Rating: 
Summary: LOVED IT!
Review: I stumbled on this dvd while looking for another movie. What an incredible story & movie. I watched it twice in one weekend & have just purchased a copy so I can watch it again. I'm not into "horse" movies, but the story and the characters just touched your heart. ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALL TIME MOVIES!! I hope to now read the book. If you're tired of all the phony Hollywood junk ... check out this movie for the real thing.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Masterpiece
Review: This movie is a labour of love for the Director, as he said himself in the commentary that come together with DVD version. There are times when we watch movies that are based upon true events and yet, the context of them are warped beyond recognition. For this instance, the Director opts to remain faithful to Hillebrand, the lady who lived & breathed the subject, Seabiscuit for most of her adult life. It's probably a David versus Goliath movie, of a talented thoroughbred that was overlooked & was mistreated. The jockey in the form of Macguire's character, Red was leading a parellel life. Somehow or rather, their lives intertwined with Howard (played magnificently by Jeff Bridges), the owner of Seabiscuit who was forever looking towards the future. Ironically, it's the future that tragically took away his beloved son's life. Anyhow, as Red narrated in the movie, people in the Depression believed that Seabiscuit healed them and that it drown their sorrow somehow. However, he thought that people healed themselves when they started to believe in their own abilities. Definitely a triumph of the human spirit movie. A DVD to be treasured with extras such as the original racing footage versus the movie footage, the making of the movies, the commentary by the Director. By the way, this movie is a definite all rounder. Superb performances by all cast. A must-see movie of the year. If this movie proclaimed to make President Bush cried, it must have done something right.
Rating:
Summary: Great Uplifting Drama
Review: Toby Maguire and Jeff Bridges star in this factually based picture about a financially struggling racehorse owner and unknown jockey who battle all odds with and old neglected nag and end up winning the Kentucky Derby. I don't mind giving that tidbit away because the ending is a plain as can be from about 2 minutes into the movie. However, that's where the complaints end - it's well acted, very enjoyable, and impressively filmed in all senses, and although it won't I'm sure set anyone's world ablaze, it is one of the better offerings on DVD of late. The widescreen is a must for the racing scenes, and one or two nice extra's on the DVD, outweigh the VHS option. Enjoy
Rating: 
Summary: Way overrated.
Review: I'll break it down for ya. The first hour of this movie is disjointed, tedious, and dull. The second half is basically a tired "underdog wins against all odds" type of story. You've seen this same scenario in dozens of other superior films. Except here, it's sappy, predictable and maudlin.I'm not horsing around when I suggest skipping it.
Rating:
Summary: Story that stirred my heartstrings without being maudlin
Review: Once and a while a film comes along that has it all - great story, fine acting, and the kind of directing that knows exactly how to stir my heartstrings without being maudlin. I'm also impressed that this is a true story, based on the best selling book by Laura Hillenbrand. The setting is depression-era America and the film includes all those little details that make that dark period of time come alive. The people needed a hero. And it came to them in the form of a racehorse with all the odds against him. Seabiscuit was too small and not well trained when Charles Howard, a self-made rich man recovering from a personal tragedy, took him on. Jeff Bridges is cast in this role and keeps his performance controlled and understated. Chris Cooper is outstanding in the role of Tom Smith, the trainer who takes care of horses that others would have discarded. "You don't throw away a whole life just 'cause he's banged up a little," is one of his key lines. And it resonates throughout the entire film. Tobey Maguire is wonderful as the jockey, Red Polard. He also fights all odds to get in the game and stay there. Each one of these men is damaged in his own way, just like Seabiscuit. But together they create a champion. I loved the film and I also loved the extras on the DVD. I enjoyed seeing the writer and director describe their many challenges. I was fascinated as to how they created the close-ups during the exciting races. And I was particularly interested in the old newsreel footage. Don't miss this DVD. There's something in it for everyone. It's an inspiration for all and the feel-good feeling lasts a long time. Seabiscuit gets one of my highest recommendations. Don't miss it!
Once and a while a film comes along that has it all - great story, fine acting, and the kind of directing that knows exactly how to stir my heartstrings without being maudlin. I'm also impressed that this is a true story, based on the best selling book by Laura Hillenbrand. The setting is depression-era America and the film includes all those little details that make that dark period of time come alive. The people needed a hero. And it came to them in the form of a racehorse with all the odds against him. Seabiscuit was too small and not well trained when Charles Howard, a self-made rich man recovering from a personal tragedy, took him on. Jeff Bridges is cast in this role and keeps his performance controlled and understated. Chris Cooper is outstanding in the role of Tom Smith, the trainer who takes care of horses that others would have discarded. "You don't throw away a whole life just 'cause he's banged up a little," is one of his key lines. And it resonates throughout the entire film. Tobey Maguire is wonderful as the jockey, Red Polard. He also fights all odds to get in the game and stay there. Each one of these men is damaged in his own way, just like Seabiscuit. But together they create a champion. I loved the film and I also loved the extras on the DVD. I enjoyed seeing the writer and director describe their many challenges. I was fascinated as to how they created the close-ups during the exciting races. And I was particularly interested in the old newsreel footage. Don't miss this DVD. There's something in it for everyone. It's an inspiration for all and the feel-good feeling lasts a long time. Seabiscuit gets one of my highest recommendations. Don't miss it!
Rating: 
Summary: What the hell.......
Review: This movie was so lame I couldn't even get past the first hour. It had no story and the movie was just plan dumb. What were the developers or even the writers thinking? How could anyone like this dumba$$ movie? Damn I can't even begin to think how bad this movie is.
Rating:
Summary: inspiring, but not memorable
Review: it's the "little engine that could" movie. well acted, well shot (the scenes with the races were amazing), and takes you right into the action. they actaully made a horse racing movie enjoyable. perhaps the best horse racing movie ever (eh...by default, because i cant think of another). the downside: not that memorable. doesnt really stick with you after you leave. but well worth the watch.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best movies
Review: This movie is an aboslute favorate of mine. The actors in it are all fantastic, and I like the way the screenwriter left out some parts. I have read the book, and it is fantastic, but there are some parts in it that I skipped because they were so boring, and the screen writer left out those exact parts. I recommend this to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: I hate this movie! It was so poorly put together, you could
push a whole heard of elephants through it, I'm glad I only
rented it instead of wasting money on this piece of garbage.
Rating:
Summary: Once a Loser, Now a Legend; Horse That Gave Hope to People
Review: There are two things that I can recommend about "Seabiscuit": superb acting from the stars including Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, and William H Macy -- and the realistic horse race scenes. The story is too long (one too many episode), the development is too conventional, but the film has managed to give us the message about life -- you have a second chance of life. For that only, "Seabiscuit" deserves viewing. The story is based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand, who unearthed a once forgotten horse "Seabiscuit," whose legend gave the hope to live in the Depression era in America. The horse was not big; it did not belong to the prestigious family line of any famouse horses; and it won the big game against the odds. How could people, living in the hard times, miss the heroic figure? And also enters the jokey with no name, Johnny "Red" Pollard (Maguire), who lost sight in one eye, and struggling in the local race where no rule is the rule (see the incredible "race" in which you can do anything). But when "Red" was found by a kind-hearted employer Charles Howard (Bridges), and the veteran trainer Tom Smith (Cooper) joins the team, everything is in a fit place to make an American legend. Yes, this is a story that could happen only in America, and I mean that is a great thing. The actors are, as I said, all great. Tobey Maguire is in a fit form to play the jockey, who must have underwent a hard training. Underrated Jeff Bridges never pushes himself forward (that's why his four-time Oscar nonimations, and no win), but in this case, appropriately so, for he plays the ever-understanding psuedo-father figure to the boy, reckless "Red." And you get Chris Cooper, cameleon actor of new generation, whose presence as the tough-and-rough veteran should be praised for giving the touch of humainity to the story. The direction by Gary Ross is far from natural. I am afraid. The film goes more than 140 minutes (which is too long), and his way of handling of some scenes should be called 'tampering' instead of editing (I remember he was behind the camera in "Pleasantville" which was too artificial to me). Still, you will get the energy and good, old, straightforwardness when William H Macy appears as radio announcer. His racy turn here is just a joy to see. All in all, "Seabiscuit" is a successful film, especially when we know it is based on the truth -- the truth upgraded by excellent acting of the talented actors, and the great production designs re-producing America in the 1930s. And do not miss the hair-raising horse race scenes, which enables you to share the viewpoints of the jockeys. Now that is precious, indeed.
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