Rating: 
Summary: Horses! Races! Winner!
Review: This is an enjoyable film about the horse that captivated America during the days of the Depression. The film itself is gorgeous, with cinematography of the races that is breathtaking. The screenplay is a bit long-winded and disorganized; the opening part is about automobiles (hey, I thought this was a HORSE film) and we have a good long wait until Seabiscuit ambles onto the screen. This is a tale that anyone can enjoy, about trials and triumph, and filmed so beautifully that it is possible to forgive the lame script. Toby Maguire does a terrific job as Red Pollard, the jockey, and William Macy is hilarious in a smaller role as a radio personality. Jeff Bridges was somewhat wasted, but that was more the fault of the screenplay. In short, great entertainment and I enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: If you need nudity, etc. to keep your attention, not for you
Review: A bit melodramatic (no more than the typical American movie), but an inspiring, feel-good, quality film for everyone. A movie that doesn't require sex, nudity, violence, etc. to be a success (unlike the typical American movie).
Rating:
Summary: Good movie; great book
Review: Anyone enjoying the movie should definitely go on to read the book. The two are not even remotely comparable. The movie is a bit disappointing, as is so often the case, if you read the book first. There is so much detail that had to be left out, and so many major facts that have to be altered. So, if you haven't read the book, do so. If you loved the movie, you'll like the book more. If you liked the movie, you will probably love the book. And if you disliked the movie, you will still probably love the movie. I did like Chris Cooper a lot in his role as the trainer, though he talks a lot more in the movie than he was reputed to talk in real life, where his silence was famous.
Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFULLY TOLD STORY - BEAUTIFULLY RENDERED DVD
Review: After being indoctrinated with a barrage of Hollywood action/comedy pure breds that run more like a troupe of nags, off to the glue factory, its so refreshing to see a film infused with heart, gusto and that timeless sense of story-telling bravado. "Seabiscuit" is the tale of a race horse with everything going against it - a dark horse (pardon the pun)that became a winner and made a Depression ridden USA stand up and cheer. Sure the film is sentimental, schmaltzy, syropy good-fun and intensely melodramatic. Since when did any of these qualities go out of fashion? But what the movie does, is to tell a story with a dramatic arch and wonderful performances - most notably from Toby McGuire and Jeff Bridges.
TRANSFER: Gorgeous, a rich, dated look that perfectly evokes the time period of the story. The DVD is solid with rich colors, natural flesh tones, deep blacks and perfectly rendered shadow and contrast levels. There's a bit of a haze in several scenes, but nothing to distract. A hint of shimmering crops up but in general, digital anomalies are absent. The audio is 5.1 and very well balanced - with a real deep bass that kicks up during the racing scenes.
EXTRAS: A few. They're nice to have but they really don't enhance the viewing experience that much.
BOTTOM LINE: This is classic story-telling at its finest. A rich and sumptuous tale that will live in your heart and memory long after your initial viewing. A must!
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Movie?
Review: Is SEABISCUIT a great movie? Probably not, but I like it a lot and think it's pretty darn good. It's a classic story of some underdogs whose ability and determination ultimately shine through, and the beauty of this story is that it is essentially true. I haven't read the book, nor do I know enough about Seabiscuit to know where reality ends and storytelling takes over, but the basic story can't be denied. As presented, not only is Seabiscuit an underdog (mistreated as a young horse because he didn't fit the mold of a classic racehorse), but so are the three major human characters. One professional reviewer whose comments I saw regarding this movie complained that it was more about the human characters than the horse. Duh! It would be hard to make a movie just about a horse. Horses can't handle much dialogue (Mr. Ed aside) and aren't great actors. What's nice here is that horse, jockey, trainer and owner all carry each other and achieve greatness together. None of them could have done it without the others. SEABISCUIT, playing on the fact that it is based on a true story, takes on a semi-documentary nature. Newsreel-like breaks are interspersed throughout the film. That's fine with me and it gave the film a more true-life, historical feel. The acting is fine. Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire are good in their roles and William H. Macy gives a great performance in a limited role as a radio personality. Further, some of the cinimatography is excellent. Catching the interplay among jockeys in the midst of a race is impresively done. And, of course, the horses are simply gorgeous. This is a very good film. At least, I thought so. It may seem a little slow at times, but all of the personal episodes play into the nature of the characters. It's a heart-warming story made more so because it's true, and the production values are outstanding. With many movies featuring heavy doses of violence and special effects, SEABISCUIT represents a nice change of pace. Again, it's not a GREAT movie -- I'll still take THE LORD OF THE RINGS movies -- but it's good. I enjoyed it in the theater, I've got the DVD, and I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: spare me
Review: I don't watch many movies. This thing reminded me why. It's a series of laughably phony, typically Hollywood, melodramatic cliches hung together by a heavy-handed over-working of an "underdogs were popular during the Depression" theme. If this is what people consider to be a good movie, please spare me from the bad ones. Remember: movies are made to appeal to people of ordinary intelligence, otherwise, they couldn't draw an audience big enough to make their rich investors even richer. Since average people are borderline stupid, both mentally and emotionally, movies are therefore the same. It's a simple equation, proven yet again by Seabiscuit.
Rating:
Summary: An affirmation of the American Dream.
Review: Seabiscuit surprised me! Typically, Hollywood movies are dumbed down to appeal to a mass audience; that is, too much action and not enough thought. With Seabiscuit we have plenty of action, but it is driven by the carefully thought out story line. We know Seabiscuit will most likely triumph in the end, but enough twists and turns in the plot keep us guessing about the form the final outcome will take. Here are three good reasons to see the film: 1. The story: It's all about a horse, small and seemingly unfit to be more than a drudge, who is saved by a trainer who senses the great heart of a champion when he first encounters the animal. We watch the training of Seabiscuit and root for him every step of the way. Even though he upstages the three main actors in this film, they each have their own compelling story. All the plot strands come together in a satisfying conclusion which will please most viewers. 2. The Cast: The horses are wonderful to watch. But then we have Seabiscuit's owner, Charles Howard, played capably by the reliable Jeff Bridges. Howard's is a rags to riches story. He is a good guy who lives the American dream and wins in the end. Howard's trainer is played by Chris Cooper, certainly one of the most underrated actors in the movies today. Many people will not even recognize his name. In Seabiscuit Cooper's skill, integrity, and confidence win over man and beast alike. Lastly, Tobey Maguire takes on the role of Seabiscuit's jockey, Red Pollard, who has been written off because he is too big to compete in a game where little men dominate the sport. Like Seabiscuit, Pollard is a champion with heart and he and his horse seem made for one another. Maguire seems perfect for his part. In a cameo role, William H. Macy is an eccentric radio announcer who steals the show whenever he is on camera. He is laugh-out-loud funny. 3. The Scene: Much of the story takes place at or around the racetrack. We get an insiders view of a world off-limits to most of us. And the action sequences are truly compelling. How did director Ross take us right on to the track and on top of a horse as a race was being filmed? We feel like we are riding right next to Pollard and Seabiscuit as they race for the finish line. Great stuff! The pace of the film has been criticized by some viewers as too slow. I disagree. After all, Seabiscuit is also about the people who love the horse and believe in him and their story is an important part of the final victory against all odds. This victory of man and animal is uplifting and compelling. Seabiscuit is an affirmation of the American Dream. Even if its truth value seems less certain in the 21st Century, we enjoy watching it acted out at a dark time in our history.
Rating: 
Summary: DON'T BOTHER WITH 2 DISC SET!!!
Review: Seabiscuit is a good addition to your DVD library, but save the extra money and buy the single disc. I feel taken by the 2 disc set. The only real addition is the Match Race footage which is only a few minutes. The Winner's Circle, HBO First Look and True Story are all re-edits of the interviews and commentaries on the first disc. It's too bad that the studio did this because I will never pay for extra features again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Rating:
Summary: AN OSCAR ATTEMPT but a movie that leaves you saying... SO?
Review: Seabiscuit looked as though it could have been a really good movie. There haven't been a whole lot of stories about horse racing. So, it seemed to be a novel idea. On the good side, The movie has marvelous production value and is obvious the makers were attempting to achieve an oscar for their studio. But, that is the only thing I can say in its favor. The story has characters and themes that you SHOULD care about and root for. Red Pollard (played by TOBEY MAGUIRE), is a consiment underdog. An ill-tempered, former bare hand boxer who has been dismissed and forgotten his entire life. Yet, the movie never truly executes this feeling, or resolves it. Seabiscuit wins race after race, showing signs of super intelligence when it comes to racing and competing. Knowing when it's losing and not liking it, and we're supposed to feel as if it were some kind of underdog. The horse is fast, a top notch racer and it never shows any sign of anything different. What the movie needed more than anything was more moments between Pollard and Seabiscuit. Bonding. The movie needed to show them becoming one, becoming a team and more importantly, becoming inseparable friends. In this, it failed. It tried. But, it failed. The biggest dramatic moment in the entire yawner of a movie is when Red Pollard is the victim of a freak accident that you see coming a mile away, (and so should have he if he'd been around horses all his life) injuring his leg and being told he'll never be able to race again. All in all, the true problem with SEABISCUIT is the story itself or the script itself. And it's biggest failure is its attempt to make the viewers believe that horse racing is something OTHER than a game for the sole purpose of making the super rich, RICHER.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring true tale of a second chance
Review: Gary Ross' film version of Lauren Hillenbrand's marvelous book performed like Seabiscuit when it was released. The film didn't open as strongly as The Hulk or many of the other new releases, but around the second stretch it took the lead and kept performing. While Ross' film relies a bit too much on a series of short documentary-like narrative links to describe the time and circumstances of Seabiscuit's rise, the film performs strongly due to its solid, well written script and a seasoned cast. The film would have been stronger if Ross had used his characters to drive home the dire situation facing the people of the United States during the great depression. At times it felt a bit like Ross was forcefeeding the facts to the audience for those without any concept of history. This approach was a bit distracting and does have the effect of pulling viewers out of the film from time to time. Although I had seen Tobey Maguire in a number of films prior to Seabiscuit, nothing prepared me for the soul weary performance he gives as Red Pollard. He captures perfectly the feelings of abandonment and anger that drove him to succeed despite considerable odds. Likewise, Chris Cooper as Tom Smith manages to channel the very essence of this unique, talented horse whisperer who saw great potential in both Red and Seabiscuit. Jeff Bridges vividly inhabits the role of automobile mogul Charles Howard. In many respects, Bridges plays Howard as a variation on Tucker from the film of the same name. Both men seemed to see the future, embrace it with their boundless optimism only to trip over a tragic obstacle on the path they chose. Howard lost his son and, in many respects, his sense of place in the world the way Bridges portrays him in the film. Seabiscuit really is a film about second chances and for all three men and the horse that brought them together, that second chance gave them life again. The other performances include a stand out supporting turn by William H. Macy and Elizabeth Banks. Even the minor supporting roles are well cast and played giving a authentic feel to the film. The beautiful production design and vivid photography are both well served by this immaculate DVD transfer. It's not without some minor imperfections in the transfer but, on the whole, many of the beautifully shot scenes here could be used as a comparison standard for different DVD players and televisions. THe sound is stunning. Randy Newman's rich score captures the very elements of the time and spins them into a rich, dramatic musical tapestry that perfectly compliments the film. Minor narrative flaws aside, Seabiscuit delivers proving that there are third acts to American lives in the real world. All it took was faith, belief and a unique group of individuals to see the potential in Seabiscuit. Ross' film manages to unfold these lives and weave them together believably in a frequently riveting drama.
| 
