Saw it again, read the book, great

Rating: Null/10 (13 September 2003)

I already commented on the movie before, said it made me want to read the book. Well, here is what happened. My sister gave me a challenge, seems she took my 90 year old mother to a movie and "all she did was sleep". I was convinced she would not sleep through Seabiscuit - and sure enough she was wide awake to the end. I then went and read the book.
This is one case where the movie and the book are equally good, i.e. I am not going to say how awful the movie was in comparison with the book. They have the same effect on the reader or viewer. The screenplay deviates from the book, but one understands why one would do it, to make a Hollywood movie and get information across efficiently. (For example, in real life the owner had more than one son, whereas in the movie he has only one child. In real life War Admiral was a stunningly beautiful classic looking racehorse; he was taller than Seabiscuit, but he was sleeker - Seabiscuit was the heavier, more solid horse. In the movie the message was that Seabiscuit was "small" and War Admiral was "large".)
I read some of the more recent reviews here and don't understand the negative ones. The "documentary" voice? It was great, had just the right sound to give you the history lessons. "Political" content? Yes, there was praise for FDR and his efforts to get the economy going again-but so what. There was no in depth study about whether the public works had any effect, but none was expected - by me at least.
Classic story? Yes. So what? If I eat a steak dinner, does it mean I am never supposed to enjoy another steak dinner, because "it has been done"?
The movie is fun to go to, lots to see in the period costuming and furnishings, great acting, fine screenplay adaptation. People applauded at the end both times I saw it. And I don't like horses.
Some of the characters would be interesting topics for movies on their own. The gifted jockey "Georgie" for example continues on in real life to great success (with a triple crown winner), then dies in a race from a combination of complications from diabetes and excessive body abuse (to keep weight off).
A wonderful Hollywood movie.