Inspiring to a teen, though not for rolemodelship

Rating: 6/10 (25 April 2007)

What I mean by that is the lead boy lacks a certain depth and understanding, which I assume this movie's morals attempt to illuminate, though it seems in a way like trying to train pee wee herman to become an X-Men, his power will always seem contrived.
For anyone with a reasonable understanding of some of the inner virtues of living ("meditating on a job, no matter what it may be"), this kid's "I need answers now" punk-hubris is difficult to watch, especially since he never really achieves any sense of humility, only through exhaustion does he begin to justly focus.
I read the book years back, felt it was of the same caliber of cheese this movie genres, though the total unconcerned association of "Socrates" is in both the book and the movie, insightful. The movie on the other hand employs Socrates' abilities to "visions" and magic, while the book left me feeling that his ability to "teleport" was the result of godly wisdom that was in grasp of us all. In a sense this can change the whole outlook of the story, while "learning to fly" might not fare well with 2007 reality, i don't think intense psychotic hallucinations provides a more sane reasoning. And of course the kids disrespect at any point shouldn't have tolerated by anyone let alone filmed for millions to see.
Reasonable material for the early teen (family movie) but not without some inexcusable warps on what is tolerable and that the path to enlightenment need not be a warzone.