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Scott Mechlowicz, Nick Nolte, Amy Smart, Tim DeKay, Ashton Holmes ... see more see more... , Paul Wesley , B.J. Britt , Agnes Bruckner , Tom Tarantini , Beatrice Rosen , Ray Wise , Scott Caudill , Matthew Prater , Bart Connor , Jim Bradley , Dan Millman , Steve Talley , Tom Costello , Karen Landry , Rob Moran , Chad Nadolski , Neil Furuno , Charles Grisham , Tyler Vogt , Paul Wasilewski

Jeepers Creepers director Victor Salva takes a break from the horror to offer an inspirational tale about the remarkable power of the human spirit as the pages of Dan Millman's best-selling autobiogra... read more read more...phical novel come to life onscreen in this life-affirming film starring Nick Nolte, Scott Mechlowicz, and Amy Smart. A talented college gymnast with serious Olympic aspirations, Dan Millman (Mechlowicz) leads a charmed life of first-place trophies, fast girls, and rowdy parties until a career-threatening injury and a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger named Socrates (Nolte) show him how little he truly knows about living. In the months that follow his tragic injury, both Socrates and elusive beauty Joy (Smart) impart to the growing young man the wisdom that he needs to leave the past behind and follow the path of destiny and fulfill his transformation into the peaceful warrior. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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66% liked it

42,071 ratings

Critics

25% liked it

73 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Victor Salva

Release Date: June 2, 2006

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DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (2,493)

  • CloudStrife84
    February 25, 2008
    CloudStrife84
    Kind of like a modern day Karate Kid, but with gymnastics instead of karate and with a whiskey- voiced Nick Nolte in the role of the old and wise "sensei", instead of Mr Miyagi. This movie might not be as good or memorable, but it's not that far from it either, as it does have a ... read morepretty solid and inspiring story. Even more so as it happens to be based on true events. It wouldn't have hurt with a little faster pacing though, because its draggy nature was unfortunately a bit off-putting and the biggest reason to why I couldn't give it more than 3 out of 5 stars.
  • skactopus
    February 10, 2008
    skactopus
    Another film inspired by actual events. While not as entertaining and comical like other films based off of actual events, this film is still an inspiring movie.

    The story moves along really really slowly. This is what will probably disappoint people the most. As mentioned e

    ... read morearlier, this film is based on true events, but it is OK to twist and turn the story a bit to make it funny and entertaining. A successful example of this is Cool Runnings. A true inspiration for the children. While this film is slow and a little bit boring, it does add a tiny tiny dash of science fiction into the mix, which will keep your interest from time to time.

    The cinematography also helps this film a lot. The nice camera work takes what could be mediocre shots and turns them into pieces of art. Well, maybe I'm over exaggerating a little bit. I've seen better shot films, but I've also seen worse. The ending of this film is probably the most dramatic part of the film and the final shot ends the film nicely. Some people may not like it, but most people should appreciate it.

    Nick Nolte really carries this film with his performance. No Nick Nolte equals lower rating. While his acting is good, his dialgoue isn't as great. His philosophical words actually starts out pretty interesting, but as the movie goes by it becomes old rather quickly. The beautiful Amy Smart is really underused. She has very little airtime, but at least her role is pretty important.

    In the end, this can be a moving film, but it will only cater to certain people. If you don't mind a slow dramatic film, gymnastics, and Nick Nolte, this film is for you.
  • matthewecomer
    September 17, 2007
    matthewecomer
    Not for the faint of heart, or mind. This is indeed a deep and inspiring movie, oftentimes we ourselves question why we do what we do. Confronting that, is the hard thing.
  • flickfever
    July 4, 2006
    flickfever
    A very touching movie-- if you don't mind a little preachiness and a little cheese. Get that out of the way and what you're left with is a truly uplifting story that might even inspire you a bit.
  • EbertsLittleApprentice
    July 24, 2010
    EbertsLittleApprentice
    (Socrates: Moderation? It's mediocrity, fear and confusion in disguise. It's the devil's dilemma. It's neither doing nor not doing. It's the wobbling compromise that makes no one happy. Moderation is for the bland, the apologetic, for the fence-sitters of the world afraid to take... read more a stand. It's for those afraid to laugh or cry, for those afraid to live or die. Moderation?is lukewarm tea, the devil's own brew.)

    Acting A-, Direction B+, Story A, Ending A-,Visuals A-, and soundtrack A+

    Dan Millman's Word-of-Mouth Bestselling (Somewhat-Falsafied Autobiography)finnaly comes to the screen after 26 years after being written.Victor Salva turns this seemingly low-budget sports-drama film into a Beautiful told sports-drama masterpiece.

    This film is like a work of art and where almost every scene is beautiful, in some way or another. "Peaceful Warrior" isn't going to affect those who need change, but want change and are willing to negotiate change in their lives. In one regard, "Peaceful Warrior" did change my live life, by opening my mind and heart to thinking about the present and not dwelling on the past.

    (Socrates: A warrior is not about perfection or victory or
    invulnerability. Hes about absolute vulnerability.)

    Another exceptional, and amazing thing about this film is a great soundtrack by "Bennet salvay". The music gets you intuned with the story, and is deeply affecting. During every gymnastic move, and every agonizing struggle, you can't help but feel a deeper feeling, a strong emotion, as if you are in a higher state of consciousness that you might not even be self-aware of at the present moment.

    Who would of thought of "Nick Nolte" as Socrates? All, I can say was that he was resplendent and he showed some of his best acting abilities yet.
    "Scott Mechlowicz " also showed some incredulous range of emotions. I like to think of "Amy Smart" as the sweet-tempered and good-hearted , but acerbic cherry on top. She was profoundly moving, but also a lily-white woman with a heavy amount of empthay and concern for others.

    Smart is so complacent as Joy and she just eases herself into the role. Smart brings an added sweetness and special allureto her character. A deep amount of compassion is shown from her, although her time on screen is limited.

    Even though Smart's resume is mostly Late-Night comedies, and Indie films, she works hard in making this her best work yet by making the most of her small amount of sacreen time.

    It is also true that it isn't just admiring the beauty in one's work, but the work of art that is one's beauty. In even the most heartfelt and deepest scenes you really adore and sense Smart's inner beauty and warmheartedness. You can also get a chance at seeing her outter sensous beauty that is shown all over her red-headed face.

    (Joy: [to Dan, touching his chest] I don't think your leg was the only thing that got broken.)

    The film teaches you how to live after a great adeversity, or struggle, as such as in "Dan's" case, him breaking his femur, while trying out for the Olympics.
    This a a story with some melancholic moments, and a crytical amount of learning. To live in the now. Forget the past. Stay in the future. live for tomorrow, and live for the days to come, and not yesterday.

    This movie is full of phrases that may have felt like you just opned a bunch of forutne cookies, but with every new lesson,, you learn more than you ever thought you could about life, and death and then you realize that it is a whole lot more than just some fortune from a cookie.

    Yet, just like the book this film is a film that you wonder if this story is prudently falsesified or only half truth, but then you have already gone through the movie and come to believe every word that you once thought silly, and inane!

    (Socrates: Where are you?
    Dan Millman: Here.
    Socrates: What time is it?
    Dan Millman: Now.
    Socrates: What are you?
    Dan Millman: This moment)
  • wbgoose13
    August 26, 2007
    wbgoose13
    An overwrought, New Age-y mess, with extra stale sports cliches on top.
  • John2223
    January 2, 2010
    John2223
    "Peaceful Warrior" is that rare film that manages to be hugely inspirational without being cheesy. This is one of the few movies out there that will inspire you to make changes in your life and this film shows us that we all have the power within us to make them.
    The camera-work... read more, editing, direction, and acting are all first rate.
    This is not only a good New Age movie, it's an important one.
  • irisheyes686
    August 23, 2009
    irisheyes686
    It was a little boring at times, but it told a a good story.
  • sportsphenom1
    May 17, 2008
    sportsphenom1
    Nick Nolte is masterful! This is one of the finest performances of his career. His character alone is worthy of a strong recommendation of this film. Moreover, the story and theme induce self-reflection upon the viewer, calling upon him to philosophically question his purpose. U... read morenfortunately, some phony writing for this second rate supporting cast prevented this from being a true masterpiece.
  • donnarenee2006
    July 3, 2007
    donnarenee2006
    I read this book so many years ago. I was actually excited for the movie coming out. As always, the book is better, but the movie slightly sticks to what is told. I was suprised to see that they put Nick Nolte as Socrates. I was hoping it would be a European actor like perhaps Ru... read moretger Huer or maybe Christopher Lambert. The movie tries to deliver the image of what the book describes, but it only succeeded a little. All in all, it's a fairly good movie.

View All Peaceful Warrior Reviews

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
March 30, 2007
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

[A] watchable exercise in Zen hokum. Full Review

Hap Erstein
August 6, 2006
Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Maybe there are worthy films buried in collections of spiritual homilies, but Peaceful Warrior is not one of them. Full Review

Tom Long
July 28, 2006
Tom Long, Detroit News

Don't go see Peaceful Warrior. Don't tell your friends about it. Try to forget you ever heard of the movie. Clear your mind and live in the now. Full Review

John Monaghan
July 28, 2006
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press

A movie about spiritual awakening that plays like a spliced-together string of New Age fortune cookie messages. Full Review

Nathan Lee
July 22, 2006
Nathan Lee, New York Times

Starting with the title and extending everywhere else, Peaceful Warrior is blatantly ludicrous.

Geoff Pevere
July 14, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

You're in the moment all right, experiencing every passing minute ticking off in slow motion until the blasted thing comes to a merciful end. Full Review

Liam Lacey
July 14, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

For a story that is supposed to be about gymnastics and Eastern philosophy, The Peaceful Warrior is as riddled with homo-eroticism as Robert Smigel's 'Ambiguously Gay Duo' cartoons on Saturday Night L... Full Review

Ty Burr
July 14, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

It has deep things to say and a hilariously ponderous way of saying them. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
July 13, 2006
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

All this stuff is probably right. It's just that the director, Victor Salva, underscores his points with thunderous obviousness and manipulates us through ham-handed plot gambits. Full Review

Roger Ebert
June 23, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The story arc of Peaceful Warrior is so familiar that in addition to being inspired by fact, it is inspired by at least two-thirds of all the sports movies ever made. Full Review

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