Like The Movie... Then I Read The book

Rating: 5/10 (24 December 2005)

Great feel good movie. Saw it in the theater, rented it once, then went out and bought it. Since then I have watched it once a year (around triple crown time). And now the BAD news. Bought a copy of the book written by Laura Hillenbrand at a local thrift shop for 25 cents. A well written very enjoyable read. Very hard to put down. I only wish now I had read the book BEFORE I saw this movie! I could of saved $3.50 for the rental and $19.99 for the cost to buy it. Being a history buff along with both an avid reader and movie fan, I know that Hollywood tends to bend the truth in 99% of all (based on true story movies) but this one is pure bull*hit. Sure Braveheart, King Arthur & Troy take liberties with the facts but in these cases the facts are not really facts but what little history has let trickle down thru the ages. In Seabiscuits case we DO have ALL the facts, thanks to the superb book by LH. Yet somehow Hollywood let screen writer/director Gary Ross completely butcher what could of been a truly GREAT movie. There are so many inaccuracies that I lost count before the movie was half over. Shame on Universal Pictures, Dreamworks & Spyglass for going for the money and ruining what could of been a truly accurate feel good movie. Double shame on Laura Hillenbrand for selling the rights and letting them do so. The acting was fine. Jeff Bridges, Chris Copper & Toby Maguire are all standouts in these roles. But alas, I will never be able to watch this movie again. Look for my copy selling on ebay or at my local thrift shop.