O/T: Saw "42" tonight and loved it...

[Eric72]

I just came home after a classic Friday night dinner-and-a-movie with my wife. We went to see "42" and had a great time. The theater was packed, it was a family atmosphere, and there were dozens of kids wearing their baseball/softball uniform jerseys. The whole crowd was clapping and cheering a few times when the characters who played Jackie Robinson and others involved in this story came through...awesome experience.

Without trying to turn this thread into a spoiler for those who haven't seen it, I wanted to give the board members here a gentle nudge towards their local theater to go and see, "42."

Additionally, I invite everyone to give their vote on how they liked the film.

Best Regards,

Eric

[big80s]

+1

I also loved it!

[benderbroeth]

I plan to try to get a small group together to watch!!!

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by benderbroeth

I plan to try to get a small group together to watch!!!

Ed,

Wish I was on the West Coast to join your group.

Enjoy the film.

Best,

Eric

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by big80s

+1

I also loved it!

Thanks for weighing in, Jeff.

Hope this finds you well and that your theater experience this evening was a good one.

Best,

Eric

[big80s]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Thanks for weighing in, Jeff.

Hope this finds you well and that your theater experience this evening was a good one.

Best,

Eric

The movie was everything I was hoping for and more. I've recommended it to several collector friends already.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by big80s

The movie was everything I was hoping for and more. I've recommended it to several collector friends already.

Spread the word, my (new) friend. Baseball is back...to a whole new generation.

Best Regards,

Eric

[Tcards-Please]

I saw it with the wife last night. Although I enjoyed the movie, I wish there was a little more emphasis on his playing days.

r/
Frank

[TMKenKen]

I think it was ok. Was disappointed a bit in that the untold story as to what went into selecting him, the problems he and his wife faced before and during his fisrt year in the Bigs were really glossed over. That should have been more of the focus in my opinion, given how it was portrayed. Not that it was bad, just did not meet my expectations, and left me wanting more.

[Chris Counts]

It's pretty amazing how they recreated the old ballparks. I'd love to hear how they did it. I recognized Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, Crosley Field. Sportsman's Park, Shibe Park and Forbes Field.

[big80s]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

It's pretty amazing how they recreated the old ballparks. I'd love to hear how they did it. I recognized Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, Crosley Field. Sportsman's Park, Shibe Park and Forbes Field.

I saw an early screening of the movie and the actor that played Robinson did a Q&A afterwards. A gentleman asked him about the ball parks - and he said they were able to recreate a lot of that through CGI.

[aabram23]

For the people who saw it. I know it's PG-13. Is it appropriate to take 8 year old boy to it? My son would like to see it but just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks.

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by aabram23

For the people who saw it. I know it's PG-13. Is it appropriate to take 8 year old boy to it? My son would like to see it but just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks.

The N-Word is said numerous times. As far as I can remember that would have been the only reason it would have received that rating.

[Eric72]

Thanks to all who have participated so far.

I look forward to hearing from those who caught the Saturday showing.

Best Regards,

Eric

[alanu]

On a side note, if you enjoyed the movie, on Bob Costa's show on MLB TV he had the whole hour interviewing, Harrison Ford, the Jackie Robinson actor and Don Newcombe. Don Newcombe had some really good stories.

[Vintagecatcher]

Just got home from seeing the late viewing of 42.

Thought it was a pretty good movie.

Harrison Ford was tremendous as Branch Rickey.

Patrick

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

The N-Word is said numerous times. As far as I can remember that would have been the only reason it would have received that rating.

If they say the F-word twice it's an automatic rated-R. Apparently they can say the N-word 3,657 times and still be PG-13. My son turned 8 on Thursday and he won't be seeing this movie this year.

[Runscott]

Matt, I agree with you about the film score, but I think they needed that to kindle our emotions - if it had been removed, the film might have fallen flat. I agree that it could have been much worse, but to me that doesn't excuse its not being much better.

[nolemmings]

If they say the F-word twice it's an automatic rated-R. Apparently they can say the N-word 3,657 times and still be PG-13. My son turned 8 on Thursday and he won't be seeing this movie this year.

While I understand completely your decision to not allow your son to see the movie this year, I have no problem with the PG-13 rating, which of course strongly cautions parents that there is material potentially unsuitable for children. There is no doubt profuse and near constant use of racial slurring, but such slurring was in fact commonplace and its use accurate. There was really no violence, sexuality, gore or deviant/controversial behavior to prompt a sterner rating.

There is a brief scene in the movie in which a young boy is attending a game with his father, who lets loose with the slurs. The boy is obviously upset and uncertain how to react, and then apparently feels it best to join in with dad. I think that is a great teaching moment for both young and old, and I would bet it reminded at least one old guy how he stupidly became jaded all those years ago.

Just another two cents.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I think that is a great teaching moment

Todd,

I agree. My wife and I used those exact same words when discussing this scene afterwards.

Best,

Eric

[yanks12025]

Isn't it unfair that jackie gets all the credit and he wasn't even the first African American. Most people don't even know about Moses fleetwood walker. I think he doesn't get recognized because he didn't have a long/good career.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

Isn't it unfair that jackie gets all the credit and he wasn't even the first African American. Most people don't even know about Moses fleetwood walker. I think he doesn't get recognized because he didn't have a long/good career.

Not to take anything away from Moses Walker, but his brief appearance (with his brother I think, right?) didn't really lead to much if any advancement for blacks in MLB. This was in no way Walker's fault, however I think Jackie Robinson's breakthrough will always and should always receive the praise it does. What happened in 1946-1947 lead directly to the cultural landscape/racial diversity the game has seen since.

Do not believe the mention of Welday & Fleet Walker, or Bud Fowler, or Jimmy Claxton diminishes Jackie Robinson's achievements in any way. I have found that Robinson's story is often told excluding others who preceded him, while contrarily their stories cannot be told without mentioning his name. But I believe that speaks to the enormity of Robinson's career and the social impact it had on our nation.

Great movie.

[bbsports]

Saw the movie this afternoon. I thought the movie was done & the characters that portrayed their parts did a great job. Especially the actor who played Branch Rickey. If you remember the first movie, The Jackie Robinson Story, Branch Rickey gets little credit for bringing Jackie Robinson to organized baseball. However, Branch Rickey gets more credit in this movie.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by bbsports

Especially the actor who played Branch Rickey. .

"The actor"?!? That's Han Solo man!

[nolemmings]

Hey, he was Bob Falfa first!

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

"The actor"?!? That's Han Solo man!

Indiana Jones!

[tbob]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

Isn't it unfair that jackie gets all the credit and he wasn't even the first African American. Most people don't even know about Moses fleetwood walker. I think he doesn't get recognized because he didn't have a long/good career.

The guy who never got any credit was the first African-American in the American League, Larry Doby. He went through a lot of the same things Jackie went through but has always been in the shadows.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by tbob

The guy who never got any credit was the first African-American in the American League, Larry Doby. He went through a lot of the same things Jackie went through but has always been in the shadows.

I'd second that, Doby debuted mere months after Robinson did in 1947. I'd have to think just about every player who integrated his team in those first few years had a really tough time. This however should not take anything away from Jackie Robinson and the attention his accomplishments have received... Doby and other just need to be brought into the conversation more often.

[Runscott]

It was enjoyable but disappointing. Had sort of the same flow as "The Natural", same constant attempts to grab dramatic moments, but not as tight. Stopped 'unnaturally' at the end of the regular season. They had the subject material to make a great movie, but instead made a decent one.

[Matthew H]

I think the film makers did a good job. Believe me, it could have been much worse. They did use too much score throughout the entire film. I always cringe at films like that. It's like the director didn't trust his cast to carry the emotion of any particular scene. In the beginning, when Rickey was announcing his plan, the whole overly dramatic underscore killed it for me. It didn't need any music at all. There were also a couple scenes where the birds were so loud it was distracting... Just some thoughts from a sound guy... I bet there was more then one guy on that project who attempted to talk 'em out of the reel to reel film score. It was definitely the easiest problem to fix.