Karate Kid on Rings

Rating: 2/10 (29 April 2006)

I went to the premiere of "Peaceful Warrior" last night in Santa Monica, at the opening of the Inspiration Film Festival. I didn't know what the movie was about, but I received free tix from someone who worked at the festival and told my girlfriend and I that there was a lot of buzz flowing about it in the spiritual community.
Well, let me add my own buzz. This might be second worst movie I've seen this year. "The Karate Kid" was a treacly, formulaic story of an adolescent learning his buddhist lessons well and finally overcoming the bully in the end. "The Peaceful Warrior" is a treacly, formulaic story about an adolescent college student who learns his buddhist lessons well (from Nick Nolte???) and must face the film's final test. Will he win or will he lose? You'll figure it out within the first 10 minutes of the film. And if the awful, telegraphed, on-the-nose dialog doesn't convince you, the loud, soaring, predictable music at every emotional pinnacle will certainly make sure you don't miss the point.
There isn't a surprising moment in this whole film.