Rating: Summary: Worth the wait Review: Where are the US online reviews for this DVD? Aren't there any baseball fans with DVD players? It has been out for some time now. Well, it certainly was worth the wait as this transfer is quite decent. I'm sure you're familiar with the story. With a superb cast, cinematography and sound track this is a must for anyone who appreciates superb story telling (regardless of whether you're a sports fan or not).
Rating: Summary: A great film with missed opportunities Review: This is a wonderful period film which suffers from "star mentality." The whole show is built around Robert Redford and everyone else is a throw-away character. You have outstanding players like Wilford Brimley and Richard Farnsworth who's appearance add great strength to the story, but are never really allowed to "shine" in their roles. You wonder how much of their performances wound up on the cutting room floor. What could have been a story about a "team" finding their soul(with help from Roy Hobbs) turns into a self-serving story about a baseball "one man" show.
Rating: Summary: One of the best baseball movie out there! Review: I saw this movie a few years ago and just recently bought the DVD. I forgot how good this movie is. Rebert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, A Natural, a person that can do almost nothing wrong in the sport of baseball. I wish some of today's players would watch this movie. Roy plays for the fun of the game, not for the money or anything else. I didn't understand the woman shooting him in the beginning until I read the book, that is the only flaw in this movie. That whole part of movie kind of leaves you wondering, "What was all that about?" Anyhow the movie really makes up for it, with Roy coming back to baseball sixteen years after the incident. He alone brings a team from the gutter back to respectability. A very emotional ending makes you feel really good. I always try to watch this movie every now and then. It is one of those movies that the more you watch it, the more you like it.
Rating: Summary: great baseball story Review: If you like baseball, this movie is for you. this is a story about a man who is considered the best baseball player ever, but in the process is shot and disappears for years, and the appears again and goes on to greatness in the majors. A great story for anyone in the family to watch.
Rating: Summary: The baseball Gods gift to world. Review: This movie is what the game is about. A young man with hopes and dreams, having them shot in a fleeting moment, returns years later to allow the world to realizes that he is the best there ever was. The Natural shows the artistic side of baseball, it is not about money or fame, but for winning and the pure love of the game. It shows how baseball was meant to be played, on grass, in the open area, and with the heart of child and not a money grubbing ego filled player. Redford once agian gives his stellar preformance. If you love baseball, this is your movie.
Rating: Summary: The Natural, DVD review.... Review: I just received this movie on DVD this past week and I have to say after all these years it is still a "Awesome movie". With the DVD comes a commentary by Cal Ripken Jr. discussing the movie. Barry Levinson the Director of the movie also adds some additional commentary regarding particulars scenes. Both of these commentaries definitely add to the enjoyment of the DVD. With the DVD version you also gain more deeper colors in the film which is a big difference from the VHS version.
Rating: Summary: The Natural Widescreen DVD Baseball Story, gets it right !!! Review: This is one great baseball movie. It has all the right ingredients to join a childhood dream, baseball "The National Past Time" (circa 1940's post World War II), an array of interesting characters and you the audience on a journey of emotion enlightment & family fullfillment in the circle of life.This widescreen (16:9) is the perfect format to watch this movie. The cinematography is amazing and adds the necessary tempo for the equally sensational musical score by Randy Neuman. Robert Redford does a credible and believable job protraying this exceptional fictional baseball player, Roy Hobbs. In summary; The movie opens with the classic father & son playing catch, bonding and the fathers encouragement to his sons exceptional "Natural" ability in the game of baseball. The "gift" he called it. Events occur where the father dies of a stroke under a tree which is shortly after struck by lightning. The son Roy Hobbs, Makes a bat from the fallen tree in rememberence of his father. He burns the name, "WonderBoy" & a bolt of lightning into the bat. Years later Roy leaves his family, girlfriend (he receives a very passionate sendoff) & home to seek his dream of being the greatest baseball player of "All Time". Roy's dream begins with nothing to stop him but quickly turns into a nightmare when a brief encounter with a 'La Femme Fatale' short circuits his dreams. The rest is "The Natural's" ability to come back. The movie is one you'll enjoy over & over again. The extra "The Heart of the Natural" with Cal Ripkin Jr. is the perfect frosting on the cake featurette. So, "Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to the crowd. Buy me some peanuts & cracker jacks. I don't know if I'll ever get back!!!!" So root, root, root for "The Natural", if you don't when its a shame. For its, One....Two....Three Strikes your out at the old ball game!!!!!" Enjoy this grand movie !!!!!!
Rating: Summary: A Spiritual Experience Review: The new DVD release of The Natural is everything I'd hoped for. The film itself is brilliant and the acting is superlative. The script retains all of the spiritualism and self-searching personal turmoil that affect everyone (not just ball players) who has a goal that seems unattainable. An extra on the DVD is a documentary narrated by Cal Ripken, Jr., which gives interesting insight into the creation of the film as adapted from Malamud's book, as well as how the film has the power to affect each of us personally. Buy the DVD, a memorable addition to your library.
Rating: Summary: Beautifully made, almost etheric Review: This is one of my favorite movies. It has an almost etheric quality. Robert Redford is superb in the role of Roy Hobbs, an aging player with natural ability. Unlike most baseball movies, Redford is actually believable as an athlete. He has good moves and doesn't look awkward swinging a bat. All of the actors are great, and the dialog is superb. The director altered the horrible ending in the original book by Bernard Malamud, sparing us Malamud's dark vision of the "real world." This movie works on all levels -- the characters are all believable and the Hobbs character is all too human, even with his wealth of talent. Hobbs never gets full of himself, into a big ego trip, like almost all of today's athletes. You come away from the movie wondering what he could have done in baseball had he not played for 15 years, but this movie is more than just about baseball, it's about life and finding what is truly important in life. Hobbs knows himself, demonstrates integrity and ultimately finds true happiness, the happiness that can only come from knowledge of Self.
Rating: Summary: One problem... Review: As much as I love this movie, Watching Robert Redford (who was in his mid-forties when the movie was made) trying to pass for a teenager is painful to watch. Even with the soft lighting, his leather face just doesn't fit in. They should have cast a younger man who closely resembles Redford to do the first 15 minutes of the movie. Other than that, it's a gem.
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