In Peaceful Warrior, Nick Nolte plays a character as wise as Yoda and only slightly older. When aspiring gymnast and high-school hedonist Dan Millman (Scott Machlowicz) tells him, "I know more than you think," his cryptic reply is: "And you think more than you know." Nolte's character is only ever referred to as Socrates, so he can get away with lines like this.

The movie, however, is another matter. The opening shot says Peaceful Warrior was "inspired by true events," so when Socrates, a service station attendant with mismatched shoes, suddenly leaps a moderately sized building in a single bound, it's clear inspiration and truth have parted company. Millman is amazed by what he has seen, and tells Nolte no one can jump like that: "I know; I'm a gymnast."

But Millman knows a good thing when he sees it (or does he see a good thing when he knows it?) so he begs Socrates to tutor him in the ways of jumping. Like all good Buddhist teachers (in the movies at least), Socrates starts by slapping the kid a few times, tossing him off a bridge and telling him to "take out the trash," by which he means all of Millman's negativity, such as his grumpiness at being tossed off a bridge.

...

The film takes a sudden turn when Millman's motorcycle doesn't, and he suffers an injury that leaves him wondering if he'll ever compete again. Socrates tells him to do what he loves (and love what he does, of course), and soon Millman is engaged in a training montage that would make Rocky look lazy. He also seems to develop mind-reading powers and super sight and hearing. I say "seems" because there are so many scenes in which Millman suddenly wakes up and we realize the last five minutes were a dream that it's difficult to know what to believe. (And difficult to believe what to know, if you believe what I mean.)

Excellent, 3 June 2006
10/10
Author: Nils Valkenborgh from Belgium

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have seen the HD trailer over and over. I can't wait to see it. Consider this a more serious version of the girls-gymnastics movie "Stick it". I know this film is not about gymnastics persé but i'm glad that gymnastics is being put in the spotlights, the only sport that get's all the media attention in my country (Belgium) is soccer and we're not even that good (okay that was exaggerating, we STINK at soccer). Maybe "The Peaceful Warrior" and Stick it" can change this. I can't wait till it's being released in Belgium. The only flaw in this film "would" be the religious aspect which isn't shown explicitly, but very noticeable (even in the trailer).