Peaceful Warrior
Want to see a new spin on Karate Kid? No, you probably dont. Well than you can skip Peaceful Warrior.
Its not really a bad movie, its just that the movie could have been about 20 minutes. This thing was long and boring. It is an "enlightening" story about the power of working towards a goal. The main character is a college gymnast aiming to go to the Olympics who runs into a floating oracle of sorts played by Nick Nolte. Yes I know its funny. I am not making this up. Who can get this image of him drunk in the Hawaiian shirt out of their minds on Smoking Gun.com? Not me. It kind of takes you out of the believability of the movie a bit when Nick Nolte is playing the oracle with all the answers towards success and enlightenment. Plus he seems so damn smug and grumpy, cant enlightened leaders be less smug and grumpy?
Best Buy was handing out free tickets to this movie. (If they hand out free tickets again to a movie I will let you know.) This is not what you would think a huge faceless corp like Best Buy would be behind. So the free tickets were a bit random. Thank you Best Buy. But you have to admit, this was very random.
The movie is based on a very popular book by Dan Millman entitled "The Way of The Peaceful Warrior." I didnt read the book, but since its a bestselling book that seems to have been popular with new-age people for generations, I am assuming the book must be a wee bit better than this film. Or maybe not. The writer of the book is like the lead character athlete here. So this is loosely based on fiction I guess? Seems very loose. I appreciate the message of good inspiring thoughts here about overcoming adversity and focusing on the present moment and one's goals with razor-like focus. However, this movie makes you want to focus ANYTHING in life less boring- like even washing dishes might qualify for less boring.
Its funny it was directed by Victor Salva. Guess what his last 2 films were? I will be surprised if you watch this movie and than instantly know (well if you didn't know before that is) He directed Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2. Those are two really gnarly horror movies which I saw. Well he is definitely showing diversity in his work to say the least. How you go from Jeepers Creepers to Peaceful Warrior I have no idea. Is this some mid-life crises thing?
Grading
Story: D (The Karate Kid recycled and subsitute a grumpy Nick Nolte for Pat Morita) You guys had nice happy thought ideas here for a movie, but it just didn't work out.
Acting: C (nothing special here)
Visuals: B (We will upgrade it to a B because some of these male athletes in the movie were looking pretty damn good. Not good enough to watch this movie, but good nonetheless.)
Originality/Innovation: C (Based on a book, not original)
Enjoyability: C-
Overall: C-
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