Product Description

Dan Millman (Scott Melchowiz) is a talented, yet arrogant college gymnast who seems to have it all. He gets good grades, has disposable relationships and is trying out for the Olympics. But he still wakes up in cold sweats at night. His world is turned upside down after he meets a mysterious stranger he refers to as Socrates (Nick Nolte). Socrates seems to hold the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding and becomes Dan s mentor guiding him through various avenues of his life. Dan suffers from a serious injury, and with the help of Socrates and a mysterious young woman (Amy Smart), he grows to realize that strength of spirit is what leads a man to his true greatness. He learns that he has to let go of the person he thought he was and start living in the moment by appreciating the journey and accepting his lack of control over the future.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7196 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-04-21
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Synopsis
Based on his series of philosophical books, this is the story of Dan Millman (Scott Melchowiz), an arrogant college gymnast who finds a guru in the form of a mysterious gas station attendant called Socrates (Nick Nolte). Poised to qualify for the Olympics, Dan is nonetheless troubled and Socrates seems to have the answers. It's an intensely personal journey that Dan is invited to undergo, with Socrates seemingly able to influence Dan's dreams and knock him into states of heightened awareness. It all gets to be too much, and Dan gives up the training, but when a motorcycle accident shatters his leg Dan may not have anything else left. He has to learn to let go of the person he thought he was and start living in the moment by appreciating the journey and accepting his lack of control over the future. Though undoubtedly allegorical, much of the film rings true (it's based on Millman's life) and Nolte gives his stoic, grizzled best in a difficult part. Director Victor Salva (POWDER, JEEPERS CREEPERS) clearly loves the material, and makes good use of tracking shots and slow motion in capturing the athletic grace of these young men. Amy Smart is memorable in a too-small role as an enlightened friend of Socrates, and Ashton Homes and Paul Welsey are suitably pumped and insecure as Dan's unenlightened teammates.

Customer Reviews

Spiritual fluff
I thought this was just OK. As others have said, it's along the lines of 'The Karate Kid' or 'Rocky' but with a hefty dollop of spiritual proselytising thrown in. Arrogant gymnast has accident, reevaluates himself and his life in its wake with the help of mysterious, gnarled guru played by Nolte.
Maybe the book is deeper and has a more subtle and meaningful message, but I can't pretend to be keen to find out. Worth a watch I suppose if you can't be bothered to read a self-help manual.

Outlandish mystical gymnastics.
The plot you have seen before. Obnoxious loner meets weird old man, who transforms his life.

The film embraces ideas from other films such as karate kid, to produce an unattractive pretentious mess.

The lead character is a gymnast and a beer swilling jock. Not a credible combination to start with. Action starts with a bizzarre combination of live action and computer graphics. In the next scene magic starts happening. With every scene the plot becomes more and more disappointing.

The main plus point is Nick Noltes performance. He was well cast and put in a good performance. Mind you he was blessed with not having as many dreadful lines to deliver as the lead.

Amy Smart was convincing as the fleeting love interest. Why she wasn't used more I don't understand.

The biggest problem is perhaps that the transformed gymnast was as unlovable at the end of the film as at the start. The climax is just as disappointing as the opening and I couldn't honestly recommend this film to anyone.

This film could change your life..
I don't say that lightly! I found this a deeply moving film and a deeply thought provoking one. Dan Millman is a prolific writer of self-help books (none of which I've read - yet). This film is based on his life as an ego-driven young gymnast (played in the film by Scott Melchowitz) who is striving for a gold medal. He meets a mysterious and enigmatic man he calls Socrates (Nick Nolte) who seems to have knowledge of super-powers, that Dan figures could help him win his gold medal. Dan then suffers a serious accident to his leg, and begins his journey as he discovers that true greatness is about strength of spirit.
When I sat down to watch it, I was waiting to see the same old same old 'boy overcomes adversity' tale, but I was instantly drawn into this beautiful film, and I didn't take my eyes off it until it ended. I laughed out loud, and I cried, and I was left with a strong message that has stayed with me and really has made me think differently.
The joy of the film is the unfolding of young Dan's story, and the viewer learning alongside him. The acting is superb, the film quality is high, and although it's a film dealing with matters of the spirit, it's not at all lightweight or sickly, as this kind of film can be. Oh, and no moral finger-pointing either!
I both enjoyed this film and learned a lot from it, and I would unhesitatingly recommend it very strongly to anyone who wants to learn something about themselves and how we can be blinded by our need to prove ourselves.