Million Dollar Baby DVD

[Early B.]

Just finished watching this movie. Hated it. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman work well together, and Hillary's workouts (and her physique) were very impressive, but the movie overall left me like "WTF!!??" The audience is expected to fill in too many gapping holes in the storyline. Just didn't work, IMO.

[danger boy]

are you talking about?

holes. i thought the movie was very through.
There's a reason it got best picture, best director, best actress, and best supporting actor.

It's really good. It's the only DVD i bought today.

$14.99 at CC

[Frank Z]

Rented it today and just got done watching it.

I wasn't sure what to expect and ended up watching a one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Eastwood's performance was gut-wrenching, Freeman was insightfull, Swank was perfect in every respect. I can't imagine a better cast for this story.

Holes? I'm not aware of any, all of my questions were answered. The rift between father and daughter? It doesn't really matter, that's not what the story was about.

And how about Swank's wonderful family? GAWD I hate white trash!!

Gonna return the DVD tomorrow and buy a copy for my collection.

[trubluluc]

From everything I've heard from friends who saw it in the theater, I will be making a blind buy on this.
CC is the low price leader at $14.99 but everyone knows in a month or so, it will be available from crockbuster for $9.99
so I may wait.

-Luc

[danger boy]

i'm highly recommending this movie. i have since I saw it at the theater. so i was glad to have it released on DVD.

To me this is right up there with the best movies of the past 10 or so years. up there with ones like Saving Private Ryan... it's what movies often strive to be.. but so rarely achieve.

[Early B.]

****SPOILER****

The rift between father and daughter? It doesn't really matter, that's not what the story was about.

This rift served as Clint's motivation throughout the entire movie. His reason for training a girl and treating her like a daughter was his redemption and a means to help him reconcile the past, but by not knowing what the back story was all about, it was hard to follow and the ending left me puzzled. For instance, why did he disappear and leave his best friend without saying a word? Where did he go? What lesson did he learn? What personal issues did he overcome? WTF???

I'm not trying to pick a fight (no pun intended), just trying to understand why so many people enjoyed this movie. Yes, the acting was great, of course. And some of the holes were intentional (as Clint indicated on Disc 2), but I guess I prefer a movie that tells a complete story.

[Frank Z]

I should have said the exact reason for the conflict betwen the father and daughter was not that important to me. The fact that there was a problem in the past was obviously a driving factor in his daily life was enough for me.

[Early B.]

Originally posted by Frank Z
I should have said the exact reason for the conflict betwen the father and daughter was not that important to me. The fact that there was a problem in the past was obviously a driving factor in his daily life was enough for me.

Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

[gregure]

I agree the particular circumstances of the father/daughter rift were not important. It was enough to know that Frankie spent every day going through hell over it, and that he was constantly trying to redeem himself by writing his daughter. It was a nice touch that Scrap wrote her a letter after all.
Still, as a whole, the movie left me pretty empty. I enjoyed it overall for the performances and writing, but the story is so brutal that it just didn't leave me with a satisfied feeling, and it is certainly not a movie I will ever watch again.
Still, it had its moments, such as where Swank's character finally stands up to her family. That was very powerful.

[VR3]

This movie was....

Umm...ok?

Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed it - it just wasnt quite what I was expecting. Not at all.

5 out of 10 stars maybe?

EDIT: Danger...was HILARIOUS. And - reminded me souly of my step bro.

[Demiurge]

****POSSIBLE SPOILERS****




With my thoughts of Clint Eastwood being one of my favorite actors of all time aside...I personally found the movie to be fantastic.

The movie was incredibly moving and I didn't find the movie to be incomplete in the least. Room for thought, yes, but I would describe holes as something in the story that made no sense. I didn't find that to be the case.

Morgan Freeman's character would be someone I would hardly describe as Clint's best friend in the movie. They obviously share a deep bond, but his relationship with him is just as flawed as it is with everyone else in his life.

The only person he wanted to be close with was his daughter. Aside from boxing it seemed to be his main ambition in life.

Swank's character became his daughter so to speak and she eventually left him too in a sense. Everything he puts hard
work in to leaves him behind and he's got to start all over again and is alone.

This time he left everyone else behind. From what I gathered it seemed like he bought the resturaunt that Swank took him to for Lemon Pie and that's where it all ended.

The movie is also told completely in the point of view of Freeman in the form of a letter. I know people got that, obviously, but reading over this thread it seems as if some didn't.

[F1nut]

Great movie!

Demi pretty much hit it on the head. Holes? Didn't feel satisfied? Maybe a second viewing might help.

BTW, Sid.....it was way over your head. Watch it again in 5 or 10 years.

[VR3]

Jesse,

I got everything the movie threw out, and I understood everything Demi talked about. Fact is, it was a slow moving movie - then when it finally happened. For those not familar with this story were kind of like huh? From that point on, it continued to move slower.

It isnt a matter of "getting."

I liked the movie though, just wasnt quite what I was expecting.

It takes alot to get me involved in a movie, a movie is nothing more than actors and special effects...

The acting was superb...

But its that whole expect different, not be satisfied.

[F1nut]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3

It takes alot to get me involved in a movie, a movie is nothing more than actors and special effects...

And that's why I suggested you watch it again in 5 to 10 years. By then you might realize that special effects have nothing to do with making a great movie. A great movie is like a great book, it just sucks you in and makes you think or at least wonder with no need for extra fill material to disguse a piss poor story.

XOXO,
The grumpy old guy

[Roy Munson]

Originally posted by F1nut
And that's why I suggested you watch it again in 5 to 10 years. By then you might realize that special effects have nothing to do with making a great movie. A great movie is like a great book, it just sucks you in and makes you think or at least wonder with no need for extra fill material to disguse a piss poor story.

XOXO,
The grumpy old guy

F1, I gotta agree with you, just think if "To Kill A Mockingbird " were made today. Would they feel compelled to add special effects?

The movie industry has been complaining lately about how fewer people are going to the movies and that the box office numbers are declining. The reason for this is that they have lost the adult movie goers! I really like going to the movies but the pickins are getting slimmer by the year! I like special effects as much as the next guy but the movie makers are going overboard with them and are losing some of the audience as a result. It seems that there isn't much to go see if you aren't into cartoons and Star Wars, Star Trek or LOTR!

btw..I liked Million Dollar Baby.

[danger boy]

without starting WWIII, i have to say.. that if i were say... 20 yrs younger.. (42 now). i might view this movie differently than i do now. now that i'm older.. i have a more of an appreciation for life and the people that come in and out of our lives.

How we treat those people is what makes us whole. I now care more about (other) people than i ever did.. knowing now just how fragile life can be. This movie hits home when i realize how life can take a turn unexpectantly without any notice.

Owning 100 pairs of speakers and having the best sound system means squat if you don't care about other people first and foremost.

I didn't find the movie slow at any point.
I think if they had cut any part of the movie out it wouldn't have had the punch if you will that it did.

[Nelson57]

A very powerful and moving movie. Well acted, with a thought provoking message of what is really important in life. Deserving of every award received.

[AUDIOSLAVE]

Clint is a shadow of his former (dirty harry) self. It pains me to see him in these flicks after being a hugh dirty harry and jose wales fan. The other problem I had is I am a big fight fan. The classic fight flick "raging bull" is the standard, rocky 1 is ok as well. M D B does not even come close to those. And a girl fighter to boot! Clint stay behind the scenes, direct, no more acting.

[kberg]

Originally posted by AUDIOSLAVE
Clint is a shadow of his former (dirty harry) self. It pains me to see him in these flicks after being a hugh dirty harry and jose wales fan.

Right! if CE could just make just ONE more DH film! Sure, he doesn't have to be running all over the place like in his earlier films; he could just let his gunnin' do the runnin'. :)

[Demiurge]

Originally posted by AUDIOSLAVE
Clint is a shadow of his former (dirty harry) self. It pains me to see him in these flicks after being a hugh dirty harry and jose wales fan. The other problem I had is I am a big fight fan. The classic fight flick "raging bull" is the standard, rocky 1 is ok as well. M D B does not even come close to those. And a girl fighter to boot! Clint stay behind the scenes, direct, no more acting.

Why do you think this movie had to do with a big fight? Story is so much more powerful than the avenue they chose to portray it with.

As a fan of all the aforementioned films....I still believe Clint Eastwood is a fantastic actor. With his latest roles it just shows how diverse of an actor he really is AND that he can direct and give the audience what it needs to feel.

I don't understand how someone couldn't be moved by this movie...even if you didnt' like it.

[danger boy]

if you came into this thinking it was another Rocky feel good movie.. you're dead wrong. or Raging Bull or any other fight club type movie. it's better than those. it's ABOUT boxing, without being a BOXING movie.

[gmorris]

As this forum offers a secure sense of anonymity, I feel that I am able to express my feelings of this movie in a way that I would not be able to, for example, sit around and tell my friends about.

I am now 28 years old, and only 2 movies have ever actually moved me to tears. The first, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and now the second, Million Dollar Baby.

[danger boy]

Originally posted by gmorris
I am now 28 years old, and only 2 movies have ever actually moved me to tears. The first, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and now the second, Million Dollar Baby.

YES, you got it. The movie touched you the way it was intended.

Nothing wrong with shedding some tears... i'd be afraid if after seeing this movie and wasn't moved to tears. It's so powerful.

good on you for admitting that :)

I was crying like a big Polk baby the last 30 minutes myself. ;)

[avelanchefan]

Yeah the last 30 minutes were tough to watch.

I love endings that let me(the viewer) fill in the gaps. I don't need no tidy endings.