Customer Reviews

Peaceful Warrior

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was introduced to this movie in a learning environment where we focused on the life lessons it provided. The group was an extremely varied group - newcomers, youth, adults, low and high incomes - but all found the movie quite profound.

I've since featured it with a women's group in a sort of Movie Club (like Book club but with movies) and again, it generated lengthy discussion about the impact on how we choose to live our lives and deal with what we're given.

If you try to write down the lines that you find could be motivating or inspirational, you'd fill 5 pages in a notebook! I could build a 3 hour workshop out of pretty much any 15 minute segment. This movie is simply an enjoyable view, but it also has major motivational qualities and can be watched time after time; never getting old.

I've read Dan Millman's books (Peaceful Warrior series) and found them inspirational. I was really looking forward to the same when I sat down to watch the movie last night. Unfortunately, there was a lot left out and too much added to make the movie more palatable to the mass market, I suspect. The movie is not about one man's spiritual quest as is the book, but about achieving top honors in an athletic event (and keeping your good buddies along the way), which has been done before, over and over again. The ending was really stupid and very disappointing. Also, though I love Nick Nolte, I think he was poorly cast in this role. He doesn't deliver spiritual truth with any crediblity and mumbles a lot.

Ok, so I'm biased. I loved it, and the only reason I gave it four stars is because they left some things out from the book. But just because they skewed the story line to make it a bit more cohesive for the screen doesn't mean that the stuff from the book isn't delivered well. Great cast, Nolte is surpsrisingly good in what can only be a hard role to play... and who knew creepy director Victor Salva had this sort of thing in him!?

For those of you who have read and cherish the book, I think you'll enjoy this, if at the bare minimum beacuse it's really something to see this book come into something more tangible. See the story in a different medium.

For those of you who have not read the book... watch it. If you enjoy it, Dan Millman is a real man, and you should check him out. You might learn a thing or two.

For those of you who are UNIMPRESSED with what is fundamentally and actually profound wisdom within this tale (as a suprising many were!), I offer you a story about a man. His name was Christopher Columbus. There was a time when people did not revere him as they do today. That time was his own, and a leader of men told him that anyone could do what he had done. Others concured. Columbus then told them that he could stand an egg on end, and that he was certain they couldn't. They all tried, and agreed that it was impossible, after flopping eggs came to a standstill. They patiently waited for Columbus to fail along with them. He then knocked the end of the egg on the wooden table very smoothly and gently, thus making the end flat. It stood, and as Columbus walked out of the room, someone was enough of a dullard to say "oh, I could have thought of that, had I more time."

I have the book at home and I read it more and more times. When you have understand a step, the next time you discover another one. Sure it's difficult to translate such a book into a movie, but I think there is the pricipal idea. For those who don't have read the book, this film can be a release mechamisn to buy it.
Great.

Quel film extraordinaire!!!!! Tiré d'une histoire vraie, c'est un film inspirant qui nous transmet les valeurs de la vie et les secrets du bonheur et de la sérénité. Pour comprendre le sens de la vie et comment la vivre pleinement. Vive le moment présent!Chaque moment est unique! Il n'y a que cela de vrai! Bon visionnement! Vous allez adorer! Un seul bémol, ce film est en version anglaise seulement, mais avec sous-titres français. À quand la version française? Merci, M. Millman, d'avoir partagé avec nous un peu de votre vie...