Million Dollar Baby/Brokeback Mountain/Hotel Rwanda (DVD)

Advantages: Characters, Story.
Disadvantages: None.

..."If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you." -- Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris: It is perhaps unfair to label Million Dollar Baby as a "Female version of Rocky". But for a majority of the film's first half, the focus upon the trainer and fighter brings notable similarities to Stallone's once developing relationship with Burgess Meredith. Being the avid Rocky fan that I am, I can only commend this film for igniting such nostalgia. That said, the film offers so much more than a female reboot of this boxing classic: Million Dollar baby is emotionally challenging, thought provocative; on the whole, ultimately engaging. Based on the collection of short stories titled... Read review

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Advantages: Hilary Swank
Disadvantages: Slow-moving at the start

...Introduction Few won't have heard of this film, which walked away with four academy awards for best motion picture, best achievement in direction, best actress in a leading role for Hilary Swank and best actor in a supporting role for Morgan Freeman. Boxing is really not my thing and the thought of watching a whole film about it really didn't appeal, but I loved Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry and it's for her alone that I watched this film. I wasn't disappointed. Hilary Swank is a superb actress and deserves every award that comes her way. The director Clint Eastwood has always been well-known as an actor in films such as Dirty Harry and Rawhide, but he has also moved into direction over the past few years, with such films as Bridges Over Madison County, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby. He also had major roles in Bridges Over... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderfully understated story and performances
Disadvantages: Dramatic shift in tone may be off putting for some

...the performances have been and how they've drawn you into the story. The film successfully side-steps cliché and schmaltz, and Clint certainly has the courage of his convictions. At turns moving, funny and shocking, Million Dollar Baby is a compelling, character driven drama which never pulls it's punches. Visual and Audio Lovely picture presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1. The coulours are particularly sharp, especially so in the fight scenes. The sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround with English subtitles optional. The sound is very good, again the standouts being the fight scenes where you can hear every resounding crunch. Overall it's a good transfer. Bonus Material Born to fight (19 mins) This is the tried and tested DVD extra in which the cast talk to the camera before being repeatedly interrupted by footage... Read review

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