Rating: 
Summary: It feeds us the expected Redford ingredients.
Review: Another great film directed by Redford, Bagger Vance is a zen-like meditation piece about a man who must overcome his own demons. Not a wonder why this film didn't really do well at the box office, it's a theme that challenges the typical Hollywood audience. As expected, Redford feeds us his trademark of emotionally rich dark tones, entwined with the beauty of nature and life, similar to his brilliant film "A River Runs Through It." The cinematography is a beautiful piece of work, as well as its music score, costume and production design. This is the final film the late Jack Lemmon appeared in.
Rating: 
Summary: Helped to put me to sleep!
Review: The only reason this movie deserved even one star was that it can help a hopeless insomniac to fall asleep. This movie was boring, boring, boring! I don't think this movie could have been more predictable. To rent this movie is a waste of money, to buy this movie is pure stupidity! I am a big fan of Will Smith as well as Matt Damon .. but am very surprised they chose to take part in this film. Boo to Robert Redford, I expected more from him.
Rating:
Summary: It's About Life -
Review: Good story about our individual struggles and the incredible resources within ourselves to overcome adversity, if we learn how to and choose to use our inner resources. Very Zen.Fair movie. Story makes up for shortcomings in film. Somewhere between the actual novel and the movie is the perfect balance. Liked some parts in the movie better than the actual book. Character development stronger in the book. Movie did a great job in casting Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen roles. See the movie and read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: "One Shot That's In...."
Review: Robert Redford took the rains tightly on the film and made a very good and original one. Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) was once the world's best golfer. But after his experiences over in Europe during WWI. He came back to the states and just disappeared. As the 1930's role in and the Great Depression has begun. Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron) Junuh's former love interest, comes up with the crazy notion to put on a golf tournament at the same course her dad built, right before he committed suicde. But the game could not go on unless someone could dig up Junuh. So one of his biggest fans (J.Michael Moncrief) goes to dig him out of the lowest place in the community. But Junuh says that he won't even consider it, and anymore talk is a waste of time. But shortly after that, Junuh gives it a shot. When he is practicing at night, a man comes walking out of the dark. Bagger Vance (Will Smith) tells him that he is here to help Junuh get his "swing back" that Junuh claims he lost long ago. But Vance through great persuading gets Junuh to join the tournament. He will go up against two greats, Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill.) What Redford does here is takes a story and plays it along slowly, but not to slow! Through a great eye he makes it realistic enough to where you can't help but wonder that it could or did take place. The only thing that could have been a problem was that since Vance was a black man, he didn't get any trouble from anyone. All the more this took place in the south in the 1930's. But the film is better than good. And with good old Jack Lemmon as the narrator. Where do you go wrong? Grade:B+
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Story about Life and God's Never Leaving Us
Review: The comments of most of the reviewers, have been excellent. I have just one comment about the few detractors. If you think that this is a golf movie, you are missing the point, just as much as you may have missed it if you thought that "Field of Dreams" was about baseball or "A River Runs Through It" was about fishing.
Rating: 
Summary: Sweet & charming
Review: If you were a fan of Robert Radford's films, then, you would enjoy this movie. In the tradition of the "Horse Whisperer", "The River Runs Thru It", the cinematography is always on-par with the actors & actresses. None of them dominate the screen time but they all play a pivotal role in getting the story told in the most beautiful way possible. It is never intended to be a cheeky movie like "Tin Cup", as audacious as "Happy Gilmore" but a golf movie nonetheless. It is a compelling story about a Savannah talented amateur, Junnuh (played by Matt Damon) whose innocence was lost in World War 1 & as he returned home, he lost his swing. Charlize Theron, who played his former girl friend tried to salvage what's left of her father's dream golf resort which was effected by the Great Depression in the 30's by organising an exhibition golf match. That's how Junnuh & Charlize's character crossed the path once more. Bagger Vance (depicted charmingly by Will Smith), Junnuh's soon-to-be caddie came from thin air & guided Junnuh out from the wilderness & helped him overcome his demons. Once his task was done, he disappeared once more. Not to be overlooked was this young boy who never gave up on his hero, Junnuh & his older self narrated the story to the viewers in the form of Jack Lemmon (who was uncredited in the movie). Yet another "triumph of the human spirit" movie but it was never overdone. Highly recommended & to be shared with family & friends.
Rating:
Summary: The Dullness of Bagger Vance
Review: The Legend of Bagger Vance is about a former successful golfer Rannulph Junuh (Damon) from Savannah, Georgia who has suddenly lost his game due to a tramatic event during the war. Damon's character is then asked to participate in a local golf tournament to help promote the golf resort and represent the town of Savannah. Junuh's opponents in the tournament include Walter Hagan and the legendary Bobby Jones. Will Smith plays Bagger Vance, a docile stereo typical southern black man who occasionally whispers some mumbo jumbo in Junuh's ear. Obviously the advice Vance gives Junuh helps him with his golf game and you may be able to predict the rest of the movie. Of course what is a Hollywood movie these days without a bogus love story? The Legend of Bagger Vance has this element as well. The movie was so dull, predictable and insulting to this viewer that it became laughable. The climax of the movie believe it or not actually focuses on an obscure golf rule....no joke. None of the actors are convincing in their roles. The characters have absolutely no depth to them. The Bagger Vance character is particularily annoying (Uncle Tom type) as he "serves" his white employer and of course takes less money than he deserves for his services. The plot is so thin that you have to wonder how Redford stretched this story into a 2 hour movie. The golf tournament starts 1 hour into the movie!! The Legend of Bagger Vance is a total waste of time do not rent or buy this DVD under any circumstances. Plain terrible!!
Rating:
Summary: FIELD OF GREENS...AN ADULT FABLE
Review: This is a feel good movie, about a young World War I veteran and former golf pro, Randolph Junah (Matt Damon), from Savannah, Georgia, who is inveigled by his former girlfriend (Charlize Theron) to come out of obscurity and retirement to participate in a golf tournament with two legendary golfers, so that she can save her now deceased father's beautiful golf resort, from those salivating to buy it out from under her, during the great depression. Initially, Junah refuses, and the reason for the refusal is that he simply has lost his swing. A Deus Ex Machina now enters in the guise of Bagger Vance, charmingly played by Will Smith. Vance simply appears one night while Junah is out on his lawn trying out his swing. Vance persuades him to enter the tournament and offers to be his caddy. A deal is struck. Junah enters the golf tournament, and as it progresses he gets better. He delves more deeply into himself under the gentle encouragement of Bagger Vance in order to find his "authentic" swing and, ultimately, finds a lot more. This movie does for golf, what "Field of Dreams" did for baseball. The movie is narrated by Jack Lemmon who, as a young boy (J. Michael Moncrief) during the tournament, saw Junah transform himself under the guidance of Bagger Vance. It is the on screen Jack Lemmon who is summoned by Bagger Vance into the sunset at the end of the film. Just who was Bagger Vance? I say he was the proverbial guardian angel. Viewers, however, will differ on just who they think Bagger Vance really was. The flaw in the movie is that it is like a Hallmark Card movie in that it sugarcoats everything and paints the past in a somewhat unrealistic manner. Here, a diverse population is depicted as mingling together in a most collegial fashion. Quite frankly, I doubt that in reality African-Americans found life with Southern Whites to be quite so collegial as depicted in the film. Then again, this is not a movie about race relations, but rather a movie about that which was lost and is now found. A sort of "Amazing Grace" theme. Still, this is an entertaining film that is in reality a fable for grownups. It is well worth watching.
Rating: 
Summary: LET ME CLEAR SOME THINGS UP....
Review: First off, this movie is not terrible...but by no means is it the best of any year or deserving of any Oscar I can think of. Second, this is not a golf movie...repeat this is not a golf movie; golf is used as a metaphor for life, so if you want a movie about golf go somewhere else. Third, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron are not good actors, the do not act well in this movie and aside from his mediocre performance in Dogma Damon has not acted at all (he played himself in Good will hunting). Fourth, Will Smith does fall into a stereotype but is the only bright spot of the whole film...the reason for my two star rating. Fifth, while we're on the subject of acting, the kid who plays Damon's caddy is not a good actor; the old saying applies here "don't work with children or animals". I know of one good child actor (Osmont) and this kid ain't him.To Summarize; this is not a golf movie, it is poorly acted and poorly written, and it isn't that good...
Rating:
Summary: Not too bad.
Review: This movie was quite enjoyable. It is very golf related and does try very hard to put golf on a high spiritual plane. But for the most part is was very watchable. I do not know how it compares to the the book as I have not read and many complaints are by people who have read it. So if you have not read the book it may be a good film. Will smith and the boy make the film. Both were interesting characters and very well played. Give it a watch.
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