Rating: 
Summary: A Magical Sports Tale
Review: "The Natural" is a majical tale that spotlights the most identifiable characteristic of Baseball, imigary and superstition. That's why those with less imagination taint their review with useless comparisons to logic and realism. The Natural is a resounding, magnificent drama about a sports legend who never was. He was pound for pound the best pure hitter ever to enter the game---he was a "natural". He literally hit the leather off the ball, threw 100 mph fastballs, struck out the "Boomer" (sort of a Babe Ruth), but he never made it to the big leagues until he was "middle aged", 36. Even so, he launched a legendary comeback with a happless last place team that catapulted them into first place. It's the kind of sports experience every kid dreeams about in summer sleep. It's pure baseball tradition, superstition, comeback, and superstardom. The cinimatography and muscial score are as dynamic as Redford's humble, but awesome, character. You see Barbara Hersey, Glen Close, Daren McGavin and Kim Bassinger---whose characters take sides in this good vs evil sports drama with a great ending. See it!
Rating:
Summary: WONDER-FULL
Review: This mythic take on Malamud's novel is spectacular. Though the movie uses the game of baseball as its heartbeat, it is much more than a sports movie. Robert Redford, in probably his last perfect role to date, is dashing and winning in the lead role; Kim Basinger, as the "bad girl", and Glenn Close, as the "good girl", are both wonderful and evoke much emotion. The music, by Randy Newman, which you have heard a thousand times without knowing it, is stunning, beautiful, moving -- and those moments on the field, where extraordinary things happen, make your heart leap.
Rating:
Summary: NOT Overrated
Review: By far the best baseball movie and sports movie of all time, IMO anyway. In fact, I'd rank it in my top five movies of all time. To each their own, of course. So, it may not be for everyone. But for those that preach about it's unrealistic story, I say: DUH. It's pure fantasy, pure romance. It's written, directed, and filmed with superb adult wit and creativity, but almost as if seen through a ten-year-old little leaguer's eyes. It's spectacular pop fiction from the first half of the 20th century. Enjoy it for the fantasy that is. And don't judge it against any other movie. Apples and oranges. What a cast! If you don't trust me, rent it first. If you're a die-hard, true-blue, baseball purist (and a lover of fine films), you'll buy it afterwards. Oh, and the soundtrack is excellent, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful and Horribly Overrated
Review: I love baseball. To my mind, there's never been a more perfect sport. So when I see a 'baseball movie', the first thing I ask is 'was this movie REALISTIC about the game?' It's important to me that the film-makers respect the game as much as I do. "The Natural" is perhaps the most UNREALISTIC baseball movie ever (rivaling "Major League", but at least they didn't take it so darn serious). And allegory shmallegory -- if the only way to pick up on all the references is to read the book first, then why make the movie at all?This kid starts out as a better pitcher than Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, and Lefty Grove all rolled into one. He doesn't have the body of a home run hitter THEN, much less decades later, when he suddenly becomes the equal of Babe Ruth. And the team! They play worse than your average semi-pro team until he arrives, and then suddenly they have the grace and talent of the '27 Yankees. This technique has been used in all kinds of sports movies, but none of them pretend to be realistic, as this one does. I could go on and on (the lightning strike, the blood through the uniform, the halo on Glenn Close in the stands, yada yada yada), but I sum it up thusly: "The Natural" LOOKS great -- it is a supremely beautiful film. But as Roger Ebert said, "Why didn't they make a movie about baseball?"
Rating:
Summary: Quite possibly the best baseball film of all time
Review: This film is what made me remember what baseball is for, after losing all faith in the game after the strike. It brought me back to the ballpark, for no other reason then a want to be closer to the past. Robert Redford is the quintisential Natural, which all adds up to a film that brought tears to my eyes. This film is neck and neck with Field of Dreams for best baseball film of all time.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!
Review: This is one of the best baseball movies I have ever seen. Robert Redford is great! The exciting thing about this movie is the ending. Wonderful score, great acting, and a good cast. This is a great movie to own.
Rating:
Summary: What a Movie!
Review: This was by far the best baseball movie I have ever seen. For a fan and former player it brings you back to what is good in baseball!
Rating:
Summary: The greatest baseball film
Review: When Roy Hobbs states that he wants the walk down the street and have people say "There goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was", he depicated the dream of every human being on this earth. This movie shows how we can all dream, lose that dream and then gain back more than we ever thought possible. One of Mr. Redford's best performances.
Rating:
Summary: A great Film
Review: Baseball is the Greatest Sport ever and this film works because it reflects that and so many other themes of Life together really well.in fact this film came to life for me when Kirk Gibson hit that Home run in the 1988 world Series with a two strike count when he was with the Dodgers vs.the A's.the power to dream came with that Homerun.this is one of Roberet Redoford's best.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I love this movie. It is moving, and shot beautifully, and has subtlety. It wasn't a big hit, and some people I've recommended it to think it's slow. But I don't agree. A lot of it is understated (although, certainly not the ending!), and if you're used to over-the-top ARMAGEDDON type junk, then this might not be your cup of tea. But if you have a mind that can perceive subtleties in life, then you should love this. Incidentally, the original novel, THE NATURAL, was inspired by a real-life incident, where a baseball player was shot by a twisted fan.
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