For Music Lovers

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2010)

I've read some of the reviews here and I'm inclined to think a group of crabby, miserable no-life's got together and decided to low-rate and bash this movie on silly, ridiculous grounds. Some say they "hate" this movie and are "offended" by it. Um, really? This is among the most non-controversial movies you will ever see, lol. To "hate" something so light-hearted says A LOT more about you than it does this film. But I digress...
I just caught this movie on television and was reminded of how much I enjoyed it back in '95 when it was released. What a delight. As Mr. Holland says in the movie, music is not something you "know," it's something you appreciate, something you feel. I think this is a sentiment that especially applies to those commenters who "hate" the movie because it's historically inaccurate. My response: WHO CARES? The supposed inaccuracy does NOT take away from the theme or the intention of the film. The film is intended to evoke inspiration and sentimentalism and it does precisely that. It's a smart movie, but it's not at its core a "thinking" film--it is a FEELING person's movie. Like most great movies, its power is that it touches you on the inside. You totally miss the boat if you think about it too much or nit-pick here and there.
If you love music and learning and passion and reflection, this movie is for you. Please don't be fooled by the ridiculous low-rating of 7 here. It's an absolute tear-jerker--I cried twice and I'm not a boo-hooer--and a feel-gooder. If you have a pulse and you're not an "accuracy" snob, you WILL enjoy this film and I recommend adding it to your DVD collection. I mean, how many more family-friendly feel-good flicks can you pop in and enjoy when you're down and enjoy with family and friends of all ages and stripes? Um, not many.
This movie is all that. Loved it! 8/10