Genres

Visitors Review

Ken Hanke 2012-05-19 21:48:37

Another 'true story' inspirational sports movie, and you pretty much know whether or not it's your brand of jockstrap from that fact alone.

Ian Jones 2012-05-19 13:19:05

True Story - Inspirational

When i first saw this film advertised i naturally assumed it was goingto be a Poor mans "Coach Carter", i say that because as enjoyable as"The Rock" is to watch he is never gonna win any Oscars. Having saidthat i do honestly believe his overall acting credentials have gone upa notch with this performance. Back to the film though, I had no ideathis was based on actual events and characters. The film was goodenough on its own but when you see the real character footage at theend it sort of left me with a bump in my throat which was quiterefreshing. I don't know about the Mustangs stats as a team but i don'tcare, the fact they took part was enough to see the kids wanted tochange within themselves. It was nice to see a sports orientated"Teacher and Students" flick with a difference. Yes, all the usualclichés are there and you find yourself liking the so called "bad guys"and disliking anyone who slates them. All in all i was glued from startto finish. Excellent character development, excellent cast and a trulyexcellent choice of storytelling.

2012-05-12 11:44:12

love this movie ,came on time

This review is from: Gridiron Gang [UMD for PSP] (UMD for PSP) I love duane johnson movies. glad to have it on my psp. it came on time too. great sevice.will purchase again.

broken_bat 2012-05-11 19:17:01

So convincing, so real

Not a professional movie critic by any means, but a movie fanatic, Iattend the movies all the time. I also make it a point to see allsports movies, because of my passion for both sports and movies. Let mejust say, I have never been more convinced that a movie wastrue-to-life. During the end credits, they play actual documentaryfootage of the original Camp Kilpatrick Mustangs and without it themovie would be done an injustice. Although the movie itself wasphenomenal, very good football scenes (and not a lack of them like somesports movies) and a very well-developed plot, this documentary footagemakes the movie "real". We hear Coach Porter utter the actual words TheRock used in the movie, and know as we leave the theater it wasn't justdrama, it was real life drama. Imagine if Remember the Titans hadfootage of the original team at Gettysburg, imagine if Coach Cartershowed bits of a documentary including his lockout. This movie givesyou that satisfaction.This movie is Friday Night Lights on the set of Prison Break, and apartfrom the final game, the racism is not white on black, it is black onblack -- like it truly is in South Central Los Angeles. If you want agritty look inside gang wars, blood loyalty, and the people who want tomake a difference, this movie is for you. For a once aspirant footballplayer, Dwayne Johnson, "The Rock", has certainly proved his ability toact. This movie is his coming out party, his first true acting job.Compile his work here with Be Cool and we have a star in the making,and one who could be around for years to come.This piece doesn't look in depth at the kid's acting, but let me tellyou, there are some stars among them. You will walk out of the theaterunable to believe they aren't gang members themselves. Go see thismovie, you will not be disappointed.

Owen Gleiberman 2012-05-10 04:13:21

The picture is so earnest that it leaves out the easy, old-school pleasure conjured by the last few years of Disney sports flicks (Invincible, Miracle, The Rookie).

Claudio Carvalho 2012-05-09 08:58:49

When a Man Makes the Difference

In the Kilpatrick juvenile detention center, the supervisor and formerfootball player Sean Porter (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) sees the lackof discipline, self-esteem, union and perspective in the teenageinterns and proposes to prepare a football team to play in one league.He is supported by his superiors and his successful experience changesthe lives of many youngsters.While watching "Gridiron Gang", I commented to my wife that I wasenjoying the movie in spite of being corny and predictable. However, inthe credits there are several footages of a documentary with the realSean Porter and several interns, and I realized that this movie is notonly based on a true story, but many lines of The Rock are exactly thesame said by Sean Porter in the documentary. This revelation changedcompletely my first opinion, and I found this movie a great homage to aman that made the difference. The message about the importance ofsports to aggregate men and make them winners in the essence of theword is beautiful and The Rock is amazing, giving credibility to hischaracter in one of his best roles. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "A Gangue Está em Campo" ("The Gang Is In the Field")

Jared Bennett 2012-05-07 03:07:54

Surprisingly Good

This last week (8-31-06), I was given the opportunity to see an advancescreening of this film. Going into it, I was unsure of how good itwould be. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has had his share of good moviesand bad. Which would this one fall under. From the very beginning, itwas intense. It is a realistic look into the lives of teens that havemade mistakes and have had to pay the price. The vision of this film isthat of you being right in the middle of it. When a teen is killed outon the street, you see it all up close. When a big hit is made on thefield, it is shown in all it's glory. The emotions run as high as theadrenaline as Coach Porter strives to give these kids a second chanceat being winners and works to overcome his own internal demons. A greatstory, but not one for the young kids. This is an intense movie thatwill give you an inside look at the lives and attitudes of young gangmembers as they change their ways and come out the better.

Rudedawg 2012-05-06 18:17:00

A must see !!

This is a great flick, Well worth your time and money. It is a little to violent for kids(lots of gang activity) but a great flick with a powerful message. I would see this film again!!

2012-05-01 00:50:25

A Very good movie

this is a very good movie, the rock does an awesome job in this film. this movie was really good. it's also based on a true story i think what the rcok's character does for these boys was awesome. this movie is worth seeing.

2012-04-30 05:40:59

For Real

I really enjoyed this movie and I have watched it several times. All of the actors were great and I mean all of them. I think it is a movie that should be played in schools, and especially the troubled youth centers because it is a true story.

Christy Lemire 2012-04-30 17:32:35

... utterly predictable ...

Jeannette Catsoulis 2012-04-30 03:02:39

... the movie's good intentions are consistently undermined by its simplistic notion of redemption, and its inspirational thrust is diluted by an epilogue that suggests the program still has a ways to go in the life-altering department.

vmastorga 2012-04-23 13:34:44

Excellent

This was one of those, cry at times because you feel the pain, laugh attimes and cheer the underdogs. It is very true that people need toadjust their thinking on juvies who make a mistake. After the do thetime the crime is paid for and they, as well as adult offenders,deserve a second chance. I am a mother of two good boys who made a badchoice. I hope the movie showed them that the choices made will hinderyou. I think the Rock and Exhibit were very good. I am glad my boyswanted to watch this film. There was an excellent message. I wouldrecommend this film to everyone. You really get a chance to see theinner workings of gangs and what they are really like.

Steve Rhodes 2012-04-23 04:47:47

Cue the violins. Gridiron Gang, an unabashedly sentimental but endearing true story, turns out to be a real winner.

awbuckleynj 2012-04-22 12:11:24

You will be pleasantly surprised!

This movie brings attention to need for reform in the juvenile justicesystem. We can't give up on these kids. They deserve a second andsometimes even a third chance in life. They need an opportunity to seethe other options they have. This is a very powerful and moving TRUEstory! This isn't just another Remember the Titans or Rudy and its muchmore than a football movie. Make sure you stick around for the credits.Multiple scenes from the documentary are shown. Once you see interviewswith the kids and with the coaches you understand what a great job TheRock did in portraying coach Sean porter. I can't wait till it comesout on netflix. Its already in my que.

Frank Swietek 2012-04-21 18:26:28

Though one of the producing entities is called Original Film, nothing could be further from the truth...hopelessly formulaic and pat.

trsm_666 2012-04-17 03:47:31

Excellent film, predictable and 'seen it before' maybe, but still a cut above due to excellent, sincere performances from everyone...

I found this to be a very moving, dramatic, well acted, sometimestragic but nonetheless also managing to be a feel good movie. It isbased on a true story about a detention camp for juveniles who have hada lot of bad things happen to them, have a lot of gangland rivalry andhostility between then. A probation officer who genuinely cares forthem. Who wants to do something to make them feel proud of themselves,to bring them closer to their respective families and loved ones and toeach other. To give them a sense of achievement, something to want tolive for and he does this the best way he knows how, American Footballand by tough love.I could never really say that this film is a realistic portrayalbecause I have never lived in this type of environment but I can saythat Gridiron Gang is well worth watching, I would recommend it toanyone.

2012-04-16 22:23:03

Amazing Quality

This review is from: Gridiron Gang (Widescreen Edition) (DVD) At first i was a little hesitant to buy this movie because it was such an old movie and it was for a cheap price. The dvd came in four days before they said it was going to come in. It was still wrapped in original plastic and had been untouched i have now bought 2 dvds and looking to buy some more you wont regret buying them. You will want to keep buying more from Importcds

Willie Waffle 2012-04-16 09:11:25

it's the Bill Paxton of movies, good enough to be respected and liked, but not great enough to make you think everyone involved deserves an Oscar

Christine 2012-04-15 19:50:25

You have to see this one! An excellent movie with heart!

This was the best movie I have seen this year. The Rock's performancewas excellent along with all the cast. Cheers for the casting director.There are lessons about life to be learned from this movie and mypraises go out to the people who are making a difference working withgang members in our violent world. We have to remember that gangs are acircle of violence and someone has to step into the "gridiron" and makea difference. This is a film about pain, suffering and the struggles ofeveryday life but it is also about faith, hope, renewal and the powerof change that is in each of us. Movies like this one give me back thehope that our world can change and maybe people will wake up andrealize we are all the same, we all have hopes and dreams and a littlelove and faith can go a long way. Special thanks to the "coach" whostarted all this, he is the real hero in this story. After reading a few other comments I wanted to add that I do NOT thinkthis movie is full of cliché's, it is full of reality and the hardtruth about the lives these young men had lead so far. Playing on afootball team was not about playing football, it was for some young menthe first time they ever really saw anyone not from their hood as ahuman being, not just an un-named enemy. It was realistic and touching.Again it shows us to never give up hope and that sometimes all wereally need in life is for even just one person to believe in us. I maybe a dreamer but I do believe that even small gestures of kindness ineveryday life can make a difference in this world. I think this filmshould win awards, it was well acted and worthy of much praise.