42

[DumpJerry]

Awesome movie. Just awesome.

[chicagowhitesox1]

Decent movie and it's alot better than the Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb movie but like both of those Hollywood went a little to far with being to dramatic. Then again I suppose you have to so they can sell the movie.

[TDog]

Originally Posted by chicagowhitesox1

Decent movie and it's alot better than the Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb movie but like both of those Hollywood went a little to far with being to dramatic. Then again I suppose you have to so they can sell the movie.

I haven't seen it, hoping to see it soon. But the criticism I've heard from more than one source is that the movie wasn't as dramatic as the reality. Even The Sporting news came out editorially against Jackie Robinson.

If it was overdramatized, it was done so for reasons different thatn other sports movies because the intent was to drive home the contribution that Jackie Robinson and a few others made to America. which really cam't be exaggerated. Robinson's 10-year career, at least the initial years of it, probably took at least 10 years off his life.

I woudl hope it's a darn good movie, because the story is importnat enough that it nees to be. When I was in college in the mid-1970s, I gave a speech about racial prejudice in major league baseball. The graduate assisting who graded it found it hard to believe that baseball was all white before 1947. There are baseball fans today who don't understand why No. 42 is on the wall of all the major league ballparks.

[spawn]

I saw it Saturday. If you knew little or nothing about Jackie Robinson, you would love this movie. I took a date to see it, and she really liked it. My problem with it is I feel like they only scratched the surface of what he endured, and it only captured his time with the Montreal team and his rookie season in the bigs. He had to deal with that for two years without retaliation, and it probably shortened his career. That said, what pleasantly surprised me was the theater I was at was packed, and the attendees were mostly young white kids. And even if the movie didn't go far enough with the treatment he received, at least you did get a glimpse and feel for it. And i'm glad they touched on his being court martialed while in the army, something i don't think a lot of people know. Definitely worth the price of admission.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by chicagowhitesox1

Decent movie and it's alot better than the Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb movie but like both of those Hollywood went a little to far with being to dramatic. Then again I suppose you have to so they can sell the movie.

I'm not sure what you mean, to fit the saga of Jackie Robinson's first season into a 2-hour movie, they had to bleach a ton of stuff out. I think they did a good job of condensing the story for everyone to be able to see and digest. But to tell the truth about what he faced it would probably take an epic that would make The Godfather look like a Saturday morning cartoon.

My only criticism is that the movie is extremely formulaic, but that's true for a lot of good sports movies. Protagonist hero is presented, faces external struggle and challenges, internalizes these forces and is unsure if he can go on, is guided by older, wiser friend, overcomes adversity and wins everyone's respect by end. You can take the script to the bank every. Single. Time. I got the feeling that they want you to think that by October 1947, everyone has accepted Jackie Robinson and the idea of African Americans playing "white" baseball, which isn't true at all.

That said, if you like baseball, you will like this movie, if for nothing else than the sweet, sweet retro uniforms.

[spawn]

Originally Posted by doublem23

That said, if you like baseball, you will like this movie, if for nothing else than the sweet, sweet retro uniforms.

Made me want to buy a retro Brooklyn Dodgers jersey!

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by spawn

Made me want to buy a retro Brooklyn Dodgers jersey!

They all looked great. Alan Tudyk was probably the best dressed horrible racist ******* in the last 50 years.

[Golden Sox]

I'm surprised that JR hasn't been interviewed more about the movie. I read where he saw the movie and he thought that Harrison Ford did a good job playing the role of Branch Rickey. Other than that, nothing else was said about Jackie Robinson. I'm sure he could add alot on the subject because JR was at the first game Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers in 1947 at Ebbets Field. JR grew up in Brooklyn and was a die hard Brooklyn Dodgers fan. I would imagine that JR is one of the few people still around who was at that first game that Robinson played in.

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by spawn

Made me want to buy a retro Brooklyn Dodgers jersey!

And a cap. I've always wanted to buy one, as the "B" would also be a nice homage to my undergraduate years.

[spawn]

Originally Posted by RKMeibalane

And a cap. I've always wanted to buy one, as the "B" would also be a nice homage to my undergraduate years.

I've got the cap.

[spawn]

Originally Posted by doublem23

They all looked great. Alan Tudyk was probably the best dressed horrible racist ******* in the last 50 years.

LOL...yeah he was!

[spawn]

Originally Posted by Golden Sox

I'm surprised that JR hasn't been interviewed more about the movie. I read where he saw the movie and he thought that Harrison Ford did a good job playing the role of Branch Rickey. Other than that, nothing else was said about Jackie Robinson. I'm sure he could add alot on the subject because JR was at the first game Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers in 1947 at Ebbets Field. JR grew up in Brooklyn and was a die hard Brooklyn Dodgers fan. I would imagine that JR is one of the few people still around who was at that first game that Robinson played in.

http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/dan-h...inson-movie-42

[jdm2662]

Originally Posted by spawn

I saw it Saturday. If you knew little or nothing about Jackie Robinson, you would love this movie. I took a date to see it, and she really liked it. My problem with it is I feel like they only scratched the surface of what he endured, and it only captured his time with the Montreal team and his rookie season in the bigs. He had to deal with that for two years without retaliation, and it probably shortened his career. That said, what pleasantly surprised me was the theater I was at was packed, and the attendees were mostly young white kids. And even if the movie didn't go far enough with the treatment he received, at least you did get a glimpse and feel for it. And i'm glad they touched on his being court martialed while in the army, something i don't think a lot of people know. Definitely worth the price of admission.

When I went to KC, the Negro League Museum was quite crowded and about 95% of the crowd were young white families. It is a must see for any baseball fan. It was by far the best part of the trip, other than awesome BBQ and winning lots of money at the casino...

I probably will see this eventually. I don't have the luxury of going to the movies as I please anymore. I did catch John Goodman's the Babe last night. I was reminded why Bill Jauss went ape **** on how terrible it was. He even hated the popcorn...

[chicagowhitesox1]

I think the movie is great for teaching younger fans about what Robinson went through but I find hard to believe any kid over 7 wouldn't know who Jackie Robinson is. I know Jackie Robinson went through alot and I respect him for his courage but the movie doesn't tell the whole story on him and thats what I was hoping for.

[spawn]

Originally Posted by chicagowhitesox1

I think the movie is great for teaching younger fans about what Robinson went through but I find hard to believe any kid over 7 wouldn't know who Jackie Robinson is. I know Jackie Robinson went through alot and I respect him for his courage but the movie doesn't tell the whole story on him and thats what I was hoping for.

I don't know why you are surprised by that. I'm sure there are teenagers that don't know who he is, or even realize blacks weren't allowed to play once the gentlemen's agreement banning blacks from playing went into effect.

And no, the movie doesn't tell the whole story, and there's no way you could fit the whole story in a two hour movie. But if it gets 1 teenager, or young adult to do some research and learn about him on their own, the movie is a success IMO.