Rivals where Bryant Gumbel, one of the media figures featured prominently in the film, violently dismisses the idea that Michael Jordan saved the game of basketball. Magic and Larry saved the NBA, he argues. Magic and Larry.

After you've seen this documentary, it's hard to disagree. That's what the film is about: Two players who saved the game, and two men that a generation of fans will never forget.

Breeding and nesting habits would also be highlighted, showcasing the dedication and care that magic birds invest in raising their young. One of the most intriguing aspects of magic birds is their unique abilities. These birds possess extraordinary powers such as camouflage, telepathy, or even the ability to levitate. The documentary would delve into these mystical attributes, providing insights into how they have evolved and how they benefit the bird's survival in its natural habitat. The magic bird documentary would not only focus on the fascinating aspects of these birds but also shed light on the challenges they face. Habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal hunting are just a few of the issues that threaten the magic bird's existence. Viewers would gain a deeper understanding of these conservation challenges and the efforts being made to protect these enchanting creatures. Finally, the documentary would conclude by leaving viewers with a sense of wonder and awe for the magic bird species. By showcasing their magnificence and highlighting the importance of conservation, the film would serve as a call to action, inspiring viewers to appreciate and protect these magical creatures. Overall, a magic bird documentary would be a captivating exploration of these extraordinary birds. Through stunning visuals, educational content, and a focus on conservation, it would immerse viewers in the enchanting world of these mystical creatures and leave them with a newfound appreciation for the magic bird species..

Reviews for "Sorcery in Flight: Documenting the Magic Birds of the World"

1. John - ★☆☆☆☆

I found the "Magic Bird Documentary" to be incredibly dull and lacking in substance. The film merely scratches the surface of the legendary rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The storytelling was disjointed and there was a lack of depth in exploring the dynamics of their relationship. Moreover, the documentary felt rushed and didn't provide any new or insightful information. Overall, I was disappointed with the lackluster portrayal of these two basketball icons.

2. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆

As a basketball fan, I was excited to watch the "Magic Bird Documentary," but I ultimately found it to be underwhelming. The film focused too much on their accolades and highlights, rather than delving into the personal lives and struggles of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. I yearned for more behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that would have given me a deeper understanding of these players' motivations and personalities. Unfortunately, it felt like a missed opportunity to celebrate two basketball legends in a more intimate and meaningful way.

3. Michael - ★★☆☆☆

While the "Magic Bird Documentary" had potential, it failed to capture my interest throughout. The pacing was slow, and the film often got caught up in glorifying the players without offering much substance. I was hoping for a more critical and introspective look at Bird and Johnson's impact on the game and their respective teams, but it fell short in delivering any meaningful analysis. The documentary lacked depth and failed to provide a fresh perspective on the rivalry that has been extensively covered in other media.

4. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆

I was extremely disappointed by the "Magic Bird Documentary." The film felt like a glorified highlight reel rather than a comprehensive exploration of the rivalry between two basketball legends. The lack of new interviews or insights left me feeling unsatisfied and the disjointed narrative made it difficult to follow the chronology of events. Additionally, the excessive use of old footage made the documentary feel outdated. Overall, it missed the mark in capturing the essence of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's iconic rivalry.

Tales from the Skies: Unraveling the Legends of Magic Birds