Legend of Bagger Vance

Pros: A beautifully photographed, otherworldly fable!
Cons: It's enjoyable in spite of it's heavy sentimentality

Being a golf enthusiast, I was intrigued at the trailers promoting this movie. I found it to be cross between "Tin Cup" and "The Natural" A fantasy about golf. Director Robert Redford tells this fairy tale with warmth which is set...

Pros: Beautifully shot and acted, great use of mythology.
Cons: Not exactly subtle or realistic.

A sporting film that isn't really about sport. Not exactly an original concept, but at least this one doesn't have Kevin Costner in it. What it does have, is Matt Damon, the beautiful Charlize Theron, and Will Smith seemingly auditioning for the part...

Pros: Nice score, beautiful photography--all in all, technically proficient.
Cons: An uninteresting, uninvolving story.

Just who is Bagger Vance, and why is he so legendary? Or, more importantly, why should anyone care? The Legend of Bagger Vance, Robert Redford's film of Steven Pressfield's novel of the same name, offers plenty of pretty sunsets and New Agey...

Pros: Georgeous period details
Cons: Dumb faux-Zen wisdom, atttempt to make GOLF poetic

Note to Robert Redford: It's BASEBALL that's poetic, not GOLF!

THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, which could just have easily been called FAIRWAY OF DREAMS, or A NINE-IRON RUNS THROUGH IT, attempts to give the game of golf the same kind of poetry...

Pros: Will Smith, period-authenticity, cinematography
Cons: Matt Damon, questionable direction

Now, I'm not Matt-bashing here, but I agree with another reviewer in that Matt Damon really never became Rannulph Junuh. You want him to be, but his character is never really brought out. One of the major weaknesses with this film.

Junuh was...

Pros: Performances are fine
Cons: Script is a failure on numerous levels

Just a week ago, Blair Witch 2 hit the silver screen. It carried the title of Book of Shadows. Up and down, back and forth I have searched to find one person, one review, or one description of the film, which clarified exactly what the Book of Shadows...

Pros: Good cast, beautiful images, a love for golf.
Cons: A little melodramatic at times.

The analogies between sports and life are as old as sport itself and The Legend of Bagger Vance is no different. When Matt Damon’s Rannulph Junuh talks about having lost his swing, it’s clear that he’s not just referring to his golf game (even if...

Pros: Smith, Damon. Any golf is good golf
Cons: a lack of development & depth, occasionally cheesy

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is a mystical golf film based on a mystical golf book written by Steven Pressfield. Directed by Robert Redford, "Bagger" is a period piece that makes a simple statement about self awareness, personal...

Pros: Matt Damon!!!
Cons: where's Ben Affleck:) hehe

My husband is a major golf fanatic. So of course we HAD to go see this film. It was the second film in a double header day at the theatre. (see my review of Unbreakable for the first). I did not have very high expectations for this film, only because...

Pros: fine cast, excellent director, heavy drama
Cons: very predictable story

When you see a cast including Matt Damon, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron, you're probably going to want to take notice of the motion picture. However, I was able to pass until it reached the video shelves. If I would've seen this in the theaters I...

Pros: A charming, not too quaintly told tale.
Cons: Will Smith sometimes talks like Ben Kenobi.

Matt Damon doesn't want to play golf, the rest of Savannah wants him too. Gee, I wonder what will happen? Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Jack Lemmon, and Will Smith star in a movie about golf, golf, drinking, and more golf. Damon is an ex-golfer who, after...

Pros: Scenery, sunsets, textures, night shots, photography...oh, and a good cast
Cons: Maybe a tad too sweet? but maybe not

This movie is one of the most beautifully filmed I have ever seen. A plot and characters that held my interest was almost superfluous! If you are moved at all by subtle effects, the glow of sunsets, the play of light filtered through trees, or night...

Pros: Will Smith. Not nearly as lethally dull as golf itself
Cons: some scenes do sag, film succeeds in spite of the script

I learned at least two things for sure while watching "The Legend Of Bagger Vance." One -- Golf is a metaphor for Life. Two -- I still don't get golf. Director Robert Redford, as ever, is a bit too worshipful, spending more time it seems...

Pros: Nice performances by the lead actors
Cons: Needed to have more substance and less golf

This movie is like a chocolate bar. It's got the sweet, chocolate coating on the outside but you really want to get to the chewy center. Unfortunately, the chewy center of this movie was not that satifying.

The film is narrated by Hardy...

Pros: Will Smith portrays his character very well, too bad the movie is so boring
Cons: Just about everything. I should have realized a movie about golf couldn't be that interesting.

If a friend ever asks you if you want to see a movie about golf, please, for your own sake - say no. I was naive enough to think that if Matt Damon and Will Smith were in this movie there was no way it could be boring. I guess I forgot that Robert...