Rating: 
Summary: Hits close to home
Review: This movie will hit close to home with just about anybody. It's about a boy coming of age, a father wanting his son to be the best he can be, and their relationship together. Once the father (Joe Mantegna) realizes his son has a gift for playing chess, he decides to get the boy a tutor(Ben Kingsley). What was once enjoyable for the boy, quickly turns into a chore. The boy learns from two teachers, his tutor, and a street wise hustler(Played well by Laurence Fishbourne) who also has a passion for the game. The boy just wants to be loved. By the end of the movie every charachter has learned a lesson, some way or another. The supporting cast includes William H. Macy, Dan Hedaya, and David Paymer. This movie is not just about chess, it's about relationships. In short, it is a must see!
Rating: 
Summary: Mrs. Landsman's 10:50 Summer Class Review (3rd-5th graders)
Review: Picture that you realize that you have a gift to play chess. What would you do? Would you find a teacher? Would you go totournaments? How would you feel? This what happens to Josh Waitskin inSearching for Bobby Fischer. Searching for Bobby Fischer was as enjoyable movie. The plot was interesting in a good way. The way the characters go from the beginning to the end and their arcs are fascinating. The climax was tense and the denouement was satisfying. The obstacles the characters go through were hard and real. Overall, there was much to like about the movie. Although it was a great movie, there a very few flaws we
noticed. There were some parts of the movie where it became boring. Some parts were a little confusing. To really enjoy this movie, you should probably be seven or older. We recommend Searching for Bobby Fischer to kids and adults who don't mind a slower-paced movie. Especially if you like chess, you'll like this movie. We think you will enjoy this movie.
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Summary: Great movie for my students and their parents
Review: This movie is very close to me since I am a full time professional chess teacher. I recommend this movie to my students and have purchased half a dozen copies to loan them! This movie is unique to me because I personally know in real life the main charactors in the movie.
The only charactor that I would say that is not at all close to the real life person is Bruce Pandolfini, played by Ben Kinglsey. The real Bruce Pandolfini is a quiet and non-invasive type of person instead of the hard driving and demanding charactor portrayed in the movie.
This movie is great for both chessplayers and non-chessplayers alike!
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Summary: raising a kid...watch this movie
Review: this movie is great if you are raising a child and he/she is playing a sport. the movie does a great good of teaching your child that winning isnt always important its all about having fun. i love this movie too bad its so hard to find on dvd.
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Summary: Making chess more interesting than watching paint dry.
Review: For a lot people, watching chess is no more interesting than watching paint dry: boring. Don't let the fact that this is a chess movie put you off into making the same mistake about this movie: it is not a boring movie. In fact, it's one of the better movies of the nineties, sadly underrated. It is mostly based on a book by the father of the chess prodigy Joshua Waitzkin, which tells the true story of this boy's rise from obscurity to success in the chess world as a junior. The timing, of course, is crucial: the movie was released in 1993, the year after the brilliant former world champion from the US Bobby Fischer came out of hiding after 20 years. In 1992 Fischer defied an embargo on Serbia by successfully defeated his old Russian nemesis Boris Spassky in a rematch of the famous cold war world championship, and then again vanishing. The Fischer-Spassky match was undoubtedly a catalyst for the making of the movie, with the media attention on Fischer's amazing victory and his eccentric disappearance making the time ripe for a chess movie to be palatable for the chess-ignorant masses. But actually "Searching for Bobby Fischer" is not about Bobby Fischer, nor is it first of all about chess. Bobby Fischer's genius from childhood is the background for a study of the chess-playing genius of seven year old Joshua Waitzkin. But in truth, the movie focuses more on the relationship between a boy and his father, who moves from the extremes of doubt about his son's talents, then pride and ambition, and finally a desire to develop these talents without hindering a normal childhood. After hiring a professional chess teacher to tutor Joshua, his father comes to realize the danger of professional chess dominating his son's life. What the movie portrays about parents of chess-playing children is a stark reality in most sports: it is the parents who are fanatic about their children's sports, and will do everything to make them succeed, placing their children under enormous pressure. Joshua's father has to learn to rediscover a normal relationship with his son, and to relieve his son of the psychological pressure he has been under. If only more of today's parents would learn the same lesson. But despite the touching father-son scenes, the conclusion is still a predictable feel-good ending: a win at a high level tournament. But that doesn't take away from the other aspects of the movie. In the end, it's an intelligent movie that the whole family can enjoy without a knowledge of chess, but undoubtedly chess buffs will enjoy it the most. The New York park scenes where druggies and other street people are playing two-minute blitz chess will especially be memorable and satisfying for chess aficionados. But ultimately this isn't just a movie for chess nuts, it's a movie for everyone. Aside from just a couple of rare incidents of profanity, it's clean, wholesome and enjoyable. Which is a lot more than can be said for most movies nowadays.
Rating:
Summary: Finding a Good Movie
Review: This film is loosely based on the real story of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, who has outranked other junior players by so many points, that he is the first American player since Bobby Fischer who genuinely deserves to be hailed as the "Next Fischer." Unlike Fischer, however, Waitzkin is a regular kid (or was, he's in his early 20's now), who loves baseball, fishing, other games, like Clue and Monopoly. He also likes playing blitz chess in Washington Square Park with the men, some of them homeless, yet still gifted chess players, who charge tourists for games to make a living, and play one another to prove their prowess. (The Washington Square Park players are real, by the way. Washington Square Park is in Manhattan a few blocks above Greenwich Village. It's a well kept park. Street performers often ply their trade there as well, and you can take your pick of street vended food.) Bobby Fischer single-mindedly pursued chess. He was the son of a single mother, who quite literally spent every moment he could muster working on chess problems. When he could find no one to challenge him, he played himself, and as Max Pomeranc in the film, playing Josh, says "He always won." Armchair shrinks diagnose Fischer with Antisocial Personality Disorder, Sub-clinical Schizophrenia, Asperger's Syndrome, and a host of other neurological disorders; one of them may be right, but as far as I know, Fischer has never submitted to a D&E. There is nothing wrong with Josh Waitzkin. He loves chess, but not to the exclusion of other pursuits. He loves chess enough to spend most of his time at it, just not all. He loves chess as long as it remains fun. He loves the rush of the daring and audacious blitz chess of the Park. He likes winning trophies at first, but soon the pressure builds, and tournaments become less and less fun, especially after he realizes that the other kids in the tournaments perceive him as the boss at the end of the final level. When one of the greatest chess strategists in the country becomes his teacher, he declares that the Park will corrupt Josh. Exposing him to the rough underbelly of chess will teach him all the wrong things; he must stick to proper chess; walk don't run. Chess loses its headiness, and for Josh, its fun. Chess in the Waitzkin family had become a means to a winning end. But Josh's parents have not stood idly by. Unlike Bobby Fischer's overworked and overtired mother, unwilling, or unable to struggle with her single-minded son, the Waitzkins realize the adults must make a choice. How much time for chess, and how much for baseball? For other academic subjects? For friends who aren't playing chess with him? It is a grand dilemma. A choice of paths, when the road diverges, and no crystal ball. We know what single-mindedness meant for Bobby Fischer: he drew national attention when he represented his country, winning several international titles. Then he embarrassed his country with complaints and insults about other nations' food, plumbing, and lack of bowling alleys. But he may be neurologically deficient. Josh has no deficits. Did chess make Fischer that way, or was his single-minded devotion a result of an existing impairment? "Searching for Bobby Fischer" is Fred Waitzkin's way of saying he is searching for his son the balance that Fischer never achieved. It is wondering which is more satisfying, fame or fitting in. It means wondering whether reclusive Bobby Fischer ever felt satisfaction. It is wondering whether having a talent obliges you to use it. The chess games here are splendidly filmed. Although Max Pomeranc is no Josh Waitzkin, he is a ranked chess player. The chess games are choreographed, but because the children really are accomplished players, they understand the moves, and reproduce them convincing. Their facial expressions and other obvious interest in the games sustain the lengthy and very suspenseful game scenes. Sterling performances from all cast members: Ben Kingsley as Bruce Pandolfini is a marvel of restraint. (The real Pandolfini has a cameo, as does Joel Benjamin, and some other champions.) Joe Mantegna as Fred Waitzkin didn't come across as the man who wrote the book Searching for Bobby Fischer, but he fit into the world of the film. After a couple of viewings, I exorcised the narrative voice of the book from my mind, and Mantegna was very much the father of Max Pomeranc's Josh, about whom I can't say enough, so I won't even get started, and just leave it at that. This is a simple movie: no CGI dinosaurs, hovercraft, guns, bullets, or cars exceeding the speed limit; also, no pan shots of countrysides, big houses, boats, people drinking casually out of glasses with stems, and having all kinds of Deep, Scary Secrets. Don't just see it once. I recommend seeing it at least twice (thrice is better).
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Summary: For Greg, and he knows why...
Review: "You have a good heart, and that's all that matters." This line comes from his mom (Joan Allen) soon into this wonderful film about chess genius, Josh Waitzkin. He does have a wonderful heart, but he also has this poetically innate mind for chess. Chess is art. And Josh is this 7 year old artist who also plays baseball and loves his kid sister. This film, based on the book about Josh, written by his father, tells us all about chess, and success, and failure, and acceptance. It's about winning and losing and the space in between. The chess playing is well filmed. Lawrence Fishbourne and Ben Kingsley play the two chess teachers in this boy's life. Max Pomeranc plays Josh. I love Max. I love this film. You will too.
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Summary: The movie that changed my life
Review: My father teached me chess when I was young kid. I kinda liked it but soon I forgot the whole thing for many years. in 1996 I saw this movie broadcasted on TV. I was hooked to the film immaditely.. and then I saw a scene, where Josh plays a game of chess. Suddenly I felt something inside.. I remembered the times I played chess with my dad. I kept watching and I experienced the beauty of chess through this movie. The vast tournament halls where dozens of kids were playing chess, and then dark chess-club atmosphere, where old men were playing chess so seriously. After the movie I was so exited that I went to search my old chess-set from basement. Now I am a active chess player and I have an eternal burning chess-fire in me. Without this movie, I would hardly be enjoying chess, which brings so much joy in my life. It is hard to rate this film, due the lack of chess-films, but this must be the best one!
Rating:
Summary: A Hidden Treasure, Not Really About Chess
Review: It amazes me that a movie can be this good and yet few people know it. Perhaps, people look at the title and dismiss it as a "chess movie". Chess is in one way central to this movie, but almost irrelevant in other ways. You could remove chess and substitute soccer, Little League baseball (especially after what happened in 2001 Little League), football, basketball, or any other competitive sport or activity. Max Pomeranc plays a boy who is very bright, loves to play chess, and is exceptionally good at chess. Joe Mantegna plays his father, who loves his son but is struggling to find a way to connect with him. When Dad realizes what his son can do in chess, he latches on to that as his avenue for connecting. He hires a chess tutor (Ben Kingsley, as brilliant as ever), enters his son into tournaments, and becomes an obsessed "chess dad" (first cousin to a "soccer dad", "tennis dad", "golf dad", etc.). Meanwhile, Max meets Lawrence Fishburne, a streetwise, Central Park, beat-'em-up chess player who plays speed-chess against multiple opponents. Poor Max has to figure out what chess means to him: a game he loves, his road to fame, a bond with dad, a career, a way to prove himself and fit in. Joe Mantegna does a magnificent job of portraying a man trying to connect with his son but struggling with the obsession to excell. He doesn't want to become a dad like several professional sports currently know all too well. He loves his son and wants him to succeed, but at what cost? This is great human drama and a beautiful portrayal of father-son love. As I said above, chess is almost irrelevant to the real story.
Rating:
Summary: Check Mate
Review: This is a wonderful, smart, and touching movie. The chess is intriguing, the characters are enchanting, and the story is heartwarming. A definite must-see!
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