Rating: 
Summary: So good that it's been copied ad naseum!
Review: "The Bad News Bears" is truly one of the greatest sports movies ever made. It's also one the most popular kids movies ever made. As a result of this success, its plot has been copied and redone by numerous imitators- "The Mighty Ducks," "Little Giants," and several others. However, this original still stands tall over its numerous copycats."The Bad News Bears" is about an ultra competitive southern California Little League which has been forced by a lawsuit to allow any child who wants to play into the league. The league complies with the letter of the settlement, but not its spirit by placing all the kids, who would not have made the league under its old rules, onto a single team- the Bears. The Bears get the players nobody wants- a pitcher whose throws don't make it to homeplate, an overweight, foodaholic catcher, a foulmouthed runt, a black Muslim, two very small Mexican Americans, a junior George F. Will (who is a great fan of baseball, but can't play a lick), the son of the city councilman who brought the lawsuit, and a total basketcase named Timmy Lupus. The Bears also get stuck with Buttermaker, an ex-minor league pitcher turned near alcoholic, swimming pool cleaner as their manager.(Walter Matthau.) The Bears, of course, are a terrible team and Buttermaker's lack of interest in helping them improve just adds to their wretchedness. League officials and the other teams revel in the humiliations heaped upon the Bears, who had dared to challenge this league's rules. However, Buttermaker starts to realize that by turning this team of misfits into winners he can actually make himself feel better about his life. Therefore, he goes out and recruits some ringers- the daughter of an ex-girlfriend to whom he taught all his old pitching tricks and the local juvenile delinquent who just happens to be the best player in the area. Also, the Bears actually had some talent. Thus, with their ringers playing terrifically and their untalented kids relegated to the bench, the Bears start to move up in the standings. Eventually, they meet the league's most talented and arrogant team, the Yankees (who else?), in the championship game. In the championship game, Buttermaker will realize that the Bears are not playing to make him feel good about himself, but that they are kids just trying to have fun. Watching the manager of the Yankees berate and bully his players, Buttermaker realizes that his own desire to win is ruining the enjoyment of playing for his ballplayers. Buttermaker makes a decision to ensure that the entire purpose of the Bears (that everyone who wants to play can play) will be fulfilled in this game. "The Bad News Bears" triumphs as a movie because of the winning performances of the kids, who were mostly played by total unknowns. These young actors really capture what it's like to be an 11-12 yr old boy- one moment full of cocky bravado and the next an easily discouraged child. This movie also has an ending which is very similar to the end of the original "Rocky." Like Rocky, the protagonists do not come out on top as to the final score, but it is they, not the champions, who celebrate in style in the end. Like Rocky Balboa, the Bears win respect and dignity, but they also had fun doing it.
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Summary: Good News for the Bad News Bears
Review: A great movie that hits it mark..unfortunately sprung two terrible sequels. THE BAD NEWS BEARS is a social commentary about when kids are taken out of the sandlot (which is more fun when kids are left to play among themselves) and organized by adults to play little league baseball and the result is chaos. Walter Matthau in one of his signature roles as coach Buttermaker (he even reprised the role in a parody of the film on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, in the now classic and hilarious BAD NEWS BEES sketch). Matthau is hilarious as the drunken, ex-big league ballplayer/pool cleaner hired by one of the parents to coach a bunch of losers in a competetive and elite Los Angeles little league organization. The kids are innocent, but honestly brutal in their depiction. Standout performances from Jackie Earl Haley (BREAKING AWAY)as Kelly Leak, the motorcycle riding punk who is also a great athlete, Chris Barnes as tough little Tanner Boyle (who supposedly takes on the whole seventh grade when he is humilated in the embarrassing first game loss), and of course Tatum O'Neal as the tough girl pitcher whose curve ball breaks 2 feet. All this works on a level of a family movie, but some situations are adult oriented. Watch the film on network television and it is butchered beyond recognition. On DVD and cable, it it way better because you see why some of the situations occur. One example is the scene when pitcher Joey Turner (Brandon Cruz -tv's COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER) throws at the head of batter Engelberg (Gary Lee Cavagnaro) and you'll know why. Actor Vic Morrow continues his string of bad guy roles even in this film as Coach Roy Turner and even the Yankees (a metaphor for elitistism) is used as a name of one of the teams as the arch rival of the Bears. Overall, entertaining and authentic with great casting.
Rating: 
Summary: A must see for every little leaguer
Review: A true little league baseball movie for everyone. After Rookie of the year and Little Big League, lets be real. The Bad News Bears is what it's all about. I purchased this movie for my 10 year old son who's currently playing little league. I loved it as a kid and sure he will too. We all know the story a bunch of misfit kids grouped together because no one else wants them coached by someone nobody would believe in. This is were true teamwork is formed. They go out and do it their way leading up to the Championship game. An ending you'd never expect, which dosen't follow the norm. It teaches your kids that teamwork is the best way to be a winner and hold your head up proud, no matter if you win or lose the game. Your son or daughter play little league than you must allow them to see this movie. Besides who dosn't want to be Tanner Boyle? I also recommend The Sandlot.
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Summary: auditions for remake
Review: Auditions for the remake of the original Bad News Bears are being held in the Washington D.C. area THIS WEEK! For more info go to http://www.carlyndavis.com
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Summary: Dear Luper
Review: Dear Luper Ronsogni makes me sick, he cant even pitch nobody thinks we can win, ps I saw a good movie the other night, youd like it. Your friend, tanner boyle
Rating:
Summary: Classic, realistic, non-syrupy story of Little League
Review: Don't listen to other reviewers who impose today's political correctness on a movie that came out in 1976. My parents took me to see this film when it came out (I was nine) and it was a good film. It has lessons about winning, losing and sportsmanship. It touches upon characters we all know: the winning coach (played wonderfully by the late Vic Morrow) who values winning above all else - even his own son. A realistic film from the 1970s, reflecting divorced parents, precocious kids, bullies, all of it is in here. Above all, it is a positive statement about self-respect and accomplishment. While Matthau's ways of coaching would probably be protested today (i.e., giving the kids beer after the final game of the season) it was seen as true to his character and one of the funny touches. Some of the material is mature but it may spark some positive conversations in a family. It isn't watered down, squeaky-clean family fare that people expect today, but it does have a good message and is fun. Excellent performances by a great cast, realistic baseball playing (sometimes painful) and great moments. A classic 1970s film that is often overlooked.
Rating:
Summary: Classic, realistic, non-syrupy story of Little League
Review: Don't listen to other reviewers who impose today's political correctness on a movie that came out in 1976. My parents took me to see this film when it came out (I was nine) and it was a good film. It has lessons about winning, losing and sportsmanship. It touches upon characters we all know: the winning coach (played wonderfully by the late Vic Morrow) who values winning above all else - even his own son. A realistic film from the 1970s, reflecting divorced parents, precocious kids, bullies, all of it is in here. Above all, it is a positive statement about self-respect and accomplishment. While Matthau's ways of coaching would probably be protested today (i.e., giving the kids beer after the final game of the season) it was seen as true to his character and one of the funny touches. Some of the material is mature but it may spark some positive conversations in a family. It isn't watered down, squeaky-clean family fare that people expect today, but it does have a good message and is fun. Excellent performances by a great cast, realistic baseball playing (sometimes painful) and great moments. A classic 1970s film that is often overlooked.
Rating:
Summary: A grand slam hit
Review: Entertaining, well-made, light-hearted comedy about little league baseball. Matthau gives one of his best on-screen performances to date. Not enough can be said about the quality acting produced by Tatum O'Neal and the cast of young male supporters. This film gives a wonderful general illustration of the world of little league baseball and helps teach the young the importance of good sportsmanship.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a baseball film
Review: Even movies about a bunch of pre-adolescent ballplayers were better in the 70s. This is possibly one of the best "kids movies" of all time ... if you like an unsentimental, raw look at how kids really are. No glossy cinematography here, the Bears stands as a testament to the truth of kids lives. Not all perfect angels or demons, kids are more complex than we give them credit. Sadly, this truth seems to stop with this film; "The Bad News Bears" is an anomaly rather than a groundbreaker.
We never see the kids at home, or with their families except for some brief snippets at the very end; the film exists only on the playing field and the dugouts. Matthau is simply wonderful as a gruff drunk who doesn't suddenly become loveable in a bland burst of generic orchestral mediocrity -- kudos to the filmmakers for incorporating the score to Carmen throughout the entire film.
Vic Morrow shines in a supporting role that embodies the cutthroat world of American Little League (and sadly the movie made me ask, does everything about America have to be so cutthroat?) and Morrow's performance is eerily true-to-life of all the sports parents and coaches out there who are more into the game than the kids. Watch for the tense stand-off scene between Morrow and Brandon Cruz.
The Bears went on to sully their legacy with two less than stellar sequels and a short lived TV series but this original film is worth holding onto.
Rating:
Summary: Too True to Life
Review: For those of us who played little league baseball, we can most certainly relate. One reviewer said, "little league a little too serious", but that is not true. For there are moments that relate perfectly with my childhood experiences. In my youth, I remember countless accounts of belligerent parents, drunken parents, parents who were would-be coaches, abusive parents, terrible coaches, and best yet, terrible sportsmanship on the part of the kids. Some may say, this is a terrible example of youth league, but the true is, this is how it is. In fact, when compared to reality, the reality was--is--much worse.
Please, do not be alarmed. For through my memories of sadness, hardship, and pain, I do not regret any of it. In the midst of all the madness, we still managed to have fun. It was a great time and a great part of my youth. Likewise, this move is a great family movie. For it does not dare put a silver lining over our television sets, but rather, it shows the true reality of youth sports. In the end, we have a great family film and one that we can relate to.
Yours Truly,
Mike
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