Peaceful Warrior

I read this book when I was 19 and it actually changed my life. (I even became a Vegetarian. LONG before it became popular in the Midwest.) This movie was just OK. I'm glad I did not have to pay to see it. I took my Wife with me to see it and she, having not read the book, was confused as to how this story could have had such a profound effect on me. The movie is like a rather poor cliff-notes version of the book. The acting is a bit wooden and you never get to know the main character enough to care much about him. There are some significant changes to the plot from the book to the movie. These are major changes that reduce the importance and context of the lessons and reduce this to a "Karate-Kid" (as some other reviewers noticed) without a good script or decent action sequences and only so-so acting. Frankly, Sting would have been a better choice for the casting of Socrates. My advice would be to read the book and skip the movie unless you "REALLY" like one of the actors in it and will see anything they make just because.

Absolute disappointment. A worn-out myth for those unable to find anything precious in just being what they are. Incredibly didactic, with not much artistic vein,no sense of measure and proportion, a bit of a "How to kill philosophy" with cute faces, a poor drama, a mediocre script and pitiful performance. All in all: a secondhand breviary of commonplaces plus a necessary happy ending. As for the income, it must have been a success. Why? A sixteen-year-old teenager, a daydreamer obsessed with money and fame, and girls, and drugs, wow! That's what they want: a guru (a recipe for life)and the illusion of having a personality (self-deception and pretense). Alright then. Consume and digest. Carry on, dream your non-existence away, but let me rather remember the good old days and watch Bergman, Fellini or Monty Python"s The Meaning of Life instead.

Alright, so going through the reviews it's painfully obvious someone who created the movie is writing overwhelmingly positive reviews under recently created accounts to bump up the IMDb score... seeing how they all give ten stars, have atrocious grammar, and are all within the same time frame. And, every other review names the movie as it actually is, a disgusting waste. Now, the fake comments easily summarize the movie for what it is; a fake, corporate, pretentious and phoned-in mess. The movie was written as a Hallmark produced pamphlet of inspirational quotes- which really isn't that far from the original source material. Mindless things you've heard a thousand times, like "be yourself!" and "live in the now!". The dialogue is cringe, clichéd and delivered with obnoxious performances. I hate Nick Nolte for this. His stupid, monotone, pretentious lines and delivery; his character, named Socrates, is so infuriatingly on- the-nose with third grade reading level symbolism it's disgusting. Our main man is an Andrew Garfield discount, with a third of the charm or skill. He is written the way evangelical moms or corporate producers think college students are like. He's insufferable, unlikable, and you're frustrated or bored with him. The characters are all cardboard cutouts and fill some stupid, mindless quota of what some dribbling idiot thought a movie about sports and inspirational quotes should be. The story line and pacing alone will make you irritated. The cinematography and set design is so bad, it somehow makes Berkeley and the East Bay look like a stucco and beige paint wasteland. The shots are vague and boring, over-the-shoulder. Everything feels so plastic and fake (which also describes the entire movie). This movie is for idiots who like sports that nobody cares about, and have such completely worthless lives they need to pick up HallMark cards with slogans literally written into this movie. God almighty.

This may not be the worst movie I've ever seen, but it's certainly in the bottom three. I hate to say it because they gave me a free ticket, but the film manages to be both creepy and incredibly boring at the same time. It's a cheap rip-off of 1984's The Karate Kid, without karate, a kid, or Pat Morita. (Yes, it's that bad.) I kept hoping the main character's leg would shatter into a million pieces, as in the opening scene, so I could leave the theater. It's really too bad, because I hoped that the marketing ploy of giving away thousands of free tickets would prove successful, so other films would repeat it. But, this movie is not worth my time, even when the ticket is free. It says a great deal about how bad this film is when I say that the best scenes involve shots of men's gymnastics. I'm sure it's a demanding sport, but it's not visually the most exciting thing that ever happened on film. I never developed any empathy for or rapport with the main character. In fact, although I don't usually approve of on-screen violence, I kept hoping he would crash his motorcycle head-on into an 18-wheeler, just to put us both out of our misery. Pride is a better sports movie. The Shooter is a better action flick. Namesake is a better exploration of spirituality and cultures. I finally left the theater and went home to do something fun like organize my linen closet -- the movie is that bad!

I have seen Peaceful Warrior three times and get more out of it with each showing! Everyone who has come to see it plans on seeing it again and they are bringing more friends. I think this is the summer time "sleeper" hit. It has opened in limited release on the West coast, but will get a wider release in the upcoming weeks. Not only is it entertaining, it is loaded with great messages without being preachy and saccharine-laced. The camera-work, editing, direction, and acting are all first rate. It is clear that this film is a labor of love as opposed to a labor of over the top, slam-bang, car chasing, explosion laced commercialism. If you are looking for a true feel good movie for a change, get out and see this one.

It's like sitting in a coffee shop for two hours listening to someone who thinks they're deep...but really isn't deep at all. If that's your sort of thing, have at it. Besides, the basic premise is completely unrealistic. Why would a kid who has it all - looks, popularity, women - even notice much less listen to the ramblings of a gas station attendant? Call it unenlightened, but no college kid (ever) in the situation of this character would act like this. The music's over-the-top, but it perfectly matches the over-the-top dialogue, picture cuts, sound effects, etc. Kudos to the composer for "getting into the mind of the producer/director". I'm sure they loved the score... There are some nice visual images and creative moments (trophy smashing), but they're overrun by heavy-handedness and lack of subtlety. I have not read the book, so I am a different audience member than one who has. If you loved the book, perhaps you will also love the movie. If you've read the book, perhaps you'll understand why this kid is talking to the gas guy in the first place.

A truly inspiring movie that everyone can relate to in some way. This movie is not going to please everyone because you have to see it for what it is, a movie about self awareness, its not a typical 'lets go out on a Friday night to be entertained' kind of movie. It's not just about gymnasts; anyone can relate to it. Take this movie for what it is, don't read too far into the message and you will enjoy it. Some people are saying it's a cheesy movie with an overplayed message, but I say that those people don't even see what the movie is about. Maybe it didn't speak to them, and maybe their expectations were off. The message is certainly not over-played, and there needs to be more movies of this up-coming genre.

I went to the premiere of "Peaceful Warrior" last night in Santa Monica, at the opening of the Inspiration Film Festival. I didn't know what the movie was about, but I received free tix from someone who worked at the festival and told my girlfriend and I that there was a lot of buzz flowing about it in the spiritual community. Well, let me add my own buzz. This might be second worst movie I've seen this year. "The Karate Kid" was a treacly, formulaic story of an adolescent learning his buddhist lessons well and finally overcoming the bully in the end. "The Peaceful Warrior" is a treacly, formulaic story about an adolescent college student who learns his buddhist lessons well (from Nick Nolte???) and must face the film's final test. Will he win or will he lose? You'll figure it out within the first 10 minutes of the film. And if the awful, telegraphed, on-the-nose dialog doesn't convince you, the loud, soaring, predictable music at every emotional pinnacle will certainly make sure you don't miss the point. There isn't a surprising moment in this whole film.

I read the book back in the mid '80s and at that time there was much I did not understand fully,I may have thought I did however as the last 20 years have bloomed in my life I know that my views were clouded by what I thought I knew rather than the experiences and revelations which come to a life consciously lived. That is what this movie is all about,breaking free from all the misconceptions we have and living in the moment,a moment that is rich with all the things we think are missing and in actuality are present in every heartbeat,so close and in our face that most of us miss it. Its what Socrates calls being asleep while walking around living our lives and missing the fullness of life which surrounds us completely. I saw this movie then re-read the book and while I would recommend the book over the Movie,if you go into the theater with a mind willing to see something new about yourself,as opposed to being a critic,then it is possible to come away with a new prospective about your place in this world. Of course letting go of what we call mind would be even better. If anyone has ever read "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu then you know what the Peaceful Warrior concept is all about. The greatest warrior of all is one who has resolved the battle within oneself. That is what this Movie is showing us and in my view the human race would be far better if all did this work. Very few movies actually leave you with something to consider about how we run our lives in the way this one does and if you are willing to be open to these lessons,then you will get far more than the price of admission. This one is worth 10 stars,for what it shows us about ourselves.

I highly recommend this movie. Actually there are two movies, an excellent sports movie, and and even better movie about the human spirit. There are many important messages. It really is amazing what you can do when you are truly in the now, completely present. Nick Nolte plays a very grounded sage who's ability to teach Dan with out preaching could get him nominated for best supporting actor. I loved Scott Mechlowicz as Dan. He surely is one of then best young actors in the business. The fact that you still love him in the beginning when he is so full of himself and his self importance is a tribute to Scott as a person and his acting ability. And who wouldn't want Amy Smart to heal his or her broken heart.