| Searching for Bobby Fischer | | Cast : | Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley | | Director : | Steven Zaillian | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | August 11, 1993 | | DVD Released Date : | June 24, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 24, 2005 | | Summary | Great Movie Even If You Don't Know Anything About Chess | Content
 | I almost didn't write a review on this movie because their were so many positive reviews already, but then a good thing is worth repeating and a good move is worth seeing. As other reviewers have said this is really not a movie abouth chess, but a movie about fathers and sons. However, if you have ever played in, or even attended, an amature chess tournament, the "in jokes" will be that much funnier. But again even if you don't know anything about chess, you will really enjoy this movie. Joe Mantegna was excellent, Ben Kingsley was excellent, William H Macy was excellent, Max Pomeranc was really excellent. When people complain that there are no good movies anymore, maybe that are just watching the wrong movies. Get this movie, you will not be disappointed. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 15, 2005 | | Summary | One of Fishburne's quieter films | Content
| This is one of Laurence Fishburne's best films even though there are no guns, car chases, or sex. Fishburne's character is one of quiet strength. He befriends a child prodigy in the chess world and teaches him lessons in chess and in life. This is not a large role nor does "Fish" have much screen time but when he's on the screen he is captivating. His role is one of quiet strength but great power. Josh Waitzkin (the child chess champ) fears not only losing the chess championship but his father's love as well. Josh trains with Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsly) who himself has his own demons to deal with. The two teachers don't see eye to eye on chess strategies and that puts Josh in the middle.
You also have the situation of Josh's father who is living vicariously through his son. Hence, every time Josh wins a trophy, dear old dad puts it in the living room on the mantle instead of in Josh's room where they belong. Don't let this subject matter scare you away. You don't have to know how to play chess to enjoy this movie. It's about the relationships that Josh develops along the way to becoming a grandmaster. Much of the charm in this film is due to the acting of the newcomer Max Pomeranc. An innocent face and great big brown eyes that you can't help but emphasize with.
It's heartwarming, funny and sad but also a very powerful film. This is a real story about real people by the way. At the time this film was made I believe that Josh was about 18 years old and ranked #1 in his division. Please watch this film with your kids. You just may learn a little chess! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 12, 2005 | | Summary | Searching for a great movie? Here it is! | Content
| This film is based on the true story of Josh Waitzkin, a young chess prodigy who attained great success in the field of competitive tournament chess yet managed to remain grounded in a field notorious for consisting of maladjusted eccentrics such as the Bobby Fischer of the title. He manages this by maintaining strong connections to the world outside the rarefied atmosphere of chess addicts who live, eat, and breathe the game at the risk of losing touch with all else. This balance doesn't come naturally, though. The primary dramatic tension in this film comes from the question of what one owes to one's own gifts-if you are able to perform at the level of genius, do you have an obligation to do so? To whom is this obligation owed? And how much should be sacrificed in its name? This is a powerful film about decent, intelligent people dealing with these issues and emerging triumphant. This film is packed with terrific actors giving great performances. Young Max Pomeranc, who plays Josh, holds his own against such heavy hitters as Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, and Laurence Fishburne./ |
| Rating | | | Date | January 29, 2005 | | Summary | A Great Movie! | Content
| This is one of my all time favorite films. It is about a chess playing kid who went on to win numerous national chess championships. It really doesn't have much to do with Bobby Fischer himself (except for some occasional film clips). But the growth and struggle of this kid and both the pressure and support he gets from his father makes this a great film to learn from. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 23, 2005 | | Summary | The Chess is just a Metaphor...really | Content
| The worst thing about this movie is that it appears to be about chess. This is bad only because it might keep people from watching one of the most heart-warming and engrossing movies out there. And that's a rare combination of qualities to find an a movie.
First, the basic story involves a father dealing with the fact that his son is a prodigy. And learning that it takes almost as much for the parents to deal with that as the child. In Canada, this manifests itself in hockey parents who attempt to choke coaches. In the U.S., it's more likely found in the small town passions surrounding high school sports. But the feeling is very universal. Over the course of the move, the father learns how to deal with childhood genius from, of all people, the son.
The engrossing part of the movie comes, unexpectantly, from the chess. Even if you have never played the game before, the pacing, cinematography and editing of the chess scenes add a tension that rivals many great sports movies (ignoring the 'chess is not a sport argument'). My wife, a person who knows little about the game, also lists this among the movies that we have no problems watching again and again. And honestly, that is the mark of a great movie. |
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