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[distantmantra]

I saw it again over the weekend, my girlfriend and I took my parents, and after a second viewing, my view of the film has changed greatly. Even though I personally enjoyed Sideways more than MDB, my belief is that MDB will win best picture hands down.

I'm surprised people haven't protested this film yet...

 

[Foreign Jackass]

If only the headlines of New York Times articles had this convention, and not just GAF. I mean, shit.

Exactly.

I saw it again over the weekend, my girlfriend and I took my parents, and after a second viewing, my view of the film has changed greatly. Even though I personally enjoyed Sideways more than MDB, my belief is that MDB will win best picture hands down.

I'm surprised people haven't protested this film yet...

How has your opinion changed? And where the hell have you been? People like Limbaugh and company have given the movie an incredibly bad rep on radio, spoiling the movie so that people wouldn't go...

 

[border]

Spoiler

How is he NOT punished? Isn't killing your new equivalent of a daughter a huge punishment enough?

Spoiler

The killing is the transgression, and therefore can't be punishment for "the transgression".....at least not using the plebeian interpretive methods of Hollywood and casual audiences. People need to see the man destroyed or brought to justice if they are going to take away an anti-euthanasia vibe.....not the folksy "He's eatin' pie in the bayou now" ending.

 

[Manics]

Does Eastwood have any cool quotes in this movie like:

"Anyone can see I didn't do that to him"
-- "Why's that?"
"Cause he looks too damn good!"

 

[distantmantra]

How has your opinion changed? And where the hell have you been? People like Limbaugh and company have given the movie an incredibly bad rep on radio, spoiling the movie so that people wouldn't go...

I guess now I actually respect the film and find it even enjoyable. The first time I saw it, for some reason the film didn't grab me, it seemed too cliched, especially with the shift that I saw coming a mile away. Setting those problems aside, I took the film for what it is and enjoyed the character interactions and such.

I avoid right wing talk radio, so that would probably be why I haven't heard the complaints. I meant more along the lines of people standing outside theaters with signs against the film. I've been telling all my friends and relatives to go see the film soon before somone spoils it for them.

 

[MaverickX9]

I'd have to say that Million Dollar Baby was the best movie I've seen in the past two or three years, easily.

Everything about it was superb from the acting, the score, the film-noir like look, the directing, etc. It was just top-notch all the way around.

What I think put this movie over the top were all the intricasies to the plot and subplots. The characters had a real depth to them, more so than any film I've seen in a while. You really connected to the characters, whether you liked boxing or not. Even the small characters like Danger were superbly done.

I think Clint easily outdid Scorsese this year and he *should* win Best Director. Scorsese is my favorite director of all time, but much of The Aviator seemed uninspired and just flat. It didn't even seem like Scorsese to me. I thought The Aviator was a good film, but it doesn't touch Million Dollar Baby, in my opinion. It was a real good biopic, but nothing sensational.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

I'd have to say that Million Dollar Baby was the best movie I've seen in the past two or three years, easily.

Everything about it was superb from the acting, the score, the film-noir like look, the directing, etc. It was just top-notch all the way around.

What I think put this movie over the top were all the intricasies to the plot and subplots. The characters had a real depth to them, more so than any film I've seen in a while. You really connected to the characters, whether you liked boxing or not. Even the small characters like Danger were superbly done.

I think Clint easily outdid Scorsese this year and he *should* win Best Director. Scorsese is my favorite director of all time, but much of The Aviator seemed uninspired and just flat. It didn't even seem like Scorsese to me. I thought The Aviator was a good film, but it doesn't touch Million Dollar Baby, in my opinion. It was a real good biopic, but nothing sensational.

Damn, dude, you're like another version of me.

 

[Uter]

Spoiler

How is he NOT punished? Isn't killing your new equivalent of a daughter a huge punishment enough? Isn't murdering someone and filling your soul with remorse not bad enough? This is clearly implied by the movie, in one of the best scenes of the movie, the priest scene, which completely blows your argument away, both against the scene itself and the implicit advocation you're speaking of.

Again, you are ignoring the simple fact that

Spoiler

euthanasia

is AGAINST THE LAW. Society has deemed this to be an immoral action and made it illegal. But apparently this action which you yourself deem as

Spoiler

"murder"

shouldn't be considered illegal for the simple reason that a person's soul is filled with "remorse". Please do explain how a society should be run on principles like this. Where

Spoiler

an action which is generally considered to be the worst in society

is legally forgiven or approved of in society just as long as the perpetrator's "soul" is "filled with remorse". Does this apply to all

Spoiler

"murder"

, and how can it not given that your determining factor on whether or not it is a criminal act deserving of legal punishment is merely the subjective appraisal of the "remorse" of the perpetrator??

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Again, you are ignoring the simple fact that

Spoiler

euthanasia

is AGAINST THE LAW. Society has deemed this to be an immoral action and made it illegal. But apparently this action which you yourself deem as

Spoiler

"murder"

shouldn't be considered illegal for the simple reason that a person's soul is filled with "remorse". Please do explain how a society should be run on principles like this. Where

Spoiler

an action which is generally considered to be the worst in society

is legally forgiven or approved of in society just as long as the perpetrator's "soul" is "filled with remorse". Does this apply to all

Spoiler

"murder"

, and how can it not given that your determining factor on whether or not it is a criminal act deserving of legal punishment is merely the subjective appraisal of the "remorse" of the perpetrator??

I think the answer is obvious as

Spoiler

the murder was ASKED by the victim. This is the whole debate of assisted suicide, and the fact that it is against the law doesn't mean we can't question it. So we can't make a movie that's against the law? Talk about excessive government control. What I'm saying OBVIOUSLY doesn't apply to every murder. I mean, must I explain every single word I'm saying? Eastwood will be filled with remorse and regrets for his actions, and is stepping over his own interests to fulfill the desires of Swank's character. Have you seen the same movie I've seen, or what? Get a clue!

 

[Uter]

I think the answer is obvious as

Spoiler

the murder was ASKED by the victim. This is the whole debate of assisted suicide, and the fact that it is against the law doesn't mean we can't question it. So we can't make a movie that's against the law? Talk about excessive government control. What I'm saying OBVIOUSLY doesn't apply to every murder. I mean, must I explain every single word I'm saying? Eastwood will be filled with remorse and regrets for his actions, and is stepping over his own interests to fulfill the desires of Swank's character. Have you seen the same movie I've seen, or what? Get a clue!

Who said anything about not questioning it or not being able to make a movie about it? Nice straw man argument. Especially after I specifically mentioned a movie based on an actual true story that is

Spoiler

pro-euthanasia

. Are you kidding me? Since when has "excessive government control" even been a part of this movie or anyones response to it??? Again, nice straw man.

Apparently it is too hard for you to understand or acknowledge the logical or philosophical points I was making in my previous post. Instead I get an inane response filled with fallacious responses and arguments. Must I go through every single point I made again? And who gives a damn that the character will be filled with remorse or regret. SINCE WHEN IS THAT EVER A LEGITIMATE REASON TO IGNORE THE LAW OR GIVE TACIT APPROVAL TO A CRIME???

I actually took your inane stated position and comments to their logical end and proposed legal and philosophical questions that have to be answered if one holds to the position you stated. Instead I guess I should have just responded with emotion instead of logic. I shouldn't have asked any questions or made any attempt to critically judge

Spoiler

euthanasia

or the way it was specifically used in this movie. Instead I should have just felt *really* deeply along with the movie and been moved by nothing but the visceral and emotional experience the movie provided. I'm sure that went just fine for you, others might need just a tad bit more though...

 

[dammitmattt]

Was I the only one that involuntarily clapped when

Spoiler

Morgan Freeman got his final knockout.

What a great scene in a great movie.

Why can't we just debate the merits of this film instead of having this pointless political and ideological debate that has ruined this thread?

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Apparently it is too hard for you to understand or acknowledge the logical or philosophical points I was making in my previous post. Instead I get an inane response filled with fallacious responses and arguments. Must I go through every single point I made again? And who gives a damn that the character will be filled with remorse or regret. SINCE WHEN IS THAT EVER A LEGITIMATE REASON TO IGNORE THE LAW OR GIVE TACIT APPROVAL TO A CRIME???

Your "logical" points are NOT logical. What's illogical in the movie? Because someone does against the law in it and he is not punished by the law, the movie is illogical, or bad, or amoral? Your argument doesn't stand on its own.

I actually took your inane stated position and comments to their logical end and proposed legal and philosophical questions that have to be answered if one holds to the position you stated. Instead I guess I should have just responded with emotion instead of logic. I shouldn't have asked any questions or made any attempt to critically judge

Spoiler

euthanasia

or the way it was specifically used in this movie. Instead I should have just felt *really* deeply along with the movie and been moved by nothing but the visceral and emotional experience the movie provided.

How was my position more inane than yours? And how did you respond with "logic"? You just responded with laws. There's nothing logic behind your arguments. You think the fact that the character does something illegal and isn't punished enough for your tastes makes the movie a bad one, or an illogical one, or I dunno what, since you're not stating your opinion very clearly. I think you should take some time off, think, think a little more, and then state what you think, when you know what you want to say.

Was I the only one that involuntarily clapped when

Spoiler

Morgan Freeman got his final knockout.

What a great scene in a great movie.

Why can't we just debate the merits of this film instead of having this pointless political and ideological debate that has ruined this thread?

I agree, but can't help myself from answering to accusations against me and this movie's lack of ... logic? I dunno.

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Just saw it tonight. Great, great movie.

 

[MIMIC]

Just finished watching it. I really, REALLy enjoyed the movie, except for the last part about the

Spoiler

euthanasia

.

I was immersed in the "humble, blank slate beginnings to fame and success" angle of the movie. The chemistry between Maggie and Frankie was really strong. You became Maggie cheerleader and her

Spoiler

debilitation elicited a concern for her that can only be found in a family. But, the movie relied on that part of the story for entirely too long, and that dramatic swing to the consent of her death kinda shook things up. But still, it was done exceptionally well.

Ray > Million Dollar Baby > Sideways > The Aviator

 

[Uno Ill Nino]

I can't believe some of the dumb fucking statements I've read in this thread. If you didn't like the movie, fine. Get the fuck out of the thread then. Politics does not have a place in EVERYTHING. Maybe you need to work on growing thicker skin so not everything is taken as a jab at your beliefs of what is right and what is wrong.

That said, whether this movie wins "Best Picture" or not is irrelevant. Those awards stopped meaning something a while ago. It SHOULD win, but it won't surprise me if it loses because of the clout the competition has.

Personally, I thought Million Dollar Baby (bad title aside) is the best movie I've seen in the last 5 or so years. Hell, it might be the best movie I've ever seen. I related to this movie in such a strong way though. My family went through a similar situation twice in the last 9 years. I also used to be a professional athlete. I came up from nothing, like the girl in this movie. My father was my coach. For whatever reason, the parallels between this movie and my own life became evident to me and as a result, the movie gripped me completely and still has a stranglehold on my emotions. I cried at the theater and I stopped crying about things years ago after my umpteenth funeral. Then, I cried again at home 15 minutes later while talking to my father about the movie (he'd already seen it). I can't stop hearing the acoustic guitar that the movie closed with. Images of the heart and soul that were the backbone of the film keep popping into my mind. I am thoroughly moved. I honestly cannot think of a movie that has had such an effect on me.

I can't believe people are mentioning Karate Kid and Rocky in the same sentance as this movie. I can't think of a worse comparison. Its unfathomable to me.

And to think I almost didn't go see this movie. I thought to myself "women's boxing? I already don't watch MEN'S boxing, why the hell would I see this?" Boy was I wrong. If my father hadn't seen this and insisted that I go, I would have missed out on one of the best movies I've seen in my lifetime. I'm so glad I went. I wish more movies came out like this more often.

 

[AssMan]

Best boxing movie my ass, well according to Sports Illustrated. Yes, M.D.B. was great, but Rocky will always be the best boxing movie ever.

 

[Malakhov]

Was going to see a movie tonight with some friends and we didn't know what to see so I suggested Hotel Rwanda, no one seemed interested (I'll have to go see that one alone, it looks so good) and one of them mentionned million dollar baby. I wasnt too willing but I said whatever, at least it got Freeman and Eastwood in it so even though it's a boxing movie it can't be that bad.


Well, I'm so glad I went to see that movie. DO NOT expect it to be a "boxing movie" like I did at first, I was blown away!...

Spoiler

when "the event" happened I ended up crying and trying to hide my fucking face so my friends wouldnt see it

:lol

Anyways, go see it now folks, it's that good.

 

[LinesInTheSand]

Best boxing movie my ass, well according to Sports Illustrated. Yes, M.D.B. was great, but Rocky will always be the best boxing movie ever.

The best movie with boxing in it is Raging Bull. Second best is MDB.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

The best movie with boxing in it is Raging Bull. Second best is MDB.

Agreed. Wow, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who holds the movie in his highest regards. Damn, it's one of the best films I've seen in years, and people come here and complain about politics. I was beginning to think I might have been wrong about it! Rocky and Karate Kid!! God, I was pissed. Glad I'm not the only one who has seen the light, now.

 

[cubicle47b]

I just saw this tonight.

At the very least I don't think the movie took a side in the debate. It just presented it in an emotionally charged story. I'm pro-euthenasia and in my head I was begging her to change her mind and not go through with it. It actually made me rethink whether I'm comfortable with it.

I really don't think it was intentionally political (and I hate that it has become political like The Passion did which was another movie I liked) just like I didn't feel Mystic River and Unforgiven were political although they dealt with similar things (a question of morality) in a similar manner (no external consequences for the main character's actions - obviously referring to Penn in MR).

 

[Mugen]

I just saw this movie last night and I can honestly say it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I was never emotionally moved by any movie like this one as far as I can remember. There's so many key moments in it and everytime I remember any of those scenes just makes me step back a bit and still get a bit teary eyed. :lol Wow just wow. I highly highly recommend this movie. It really should win Best Picture.