- Actors: Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Bruce McGill, Joel Gretsch
- Directors: Robert Redford
- Writers: Jeremy Leven, Steven Pressfield
- Producers: Chris Brigham, Jake Eberts, Joseph P. Reidy, Karen Tenkhoff, Michael Nozik
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Dreamworks Video
- DVD Release Date: 3 April 2001
- Run Time: 126 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00003CXI4
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 70,617 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on the bestselling novel by Steven Pressfield, The Legend of Bagger Vance is a beguiling addition to the tiny genre of feel-good mystical sports movies. In Georgia at the height of the Depression, Adele Invergordon (Charlise Theron) organises a golf tournament to publicise her inherited luxury hotel/golf course. Taking part are two genuine golf stars of the period, together with one-time Southern sporting hero, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon). Shattered by the Great War, Junuh has retreated into a bottle and it is up to a local boy, Hardy Greaves (an excellent J Michael Moncrief making his screen debut, and as an old man Jack Lemmon in his final film) and caddy Bagger Vance (Will Smith) to help him find his lost swing.
Though it is never made explicit, Vance is an angel and the film is really about redemption, the golf scenes being a not exactly subtle metaphor for life itself. Some may find it corny and unoriginal; the movie has much in common with director Robert Redford's own The Natural (1984) as well as Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Field of Dreams (1989). Yet after a clunky opening Bagger Vance finds its swing and proves a delightful light romantic drama, with gorgeous cinematography, fine performances and a wonderful score by Rachel Portman.
On the DVD: The Legend of Bagger Vance on disc has an anamorphic transfer of the original 1.85-1 image, and though a little dark is very sharp and filled with detail and vibrant colours. The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound does everything expected, being atmospheric and showcasing the score to good effect. Extras are a four-minute interview with Robert Redford and a three-minute "featurette" which is really an extended trailer to complement the teaser and conventional trailer also included. There are several pages of electronic press kit production notes, and biographies and filmographies of 18 of the film's stars and production personnel. As Redford believes commentaries and in-depth behind the scenes features ruin the magic of the movies this is as extensive a collection as is likely to appear. Finally there is a truly appalling trailer for the DVD of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. --Gary S Dalkin
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of the very many questions asked.... who is Bagger Vance?? A guardian angel, or just some gifted bloke? I love this movie; the story is wonderful, and the starring roles are played by some of the best.
The picture and sound is of a high quality, and I can still watch it over and over again, glued to my chair, as if watching it for the very first time.
Matt Damon plays Mr. Junah, a golfing champion who returns from the first World War a changed man, a man without his swing. When Bagger Vance (Smith) appears from nowhere and helps him find it, Junah also finds his old self, and confronts his fears of the past.
It really is a remarkable and special film, one that should be seen by all.
I'm still asking mysef.......who is Bagger Vance?? I hope you enjoy it; I know I did.
The picture and sound is of a high quality, and I can still watch it over and over again, glued to my chair, as if watching it for the very first time.
Matt Damon plays Mr. Junah, a golfing champion who returns from the first World War a changed man, a man without his swing. When Bagger Vance (Smith) appears from nowhere and helps him find it, Junah also finds his old self, and confronts his fears of the past.
It really is a remarkable and special film, one that should be seen by all.
I'm still asking mysef.......who is Bagger Vance?? I hope you enjoy it; I know I did.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watch a lot of films including things such as The Sixth Sense and The Green Mile. However this film is just as good as any of those two and deserves to be one of the classics. When Bagger Vance (Will Smith) helps a past golf champion (Matt Damon) to find his swing after fighting in the war I was on the edge of my seat. When I first heard that this was a film about golf I almost had second thoughts about watching it. Thank god I did! With an inspirational script and soundtrack this is a film that everyone should watch!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film was based on a novel by Steven Pressfield but the real inspiration was from the Hindu Epic The Mahabaharata where there is an interesting conversation that leads to the holiest of Hindu Scriptures known as the Bhagavad Gita. Will Smith as Bagger Vance (pronounced in an Indian way as Bhagawan; another name for Krishna) is brilliant and is ably supported by Matt Damon as R. Junuh (alternatively pronounced as Arjuna). The story shows Smith as a caddy and also spiritual guide to Damon...as in the Bhagavad Gita.
A nice, tender film at the hand of writer/director Robert Redford. Matt Damon is the leading man in this film as a former golfer that brushes up on his talents of the past, whilst Will Smith plays a supporting guardian angel type of character which he carries off beautifully. It seems that at this stage in his career, he is better as a supporting actor (as in 'Made in America', 'Six Degrees of Separation' and 'Enemy of the State'), and needs to learn from his more experienced contemporaries like Matt Damon how to maintain audience interest throughout a film. Smith plays a convincing aged character by the name of 'Bagger Vance' who aids Damon in the process of regaining his confidence to win a golf tournament. It is almost a guest appearance in a self contained film which neither belongs to Matt Damon or Robert Redford. It is a film that stands by itself.
A nice, tender film at the hand of writer/director Robert Redford. Matt Damon is the leading man in this film as a former golfer that brushes up on his talents of the past, whilst Will Smith plays a supporting guardian angel type of character which he carries off beautifully. It seems that at this stage in his career, he is better as a supporting actor (as in 'Made in America', 'Six Degrees of Separation' and 'Enemy of the State'), and needs to learn from his more experienced contemporaries like Matt Damon how to maintain audience interest throughout a film. Smith plays a convincing aged character by the name of 'Bagger Vance' who aids Damon in the process of regaining his confidence to win a golf tournament. It is almost a guest appearance in a self contained film which neither belongs to Matt Damon or Robert Redford. It is a film that stands by itself.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Legend of Bagger Vance
This is a modern retelling of a fairy story, in a sense. It shows the rescue of a person who is lost to himself and to the world he has known as a result of war damage (PTSD), by... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. RIDER
Very good film
Wasn't expecting it to be very good because i'm more into action films like rambo or terminator...But i saw how high the ratings were and the actors in it so thought i would buy... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. C. J. Davies
Perfect gift for a golfer
I watched this DVD with my grandaughter and thought it would be a perfect gift for my friend who is a golfer.
Not only entertaining but has some good values for living life. Read more
Not only entertaining but has some good values for living life. Read more
Published 7 months ago by IVA
May not be your bag!
SAFE READING - NO SPOILERS
Although this is an enjoyable film anyway, I think it is more enjoyable if viewers are golfers as that is the main subject of the film and... Read more
Although this is an enjoyable film anyway, I think it is more enjoyable if viewers are golfers as that is the main subject of the film and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by RR Waller
Will Smith again
I love Will Smith but if I didnt I would have found this film fairly boring, still worth the money for me though.
Published 17 months ago by klunked
Personal development
I was made aware of this video during a session on change and personal development. The mesmerizing scene when Will Smith alias Bagger Vance stops Matt Demon from further self... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Susanne Kremeier
Deep South atmosphere
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil [1998] [DVD]
The Legend of Bagger Valance is now an old movie but good for a wet Sunday. Read more
The Legend of Bagger Valance is now an old movie but good for a wet Sunday. Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2009 by J. DEVINE
NOT A GOOD BUY ANYWHERE
THIS IS THE 3RD COPY OF THIS FILM I HAVE TRIED TO VIEW. 2 COPIES BOUGHT ELSEWHERE AND I THOUGHT AMAZON WOULD FOR SURE SELL ME A GOOD COPY. THE FILM IS A GREAT STORY. Read more
Published on 11 April 2009 by POSTAL COLLECTOR
Rainy Sunday afternoon film
Got this film on a whim & I'm so glad I did...Charlize Theron looks stunning, Matt Damon actually acts well (shock) Will Smith is good but I think Morgan Freeman would have been a... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2009 by Nibz
Misunderstood by all
This is not a film about golf or caddies or anything that it initially seems. It is about life and and Hindu philosophy. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2007 by C. Spalding
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