Rating: 
Summary: Awesome!
Review: The Rookie asks you that question that you have heard over and over. Which American boy has never dreamed of pitching in the 7th game of the World Series? Not very many you can bet. This movie brings a real-life story to the Big Screen about Jim Morris (played by Dennis Quaid), a young Texan-boy who was obsessed with baseball as a young boy. During his childhood he moved nearly half a dozen times before finding a home in Big Lake, Texas, but when they moved Jim's father (played by Brain Cox) forgets to bring along his glove and baseball socks which were left in Florida. As the years go by Jim pitches through the rain, snow, wind and rain while trying to fulfill his Major League dream. He gets his chance after being drafted after one year of college in 1980. Jim's dream failed after he retired after spending nearly 10 years in the Minor Leagues. Then Jim becomes a chemistry teacher and a baseball coach at the local High School in Big Lake. The baseball team, the Owls had struggled in the last 3 seasons winning a total of 3 games and had lost their first two games of the season by being blown-out by several runs. For motivation Morris agrees to try out for a big-league team if his team wins the District championship and makes it to State. Then they start winning.....17 in a row to win the District Championship. Jim keeps his part of the deal and tries out for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim threw a dozen pitches in a row 98 miles per hour. The scout called the Devil Rays and they couldn't believe a man of his age could throw so fast. Finally Morris made it to the Majors. His first game would be in Arlington, Texas against the Rangers. Morris was brought into the game after Tampa fell behind by several runs in the middle innings. Jim strikes out his first batter he ever faced.. Jim went on to pitch 2 more years in the Majors. The only problem of this movie is you can tell the fuzzy feeling of Disney movies is in there. I doubt that in reality Morris' wife supported him to try to make the Majors while she had to take care of 3 young children alone while the family's income plummeted. The Morale of this movie is believe in yourself because anything can happen. This is a must-see movie for any baseball fan. The best baseball movie since the likes of Bull Durham and Field of Dreams.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Baseball Flick!!!
Review: Dennis Quaid stars in the new Disney baseball flick as Jim Morris. Jim has loved baseball all his life, but when he was younger he was forced to move from place to place because of his father's job. Jim's father always thought that there were more important things to be done than baseball. Therefore, Jim had to leave before each baseball season was over. But, finally they settled in Big Lake,Texas. Unfortunately, there are no baseball leagues there.
Now Jim is all grown up, and he is now a science and baseball coach for Big Lake High School. Jim finds out what a good arm he has for pitching, but do to a former injury, he decides not to do anything about his fast arm. Now the highschool team makes a deal with Jim: If the high school team wins the district championship game, Jim has to try out for the big leagues. Overall, I thought this movie was pretty good. It made you feel good. The thing I liked about it most was that it was actually based on a true story. If you are looking for a nice family movie to see on a weekend, I highly recommend this.
Rating:
Summary: Good family film.
Review: I enjoyed this moview quite a bit. It had a nice cast, likeable characters, excellent music and a terrific story. The movie starts with his childhood just long enough to set the story and then we are re-introduced to the grown up Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quaid), his family and the high school baseball team he coaches. Its impossible not to like and root for him. On the negative side, it was a bit long and the other weakness is that it did not always convey Jimmy Morris' love of baseball when he undertakes his unlikely quest to the major leagues. While the movie shows his ambivalence in missing his family as he begins his second shot at the majors, it doesn't capture the positive aspect of a man chasing his dream quite enough. Still, it was a nice movie that I have seen a bunch of times.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Stories of Our Day
Review: This is a most inspiring movie. Dennis Quaid does a great job as Jim Morris, a man with a second chance to achieve a dream. I was aware of Jim Morris when I read his story a week after what happens to be the end of the movie. It was an intriguing story, a man who is challenged by his High School baseball team in a small town to go after something he hoped for after he suggested they give their all for the game they played. It is a great story of a small town, small team, young man who is wandering. You learn a lot about Jim Morris and his life and you sense his desire to want to play again. The story will make you laugh, cry and cheer. This is a great movie for families and groups to watch. I have this as part of my library and will cherish the story of 'The Rookie.'
Rating:
Summary: Dreams do come true!
Review: .
A truly great film for quality family time and family values! Summary: The Rookie is an instant baseball classic and a great G-rated movie that is truly enjoyable for the entire family. The story line is well developed, the script well written, the film well made, and the DVD supports a wonderfully great Director's Commentary by John Lee Hancock and Dennis Quaid. This commentary gives good insight into the Jim Morris story, how it was brought to the big screen as well as interesting personal insights into both Hancock and Quaid and their personal inspiration from Jim Morris as they made this film. I cannot recommend this DVD enough! Story: Jim Morris is areal life baseball lover whose prime and purpose came long after his retirement! On a dare, he takes a shot at the "show" and gets drafted to the major league where he had a short, but successful pitching career. Jim proves that nothing comes easy, and we don't necessarily know what our "purpose" is in life, until it comes upon us. Sometimes a child's wide-eyed dream can propel his father to greatness! G-Rating: Nothing was cut or manipulated to make this rating. The story is wholesome and immensely entertaining!
Rating:
Summary: Dennis Quaid and Disney Pitch a No-No
Review: A No-No is a pitcher's dream: he throws nothing but strikes and not one of the opposing players earns a hit. The real-life story of Jim Morris, high school science teacher turned Major League Baseball relief pitcher, made all the sports news in 1999. Fans of baseball will remember the story at the time and the humble man that took the pitcher's mound that night in the Texas Rangers stadium against Royce Clayton. Disney, scriptwriter Mike Rich, director John Lee Hancock and Dennis Quaid all combine forces to tell the story of Jim Morris' challenge to the high school baseball team he coached to follow their dreams, and of that team's deal with him to attempt to follow his own. Dennis Quaid is all-around one of the best, finest, and most natural actors around. Quaid possesses a James Stewart kind of calm, quiet personality with his on-screen presence, but at the same time can play over-the-top roles such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Doc Holliday. He easily carries a role laced with humor, suspense, or sadness, and his performance in THE ROOKIE is one of his most outstanding. Mike Rich also wrote FINDING FORRESTER, which starred Sean Connery in a heart-warming role, and was extremely well-suited to find the essence of this story. Director John Lee Hancock had done movies and television that included TV series FALCONE, L. A. DOCTORS, and wrote Kevin Costner's A PERFECT WORLD. From the opening montage of scenes depicting young Jimmy Morris' struggles to remain part of a team and play baseball in spite of his Navy father's constant movement to other posts, the viewer is grabbed by the simple emotional struggle that is pitched by the movie. How does a man balance his dreams against the reality of trying to get by every day? What does that man do if those dreams come roaring back in his face and refuses to die? The first half of the movie is devoted to the wager Jim Morris made as coach to the Big Lake Owls: that if they would win District he would try out for a pro baseball team. Dennis Quaid's performance as Morris is absolutely flawless; his ingratiating charm and easy-going manner reels in the audience. Angus T. Jones' part as Jim's son Hunter balances the love of baseball between man and boy, providing sharp counterpoints between what was and what is against what could be. Rachel Griffiths' portrayal of Jim's wife Lorri also balances the acting and touches the hearts of the viewer as she is torn between wanting her husband to be a man who realizes the limitations of life and the woman who wants to see her husband have the chance to be a boy again. The musical score that drives the whole movies is simply awesome. When the characters or the dialogue doesn't pull at a viewer's heartstrings or render a feel-good moment, the music does. Added to that is the 20-minute documentary included on the DVD that covers Jim Morris' story and the history of how the movie deal came together. The only thing that was really lacking was a brief overview of Jim's limited career in the Minors back in his twenties. Perhaps it wasn't necessary to the overall story, but since his childhood was played out on-screen, that part of his life might have been mentioned and made a little clearer. THE ROOKIE is one of Disney's finest movies. It reaches out and touches the heart, mind, and imagination of every viewer who has ever played baseball and wondered those magic words, "What if?" The story makes real the moments mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, and friends have sat in the bleachers and watched a young boy or man take his position out in the field and hope that was a catch, a hit, or a pitch that would give him the chance to shine for a brief, flickering instant. For lovers of baseball, for people looking for a film to share with the family on a lazy evening, for Dennis Quaid fans, this DVD delivers one of the best.
Rating:
Summary: Movis Review for the movie "The Rookie"
Review: TITLE:"The Rookie"
RATED:"G"
RATING IN STARS:41/2
MY PERSONAL STAR RATING:5!
SUMMARY:
Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid)is a father, a teacher and a coach. He injured his shoulder and then retired, not making the big leagues. Jim then made a bet with a bad team, if they won, Jim would try out for the majors! Well Jim's team won!Jim Morris became the oldest rookie in history. This movie is sure to please you. I enjoyed this movie, I bet you will too!
Rating:
Summary: Best clean movie I've seen in years!!!!
Review: I happened to come across this movie on a Cable Channel a few weeks ago. Being a "Baseball Mom", I love to watch movies in the off season. This was such a fantastic, inspiring movie we just had to buy it. I think I have watched it now 4 times. Dennis Quaid was excellent in this part, and very believable as a Pitcher. I only wish that there were more movies like this one out there. Thanks to Mr. Morris for the story and Mr. Quaid for his exceptionl acting.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This Movie!
Review: This is the kind of movie that comes around only once every ten years or so. This movie has so much going for it one could type for quite a long time. But I don't want to spoil the storyline for any potential buyers. I will just point out that if you are looking for a great - no, make that OUTSTANDING movie for the whole family, this is it. Dennis Quaid was made to play this role; and play it he did. If this movie doesn't touch your heart, you must not have one. If this movie does not inspire your passion, you must not have any. And last but not least, if you spend the money on this movie, you must be broke! :-) Peace-out!
God Bless.
Look for the ossuary! Nero's Guard is watching!
Rating:
Summary: A great family film
Review: The Rookie is the real life story of Jim Morris, a science teacher who doubles as the coach of the high school baseball team. Football is the sport of choice in those parts of Texas, where he lived, so the baseball team has to play on a substandard field with second hand equipment. He used to be a minor league pitcher with potential, but had to quit due to numerous injuries and a fastball that just wasn't very fast, only in the mid 80 mile per hour range (below average for major league pitchers) However, when he starts pitching batting practice for his team, he somehow has the ability to throw in the mid to upper 90 mile per hour range. He has no idea, of course that the pitches are so fast. He tells the kids that they are not really that fast and that it just seems faster. The players on the team get used to batting practice against major league fastballs and as a result are able to hit high school pitching easily. Success has not come easily to this bunch, and after a particularly tough loss, he rallies the team to tell them they can do whatever they want if they only dare to dream. They respond that he should do the same--that he should try out for a major league team. He makes a deal with them. If they win the district championship, he will find an open tryout with some team and show what he can do. They win, of course, and he goes for the tryout. This starts a chain of events which eventually leads him to a pitcher's mound in Arlington, Tx and a major league game against the Rangers. What makes the movie so great is the warmth of the characters and the story. The story is wonderful, especially because it's basically 100% true. But Dennis Quaid is great as Jim Morris. He is believable as a small town teacher who realizes just how lucky he is. Rachel Griffiths does very well as his wife who has to support him through the low times on the way up the ladder. The DVD is a nice package. There are some very good deleted scenes which really round out the story nicely and a 20 minute documentary piece featuring the real Jim Morris who shows exactly what happened when he made his debut on that September night. Finally, because this is a G rated movie, it will be a favorite among all members of the family. It is just one of those stories which comes around every few decades. You don't have to be a sports fan to love the story of the underdog coming out on top. Jim Morris is the ultimate underdog. Great movie!
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