Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by thegage (A) on August 04, 2003 at 12:02:29

In Reply to: Seabiscuit: There is hope through horses posted by Bambi B on August 03, 2003 at 09:06:10:

I saw it this weekend and overall enjoyed it very much. And, for me, much like the horse it succeeds in spite of a few strikes against it.

For example, I found the opening way too choppy, jumping back and forth. I know that some reviewers have stated that the movie "takes a while to get going," but for me it was off and runing from the start, and in a way that seemed forced and rushed.

Characterization was surprisingly shallow in some cases, and what came through was more because of how I felt about the actor rather than how the part was written: case in point is the part of Jeff Bridges' second wife. There were an awful lot of cutaways to her, and a lot of "deep looks", but almost zero dialogue of any import or heft.

I didn't find the racing scenes all that amazing. It has been done before--and better IMO, especially in The Black Stallion. Worst of all, it was painfully obvious in most of the close close-ups that the actors were astride mechanical horse replicas; the pumping of the horse's neck was way too regular.

Best Picture? I don't think so, but certainly a whole lot better than 90% of the other dreck that's released these days.

John K.