Rating: 
Summary: Slow Play Ruins Golf
Review: Matt Damon has a terrible swing and I would like a match with him if he reads this...Anytime, anywhere. Not only poor swing mechanics, but he, his playing partners and the whole movie take forever to play out shots. This may have been acceptable with a more compelling story, with major plot points explained or with chemistry among any of the actors. But in this case a 2 stroke penalty is in order. Sadly this film was one of Jack Lemon's last pictures, and one he should have never laced up his spikes for. Damon's southern accent sounded like Denzel Washington, and Will Smith and Charlize Theron also play over par. I've heard the book is a great read. Golf is difficult enough without having to put so much effort into this tale.
Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com
Rating: 
Summary: FOR THE "WILFULLY" STUPID AND EVERYONE ELSE!
Review: I recently read a quote about golf from 1908 that I really liked. It observed, simply, that to be obsessed with golf "is not so much a sign of pitiable insanity as of 'wilful' stupidity." Well count me as one of the "wilfully" stupid and if you are too then THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE is a movie that you will absolutely love.The movie tells the story of a has-been champion golfer, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon), who goes to war and loses his identity. More importantly he also loses his swing (which to any golfer who knows IS his identity). He leaves behind the course, his life and the girl. The girl (Charlize Theron), upon the suicide of her father, becomes the owner of a championship golf course and, in order to put it on the map and get herself out of debt, plans an unlikely exhibition golf match and invites the day's golf greats Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill) to come and play. There's just one problem. The local city fathers, in order to draw a local gallery, demand that a local representative join the match. Who else is to be invited? None other than Junuh. Never mind that he has become a pathetic drunk and hasn't swung a club in years. We need a miracle, right? Right! Enter Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a mysterious, ghostly caddy who appears out of nowhere and not only helps Junuh find his swing and his game but also face the demons that have come to roost between his ears and find himself again. Wil Smith steals the show and, in one of the final scenes, will literally dance his way into your heart. Directed by Robert Redford, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE is a beautiful movie to watch and goes well beyond golf as a game. This movie speaks of golf as an incomparable parable of life. Jack Lemmon is wonderful in a cameo as an elderly golfer who is ready to take his game to a higher (perhaps angelic) level and narrates the tale as he thinks back to the magical events he witnessed as a boy. Whether you like golf or not THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE will be a movie that you will love. Again, for the "wilfully" stupid, it's a great movie to watch just before your next round. THE HORSEMAN
Rating:
Summary: A Life Changing Movie
Review: Do not miss seeing this movie! No doubt that it is easily in the top 5 or at the least top 10 of all-time! There is so much to learn about life, overcoming obstacles, overcoming our fears, forgetting the past, giving love another chance, and so many more life lessons are portrayed throughout this amazing heart-warmer!
If you watch this movie and your not touched or moved emotionally, I'm am very concerned for you...you have got a very hard heart that needs to be softened! So run and get this movie, the scenery is outstanding, the music brings goose-bumps, and the whole picture is put together with superb quality..Redford should have one the oscar for best picture, best director, and best cinematography....Outstanding movie!!!
Rating: 
Summary: "See The Field......."
Review: This review refers to the VHS edition(20th Cent Fox/Dreamworks) of "The Legend of Bagger Vance"..... Out of the mist,on a moonlit night,comes Bagger Vance."A man's grip on his club, just like a man's grip on his world" are the first words of wisdom the mysterious stranger imparts to a once promising golfer. The golfer Rannulph Junah, a legend in his own time,the golden boy with the authentic swing,the pride of Savannah, Ga.,would surely make the golfing world sit up and take notice. But things don't always go as planned.The horrors of WWI took it's toll on Junah.He was a changed man and disappeared from Savannah, his beautiful fiance, and life for the next 10 years. Told in narrative, from the viewpoint of Hardy Greaves, a wide eyed child, now an aging duffer,the story is one that will captivate and inspire.It is now the time of the Great Depression.The city fathers are pinning their hopes on Junah,to play in an exhibition tournament,that could bring the town back to life.He has lost his zest for life, his will to compete and most of all his swing.It is up to Bagger to help him "see the field...", as he inspires Junah through a tense 2 days of play.He touches the golfer and all those around with his words and leaves a lasting impression on the town. It is directed by Robert Redford,who always inspires and seems to find the heart of man with his wonderful stories("A River Runs Through It"). The film stars Will Smith as the mysterious Bagger Vance, Matt Damon as Junah and Charlize Theron as Adele, the fiance he left behind. Jack Lemmon adds a touch of elegance as the now older Hardy Greeves, and J.Michael Moncrief plays the younger Hardy exceptionally well.Other notables include Harve Presnell, Lane Smith and Bruce McGill.It is one that may be enjoyed by the family many times over(rated PG-13 for mild sexual content). A wonderful tale of golf and life!....enjoy...Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Painful to watch
Review: Who would have thought with this cast that the movie would be as horrendously horrible and unbearable to watch as it was. I honestly thought it was one of the worst movies I have seen. Everybody is trying WAY too hard to make this 'artful', 'magical', etc. In the end, it was about 4 hours longer than I wanted to spend watching it. I definately do not recommend it unless you are looking for a good snooze. I like Damon, Smith, and Theron (normally), and I LOVE golf, but this was just way over-the-top of cheesy, horrible movie-making. Painful and embarrassing for such a fine cast to have made this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Drama at its finest.
Review: This is a drama. Don't watch it looking for action of a lot of laughs, but don't think you won't enjoy it just because it doesn't have tons of humor or action. It deals with very real pain and develops some very strong characters. The movie is set in the Savannah, Georgia in the middle of the Great Depression. Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon, is a war veteran and former golfer who at one time possesed a lot of talent, but has now lost his "swing", not to mention his faith. Despite this he has been asked to play in an exhibition match against the two greatest golfers of his day. His caddy is Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith. Bagger is an angel, Junuh's gaurdian angel. He is the guide who shows Junuh the way to rid himself of his inner demons, and move on with his life. This movie is wonderful film, and another of Redford's works of art. The acting is superb, and will be hard to surpass. The casting was done very well, and the story extremely well written. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: Book vs. Movie
Review: I have just finished reading the book after seeing the movie several times. I was drawn to it because I am a golfer and there are few movies that capture the essence of golf in the way that I see fit. The inpirational aspect of the movie has drawn me back to it from time to time.
After reading the book I am trying to understand how they can make the claim that the movie was based on it. The only true similarities are the golf match and the fact that they share the same title.
At first I thought to myself that this is one of the rare instances that the movie is better than the book but then thought they were two completely different entities not worthy of comparison but deserving seperate reviews. The movie tends to equilize the emphasis between the sport and the life lesson where the book lends much more to the life lesson and the spirituality aspect of Junah's life.
I'm not sure that the book, as it was written would make a great film but would love to have seen a better attempt at it. The missing characters, Michael being the first that comes to mind but just as important would be Irene (Junah's grand-daughter), I beleive, were major mistakes made by the screen writer and Redford. The fact that Adele Invagordon is not a love interest, in the book, and Bagger Vance being in the story from it's onset, as a servant to Junah, are grave ommisions/changes made.
Even though I use the word "grave" the movie is still well worth watching but to understand the story as it was intended, reading the book is a must. They are two different stories only because the movie doesn't show the impact of what Bagger is trying to teach, or make us understand.
The movie shows an inspirational golf match with the life lessons being only "Cliff Notes" of what Steven Pressfield was trying to convey.
I still must extend kudos to both story tellers on touching me on different levels in the way they tried to convey the same story.
The simple fact that both were very inspirational without letting me know the absolute value of the point being made keeps me thinking and that is the most important lesson. Life is larger than the sum of all it's parts and those that think they have figured it out are sorely mistaken.
Rating: 
Summary: Three fundamental problems...
Review: 1. Matt Damon has a poor swing.
2. Will Smith is not old enough for the role.
2a. What part of the South was this colorblind in the 20s and 30s?
3. From the end of WWI to the beginning of the story arc, Junuh gets hammered and stays that way, living on biscuits and squirrel stew or whatever, in his abandoned manse. But once he's rescued and polished up a bit, neither he nor Charlize Theron's character seem to have aged in the least since 1919. If stuff like that doesn't bother you, you'll have a blast. If it does bother you, well...the golf scenes with the Hagen and Jones characters are still technically accurate and beautifully executed, the golf course itself should be listed during the opening credits, and Charlize Theron chews on the scenery with obvious gusto and enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: We all need a Bagger....
Review: This movie is exceptional mediatation on redemption and forgiveness. Not of one man to another, but of a man to himself. Robert Redford continues to immerse an audience in his spritual narratives. This is first and foremost a myth - a story that is used to answer the questions of life. In this case - what do you do when you are lost? Fortunately for us Redford is never without some attempt at an answer - whether through fly fishing, helping a horse and family through their demons, or simply trying to find an authentic golf swing as in Bagger Vance. The movie is exceptionally well acted and moves at a comtemplative pace which is kind because Redford gives us plenty to think about. Myth is full of Baggers. The character that guides the hero through the dark forest or across the uncharted ocean. In most cases they hide their wisdom in their playfulness and this is where this movie succeeds. Will Smith plays a wonderful trickster who is not without answers or humour. In a world that has all but lost the love of myth and its lessons it is comforting knowing that there are still a few people in places of power that can get a movie like Bagger Vance made.
Rating: 
Summary: Read the book instead
Review: Having this book many times, I was excited as I anticipated the release of the movie. What a letdown! The movie is very attractive visually, beautifully shoot and portrayed. But I was completely letdown by the script. While I fully realize movies seldom live up to the book, this is a small 250 page read! Hardly a difficult book to translate to the screen in terms of getting everything in there. The challenge was to "tell the story". To give us enough information about the characters without too much narration to fill in the blanks. A complete, and critical, story line was left out! A new storyline (the romance between Adele and Junah) was added. I understand the need for the addition, but the departure and elimination of "Michael storyline" effectively robbed us of "who" and "why" Bagger Vance is. If you have never read the book ... see the movie. It's well produced and pleasant enough as far as it goes. THEN read the book and get an entirely different perspective of what tranpired at Krewe Island, both then and in the future.
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